ISLAMABAD, MAY 4: /DNA/ – President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Nasir Mansoor Qureshi has stated that two years ago, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) had imposed a 400% increase in property tax, which was rejected and challenged by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in the Islamabad High Court. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani ruled that any increase in property tax would be subject to the holding of local government elections in Islamabad, thereby rejecting the hike. He further stated that CDA (Capital Development Authority) has no nothing to do with MCI’s tax system and directed that permission must be sought from the court each month for withdrawal of funds for salaries.
The court instructed the collection of property tax at old rates and ordered that all tax bills be corrected accordingly. However, the MCI Director Revenue has not complied with the court’s decision and continues to collect bills based on the new rates. The bills submitted by ICCI have also not been corrected yet.
President added that MCI now intends to once again raise the property tax, which amounts to contempt of court. If this happens, ICCI will approach the Islamabad High Court again. He further highlighted that many housing societies collect property tax themselves and do not even allow MCI’s revenue department to operate within them. He questioned whether MCI only exerts pressure on traders and industrialists. He warned that ICCI will strongly protest against any increase in property tax.
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