KARACHI, March 4: The Sindh government on Thursday decided to release the 2.5 per cent share in GST (general sales tax) directly to each district government and town municipal administration of the province.

It was decided at a joint meeting of the Local Government and Finance departments held on Thursday/ The meeting was chaired by the CM's Adviser on Local Government, Wasim Akhtar.

Official sources said the meeting decided that amount of the share of all district governments and TMAs, except the CDGK, would be in parity with that in the financial year 1998-99.

In the case of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), the meeting decided, the share would be based on Local Government department's notification dated March 27, 2002.

These arrangements have, however, been made for the month of March only. From April onward, the finance department would ensure that the total amount of the 2.5 per cent GST, being received from the federal government under OZT grant, is released to district governments and TMAs of the province.