District Council approves tax-free budget
The government has also introduced a new definition of tax fraud, which now includes the intentional evasion of legally due tax or obtaining an undue refund by submitting false documents, false returns, or withholding correct information. photo: REUTERS
The Rawalpindi District Council has approved a tax-free budget of over Rs7.8 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25. This tax-free budget will operate at a deficit.
District Council Administrator & Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi, Hasan Waqar Cheema approved the new budget, marking its official implementation.
The total revenue for the new budget is projected to be more than Rs2.407 billion. An amount of Rs760 million has been earmarked for salary and pension payments of employees and Rs3 billion has been set aside for development schemes across the district.
An amount of Rs1.8 billion has been allocated for repairs and maintenance. Furthermore, Rs60 million has been earmarked for sports fairs across the district and Rs30 million for civil defence initiatives. The district council plans to offer full advertising contracts within their jurisdiction.
The budget has also sanctioned extensive tree plantation and installation of new tube wells in the district council areas. The budget was prepared by the bureaucracy without any input from the elected members of the assembly. Due to the non-existence of the District Council, the budget has been formally approved and implemented with the signature of the administrator deputy commissioner.