HARIPUR, July 6: The NWFP government, through a recently-issued notification to all the districts of the province, has ordered an increase in the registration fee on transfer of property.

The new rates are applicable from the new fiscal year 2002-2003, Dawn learnt here on Saturday.

According to sources, the provincial government has upwardly revised the stamp duty on registration of all kinds of land transfer from the new fiscal year.

As per the new schedule, the registration fee on Rs100,000 transaction of land would now be Rs1,500 instead of Rs125.

The stamp duty would be received at the rate of three per cent instead of 2.5 per cent.

Likewise, on power of attorney (Khas), Rs250 would be charged instead of Rs200 and on power of attorney (ordinary) Rs750 against the previous rate of Rs600.

It was also learnt that the government had ordered a considerable increase in the registration fee and stamp duty for mortgaging land.

Meanwhile, the local social circles criticized this decision, terming it tantamount to burdening the poor beyond their capacity. They demanded cancellation of the increase in these fees.