MURREE: There is no proper system to collect property tax from hundreds of buildings in Bhurban and its adjoining areas.

Millions of rupees are invested in purchasing and selling of apartments, houses, commercial plazas and other land transactions every year but they are not subjected to property and other taxes.

Different kinds of taxes are being collected from hotels and other commercial businesses in Murree and a five-star hotel in Bhurban but many buildings are practically exempted from taxes for unknown reasons.

When contacted Property Tax Inspector Murree Zaid Rana said a detailed survey was being carried out and even notices of property tax had also been issued to some building owners.

He said seven roads had been identified for conducting building surveys including Murree-Barriya road, old Murree Rawalpindi road, Murree-Patriyata Road, Jika Gali-Bhurban road and as soon survey was completed tax notices would be issued to all property owners.

He said survey work was suspended after a revenue department team was attacked by the traders of Kashmiri Bazaar hence the delay in survey

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2017