SWABI, May 3: A number of private educational institutions here are facing closure due to taxes imposed by the district government.

This was stated by district president of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management (APPSM) Raz Mohammad here on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference, he said several private schools would be closed if the district government did not review its tax policy.

Raz Mohammad said imposition of income tax, social security tax, old age benefit, registration tax, affiliation tax, professional tax and a number of other levies had put an extra burden on private schools. Many schools would be closed down if the tax policy was not reconsidered, he added.

Over 200 private educational institutions are functioning in the district.

Raz Mohammad said officials of the department concerned demanded Rs35,000 before registration of a private school, for which they gave no justification.

He said if school owners asked for calculating income tax as per rules, the officials adopted various tactics and did not consider expenses made on account of purchase of furniture as genuine expense.

The district government, he said, had demanded that each school should pay Rs100 per year as professional tax, and Rs1,500 per year as old age benefit,which he said was an extra burden. He said these taxes had put an extra burden on schools.