Charges against cantonment: Court calls chief over ‘unjust’ development charges

In case of absence, court will go ahead and pass orders.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has summoned the chief executive officer of the Korangi Creek cantonment board over a controversy on “unjust” development charges.

A few years ago, an investor bought land from the cantonment to set up a garments factory. At that time, the owner agreed to pay Rs20 per square yard to the board as development charges.

Once the industrial unit started operating, however, the cantonment levied Rs250 per yard to provide civic facilities, such as roads, streetlights, garbage cleaning and sewerage. The management even took the landowner to court asking for Rs13.1 million payable up to August 2010.

The readymade garments manufacturer, in turn, took the defence secretary, president and chief executive officer of the Korangi creek cantonment board among others to court. The cantonment leased land, bearing survey Nos. 245 and 255, in Korangi Creek some years ago to the petitioner, who exports high-quality garments to European countries and the US, said the petitioner’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafi Kamboh. The industrial unit provides livelihood to around 5,000 people.



The lawyer recalled that earlier the Sindh High Court had directed the cantonment board to call a meeting with company officials within two months to resolve the issue. No such meeting has been called to date.

He appealed to the court to declare the recovery of development charges at high rates unlawful. No representative of the cantonment board was present at the hearing.

Chief Justice Mushir Alam, who headed the bench, directed the office to issue a direct notice to the Korangi creek cantonment’s chief operating officer. The bench warned that if no one appears for the board on the next hearing date, it may pass appropriate orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2012.