KARACHI, July 12: A cheque for Rs2 million excise duty issued for three Asian Cup matches by the Pakistan Cricket Board in favour of excise and taxation department bounced on “non-sufficient account” recently.

The district officer/director, Property Tax and Entertainment Duty, has issued a notice to the PCB for explaining reasons why legal action should not be taken against them on the cheque default.

The cheque No 3208009 (dated June 19, 2008) was drawn on the UBL Stadium Road Branch and was refused payment.

The copies of the notice, addressed to PBC’s director of HR and administration, have also been sent to the chairman of PCB and its CEO.

In another letter, director, Property Tax, has asked the PCB to pay entertainment duty on income earned from other matches of the Asia Cup which amounts to Rs1.3 million.

When contacted, the Excise and Taxation director-general said that the incident of bouncing of Rs2 million cheque issued by the PCB on account of entertainment duty had come to his notice and he was gathering details.

He expressed the hope that the issue would be amicably resolved and that the PCB management would issue a genuine cheque to pay government dues.

The PCB already owes Rs7.9 million in property tax to the department on its properties and land used for the commercial purpose.

This also includes National Stadium which is the venue of international cricketing events generating substantial income for the PCB.

Several letters have been written to the PCB for recovery of tax asking the PCB management to pay 50 per cent of the dues and file an appeal to sort out the remaining dues.

To a query, the director-general refused to comment on the matter saying that the issue is sub judice as the PCB has obtained interim stay from the Sindh High Court against the tax demand made by the excise and taxation department.