RAWALPINDI, July 2: The district governments have been empowered by the provincial government to levy some more taxes in the area under their jurisdiction.

Sources said the district government was now authorized to collect toll on roads, bridges, ferries which had earlier been a prerogative of union councils, tax industrial exhibitions and other public events, collect charges on lands and fix rental charges for land, building, equipment, machinery and vehicles. It will also collect charges on behalf of the provincial, Tehsil and union council administrations. The district government would now be authorized to collect a total of 11 taxes.

The sources further divulged that according to new rules, if the district government budget was not approved by the Council before the commencement of new financial year, the district government could spend money in accordance with the budgetary provisions of the preceding financial year for a period not exceeding 30 days.

The Rawalpindi district government benefited from this relaxation as it could not pass the budget before June 30 because of delay in the Punjab Finance Commission award.

Under the rules, the provincial government has to notify the local governments about their share of the provincial funds before the start of new fiscal year. However, it could not be done this year due to which Rawalpindi district council’s budget session had to be postponed.

The new rules further state that if a district government budget is not passed even in the extra period, the provincial government would prepare and approve the budget on its own.