Private schools up in arms over signboard tax

Association terms levy suicide attack on education system

RAWALPINDI:

Terming the collection of signboard tax a suicide attack on the education system, leaders of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA) strongly condemned the notices issued by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) for tax collection on hundreds of private educational institutions of the Rawalpindi city.

“The decision will lead to the closure of private educational institutions in the garrison city,” the APPSMA leaders said while talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday.

“We will not allow anyone to commit our economic massacre,” they said as they vowed to stage a strong protest against the decision and to challenge it in the court as well.

“We will not accept the decision to pay taxes worth millions of rupees for affixing display boards on school buildings for the purpose of identification.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, APPSMA divisional president Abrar Ahmad Khan said that the staff of display board tax collection resorted to threats and misbehaviour to the heads of the institutions for non-payment of taxes.

“Threats are being made to seal educational institutions, which is not acceptable in any case,” he warned and added that educational peace should not be disturbed.

Endorsing his point of view other leaders of the association, including APPSMA general secretary Amir Anwar, district president Abrar Ahmed Advocate, district president of women's department Sakina Taj, district secretary Agha Shahab Maqsood, executive member Colonel (retd) Fawad Hanif, tehsil president Wasim Saifi and secretary Adnan Nisar said misbehaviour with the principals and teachers of private educational institutions will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“Taking pictures of the schools by the staff of the display board tax collection has become a security risk for private educational institutions,” they claimed. “The national security agencies should take immediate notice of this act.”

The association’s leaders said PHA Rawalpindi will be held responsible in case of any untoward incident. “We reserve the right to take legal action against the illicit acts of the display board tax collection employees,” they said.

They went on further to say that, small private educational institutions have been severely affected by the country's current situation in the shape of prevailing economic crisis and high level of inflation.

Small private institutions are fighting for their survival due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on education. “In such a situation, giving notices of Rs100,000 to private educational institutions is cruel and excessive,” they lamented.

Under the 2014 Free Education Compulsory Act, private educational institutions are already providing free education to 10 per cent of students, they said. “But they are not being given any kind of relief in return.”

They demanded the Rawalpindi commissioner to exempt private educational institutions which charge less than Rs4,000 monthly fees from students from payment of such taxes.

On the other hand, a PHA spokesperson said that the display board tax has been levied on all institutions falling within the limits of PHA and it will be collected from them.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2023.