January 10, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 25, 1422

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SIALKOT, Jan 9: The revised property tax system has become controversial as hundreds of people have objected to the assessments made by the Excise and Taxation Department.

The people have decided that they will challenge the new system in a court of law.

They contacted the local Press Club on Wednesday, complaining of the exorbitant rates of tax levied under the revised property tax system. Traders and businessmen claimed the system was an amended form of land-based tax system which had already been rejected by the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Supreme Court of Pakistan. They said the original rent-based system was a rational method of assessing the property tax and urged the officials concerned to restore it.

The Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran turned down the system, stating in a press release they had filed over 200 objections to the new tax assessment.

Local lawyers community said the department had committed a contempt of court by taking into consideration the capital value of the assets which was a violation of the constitution as the levy property tax on the capital value of the assets fell within the cognizance of the federal government only.

However, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Surgical Association, Sports Goods Association and Gloves Association were silent over the issue.

DEMANDED: Punjab Farmers Rights Commissions (PFRC) chairman has urged the higher-ups to relieve sugar cane growers from the clutches of ‘mafia’.

Talking to newsmen here on Wednesday, he said the growers were still deprived of the supporting price due to the slackness of the higher authorities.

He alleged the mills’ owners were extorting money from the poor growers by resorting to short-measuring and giving lower prices of the cane crops than the supporting prices.

The government had announced Rs40 per 40kg as supporting price, however, the cane mafia was usurping the rights of the growers.

The chief urged the authorities concerned to announce a supporting price of Rs450 per maund of wheat crop. Resenting levy of sales tax on fertilizers at retail level by the government, he said it would cause further rise in input articles for sowing crops.

GRANT: The Provincial government has released a special grant of Rs20 million for the construction of additional class rooms and provision of facilities in all the middle and primary schools in the district.

This was stated by district Nazim Mian Naeem Javed in a press release issued here on Wednesday.

The Nazim said walls and lavatories would be constructed in all the girls elementary and high schools till June 30, 2002, adding after the completion of the project all the shelterless schools would be provided buildings.

He maintained the Government Girls High School, Head Marala, and Government Girls High School, Chobara, had been upgraded to higher secondary level to ensure quality of education to the girls’ students hailing from the far-flung areas.