KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly was on Monday informed that over 91,000 cars were registered in Karachi during 2014 and 2015 compared to only 19 vehicles registered in other parts of the province during the two-year period.

The information was provided by Sindh Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Chawla during the assembly’s Question Hour in response to a question by Leader of the Opposition and Muttahida Qaumi Movement legislator Khwaja Izharul Hasan who asked for such figures.

Monday’s Question Hour pertained to the excise and taxation department.

The minister said that 91,449 cars were registered in Karachi during 2014 and 2015.

During that period, not a single car was registered in Hyderabad, Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas regions.

Not even one car registered in Hyderabad, Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas regions in 2014-15

Eleven cars were registered in Sukkur region in 2015 and two and six cars were registered in Larkana region during 2014 and 2015, respectively.

To another question by the same lawmaker regarding number of motorcycles registered in the province, the minister said that 423,818 motorcycles were registered in Karachi during 2014 and 2015. During the same period, 222,409 two-wheelers were registered in rest of the province.

MQM’s Sumeta Syed, who has defected to the Pak Sarzameen Party, asked why not a single car was registered in the Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Benazirabad regions in the two-year period and why only 19 cars were registered in Sukkur and Larkana regions as compared to the huge number of cars registered in Karachi alone.

The minister replied that the people of the province had the right to get their vehicles registered wherever they wanted.

Over 46,000 cars imported in three years

In his question, MQM legislator Kamran Akhtar asked about the number of imported vehicles registered and the amount of motor vehicle tax collected during 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The minister said that 17,216 imported vehicles were registered in 2013 and over Rs165 million was collected. In 2014, 14,034 vehicles were registered and over Rs110m tax was collected. In the year 2015, 15,148 vehicles were registered and over Rs363m was collected as MVT.

Ms Syed pointed out that the MVT amount of Rs363,017,628 collected during 2013-15 was inaccurate as it did not match the total of the amount mentioned for these years separately. The minister said that it could be a mathematical error but he would get it checked and inform the house soon.

Responding to another question by Mr Akhtar regarding people employed in the excise department during 2015-16, the minister said that just one person — a son of a former employee — was appointed as an excise constable (BPS-5) against the deceased quota in Benazirabad after getting approval from the chief minister.

Responding to a question by MQM lawmaker Mohammad Hussain as to when the excise and taxation officers (ETOs) were appointed, the minister said that the ETOs were appointed at different times and the last batch was recruited in 2000.

Responding to a question by Mr Akhtar regarding vacancies of ETOs, the minister said that there were a few vacancies and the last time the department tried to get these filled through the Sindh Public Service Commission in 2016, the process was stopped by the Supreme Court.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2018