March 19, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 15, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, March 18: The Excise and Taxation Department has served notices on more than 105 motor vehicle owners and property tax evaders besides forming two separate squads to trace out the major defaulters, official sources said on Tuesday.

Akram Ashraf Gondal, the director excise and taxation Rawalpindi, told Dawn that though the recovery percentage had risen to 13 per cent during the current fiscal year, the major tax defaulters were evading tax.

Mr Gondal said the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) were among the defaulters and, therefore, served with notices. The RCB is supposed to pay 15 per cent of the tax collected to the Excise and Taxation Department, while the outstanding amount due to the board has risen to around Rs60 million.

The director taxation said Rs49,54,52350 had been recovered under the heads of motor vehicle, property and other taxes during the financial year, whereas Rs43,73,39616 had been recovered during July 2001-June 30,2003.

However, there has been a fall in the collection of tax under the head of motor vehicle transfer fee.

The department has started a special campaign and formed two separate squads to trace out the defaulters and recover the tax due to them. Mr Gondal said the Punjab government was also considering reduction in “hospital tax”.