Pakistan

Kanpur TMA barred from taxing dam tourism

No facilities for tourists despite substantial tax collection, observes consumer court

APP July 19, 2024

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

HARIPUR:

The Haripur Consumer Court on Thursday prohibited the Khanpur Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) from collecting taxes for car parking, jetty boat stands, parasailing, or any other activities, in response to a petition filed by the President of the Boats Association Khanpur.

In the petition submitted by the President of the Boats Association Khanpur Raja Hanif Kayani, to the Haripur Consumer Court, it was argued that Khanpur Dam is owned by the federal government department, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

The TMA has neither obtained an NOC from Wapda for tax collection nor have WAPDA and TMA provided any facilities for tourists at Khanpur Dam.

The petition stated that the victims of the Khanpur Dam have initiated tourism activities at the dam on their own. However, the TMA staff, through threats and pressure, is collecting millions of rupees in taxes monthly. Despite this, the TMA has not provided even basic facilities such as restrooms or benches at the dam.

The petition also made Wapda and TMA parties to the case. Renowned lawyer Raja Yasir Ayaz Kayani represents the Boats Association President in this case.

After the initial hearing of the case, the Consumer Court ordered Khanpur TMA to stop collecting any kind of taxes at Khanpur Dam and issued notices to the relevant parties.

Later, Kayani revealed that Khanpur was declared a Tehsil in 2018, and Khanpur TMA began imposing taxes illegally in 2020 on jetty, parking, and other activities. Each year, the taxes have been increased.