GUJRANWALA: The Gujranwala Metropolitan Corporation (GMC) has stopped Rs400 million development schemes, got approved by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf local leaders for different areas of the city before the apex court restored local governments in Punjab.

The PTI’s local leaders, expressing their concern over the move, approached the officers concerned for restoration of these development schemes.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had restored the local governments in Punjab a couple of days back.

Following the court orders, the GMC Mayor Sheikh Sarwat Ikram, who belongs to the opposition PML-N, along with dozens of union councils’ chairmen and other elected representatives, had started visiting their respective offices.

These development schemes worth Rs400m had been got approved by the PTI’s local leaders a few weeks before restoration of the local governments by the apex court.

The stoppage of these schemes by the GMC has dashed the plans of the PTI local leaders for carrying out development works in their areas. They have demanded the government to took into the matter.

FBR NOTICES: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued notices to the heads of federal and provincial departments, demanding payment of withholding tax on funds of different development schemes, giving June 30 deadline for the purpose.

According to sources, the metropolitan corporation, tehsil councils, municipal committees, Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), besides irrigation, education, health highways, forest and other departments and the district administration are defaulters of withholding tax to be charged by the FBR on the funds issued for development schemes, contracts and procurements.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2021