KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the federal government was supportive and helping to allow the K-Electric to collect two of the KMC taxes- fire and conservancy – through electricity bills.
“Some people who do not want to see the KMC reviving its financial strength are opposing it [the collection of KMC taxes through electricity bills] forgetting that the TV fee is already being collected through electricity bills,” he said while talking to media at Mazar-e-Quaid on Saturday, where he visited to pay rich tribute to the Father of Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, on the occasion of his death anniversary.
To a question, Shah said that the KMC set a collection target of fire tax and conservancy at Rs1 billion every year but it could hardly collect Rs250 million. “Therefore, it has worked out a plan to collect both the taxes by reducing their rate through electricity bills,” he said and added, “The KMC was not introducing any new tax but these were the old tax being collected.”
The CM said the KMC under the improved tax collection plan had decided to collect it along with electricity bills so that collection targets could be achieved in the interest of the city and its people. “I am surprised that some people have come out to oppose it for nothing and forgetting that TV fee is already being collected through the power bills then why not the KMC taxes,” he questioned?
Mr Shah disclosed that he had talked to the Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen and Chairman NEPRA to allow the KMC to collect its taxes through electricity bills and they were very positive and assured their support and full cooperation.
To another question, the CM said that the provincial government would launch the Orange Line along with the federal government’s Green Line project. “We are bringing 250 buses in the city but due to some technical issues the project lingered on and now a government agency has offered to procure the buses,” he said.
Replying to another question, Shah said that due to cleaning of nullas and improvement of drainage system, the rainwater did not accumulate on the roads and streets as it had been in the past. He added that work on Malir Expressway, Red Line BRT and Blue BRT would start very soon.
The chief minister, to a question, said that his government was ready to provide medical treatment to legend actor Umer Sharif. “Our culture dept has already announced to provide medical treatment to Umer Sharif,” he said and added as far as his treatment in America was concerned, it was a federal government which would issue him visa and such other facilities.
Paying rich tribute to the father of the nation, the chief minister said that he had founded Pakistan to make it a peaceful and democratic nation. “We have to carry forward Quiad’s mission by following his guiding principles,” he said and added when Pakistan came into being, Kashmir was its part and parcel but later it was occupied by India- therefore we should remember our brothers of Kashmir who have been struggling against Indian occupation and aggression on this day. Earlier, the chief minister laid a floral wreath on the Mazar-e-Quaid and offered fateha