KARACHI, Sept 3: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who also holds the portfolio of Excise and Taxation, informed the Sindh Assembly on Friday that levy and collection of property tax and entertainment duty stood devolved to town/taluka councils.

Replying to a question by Nasreen Chandio, the CM in his written reply said the nomenclature of the posts of 'director (taxes-I), Karachi' and 'excise and taxation officers, Karachi' had been changed to 'DO (property tax and entertainment duty)' and 'DDO (property tax and entertainment duty)' respectively.

Annual confidential reports/ performance evaluation reports of these officers are to be initiated/countersigned by EDO (revenue, Karachi). Thus, they are under the administrative control of the CDGK.

Dr Arbab stated that under devolution of financial powers, budget allocation to these devolved offices was routed through EDO (finance) of the CDGK by the provincial finance department.

Likewise, he said, the targets of revenue collection under the heads of property tax and entertainment duty were also conveyed to them through the CDGK and the collection under these heads was also disbursed to respective town municipal administration (TMA).

All property tax and entertainment tax collections are now deposited in the district account No.IV, controlled by DCO, the principal accounting officer. Replies to supplementary questions were given by Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed.

In reply to a question by Saira Shahlani, Minister for Industries Adil Siddiqui told the house that there were six registered industrial units and one unregistered running unit in Taluka Garhi Khairo in Jacobabad district. -APP