Increase revenue collection: mayor

Stresses need for efficiency in issuing bills for over 6,500 shops of KMC Estate Dept

KARACHI:

Mayor Murtaza Wahab has announced new guidelines for land and property management under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

He stated that any transfer, mutation, purchase, or sale of KMC-managed land or property would be subject to payment of arrears of municipal utility charges and taxes (MUCT).

During a meeting with departmental heads, Mayor Wahab emphasised that vacant shops belonging to the KMC Estate Department will now be leased through public auctions instead of direct transfers. This change aims to prevent individuals from sub-letting KMC shops and profiting while paying minimal fees to the corporation.

Furthermore, Mayor Wahab warned to clear the arrears of signboards within three days, or the permits will be canceled. He urged to implement orders regarding the payment of MUCT bills for the Department of Lands, Slums, Estates, and Orangi Town Pilot Project.

Mayor Wahab also stressed the need for efficiency in issuing bills for over 6,500 shops of the KMC Estate Department, reducing the time to three months instead of six. He suggested including arrears of municipal utility service charges in the bills and proposed actions against non-compliant shopkeepers that do not involve sealing their shops. 

The mayor highlighted the importance of increasing revenue for the organisation's stability. He urged the revenue department of KMC to improve its performance and make recovery efforts more active.

Monthly meetings will be conducted with revenue-related departments to evaluate performance and formulate strategies based on given targets.

Mayor Wahab affirmed that citizen service remains the top priority, with no compromise on providing necessary facilities. The focus will be revenue acquisition and enhancing citizen services to improve the overall system.