CCB cracks down on property tax defaulters

RAWALPINDI:

The Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) has launched an extensive crackdown to recover property tax arrears worth millions of rupees pending from the past several years. The Board's staff is sealing from 50 to 100 commercial and residential properties approximately on a daily basis. In response, the owners of these sealed properties have started paying their arrears in instalments to get them de-sealed.

The CCB has finally started issuing property tax bills to owners in residential and commercial areas with huge arrears due to the non-issuance of bills in the last five to seven years and the administration's lack of seriousness in tax recovery.

Aamir Rashid, the CCB's new Executive Officer, has taken a strong stance on property tax recovery by issuing orders to ensure all arrears are collected under a zero-tolerance policy. To achieve this, teams have been formed comprising officials from various branches, including revenue, enforcement, building control, and food with tasks to launch a crackdown against defaulters.

The CCB has adopted a two-phase approach to recover property tax arrears from defaulters. In the first phase, bills along with arrears were delivered to the tax defaulters by approaching their residential properties and tenants of rented commercial properties. Following this, a crackdown was launched against those who did not pay their arrears even after receiving the bills.

Afterwards, joint recovery teams started sealing the residential and commercial properties of defaulters, which led to the recovery of arrears in instalments.

Sources in the CCB have clarified that they will be taking strict action against defaulters until all outstanding dues in millions of rupees are recovered.

The recovery teams have been given clear instructions to carry out their work without any discrimination, and anyone who tries to interfere with government work will face action according to the law, they add.