Municipal Corporation Murree imposes ‘balloon’ tax

After being upgraded to the status of a corporation, the Municipal Corporation Murree (MMC) of the newly established tourist district has imposed a levy of Rs200 per day on the street children selling balloons at the tourist spots across the district.

All the street children, women and men who earn their livelihood by selling balloons at the tourist spots including Mall Road, GPO Chowk, Kashmir Point, Pindi Point and Chairlift Point will have to pay a daily tax of Rs200 in the office of the MMC before selling the balloons.

Any child or adult who sells balloons without paying the tax will be issued a challan and all the balloons will be confiscated with the imposition of a heavy fine.

Apart from this, a tax has also been imposed on the signboards of all small and big shops across Murree.

The MMC has also announced an open auction of the parking contracts on June 15 after a substantial increase in the parking fees across Murree.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2023.