Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that those who have sent wrong notices of property tax to the citizens will be put behind the bars as harassment and injustice to the people under the garb of property tax will not be tolerated. He was presiding over a high-level meeting here Friday which reviewed in detail the matters pertaining to property tax. The Chief Minister said that he has interest of the people at heart and the officers and officials pestering the people have no right to stay on their posts.
He said that serving notices of excessive property tax to the citizens tantamount to highhandedness and cruelty which is intolerable. Taking strict notice of inclusion of rural areas into the list of rating areas, the Chief Minister expressed his indignation and said that the flaws in the property tax system should immediately be removed. He said that state is like mother to the citizens and its basic responsibility is to provide best services to the people and resolve their problems. He said that punishing the people for the incompetence of bureaucracy is totally unacceptable.
The Chief Minister said the fact that tax notices for the previous years have also been sent to the residents of the areas which have been included for the first time in the list of rating areas shows an extremely irresponsible attitude and stern action should be taken against the persons responsible and a report be presented to him after reviewing the matter.
Stressing the need for resolving all issues pertaining to property tax as early as possible, the Chief Minister issued instructions for formation of committees for submitting their report within seven days. Shahbaz Sharif directed that all issues regarding property tax be settled immediately and an audit of entire system of property tax be conducted. Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Member Provincial Assembly Pervez Malik, Advisor Dr Ijaz Nabi, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, concerned secretaries and senior officers were present on the occasion.