PESHAWAR: The residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can now pay taxes through an online application on their mobile phone, launched here Thursday.

The mobile application “Zama KP” -- an e-payment portal for online payment of provincial taxes -- was launched at a ceremony here. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was chief guest on the occasion.

Initially, token tax on vehicles could be paid through this e-payment facility, said a press release. “In the next phase, the facility would be extended for payment of rest of the taxes related to vehicles and property,” it added.

The e-payment portal was launched by the excise taxation and narcotics control department. However, other departments can also use the system to collect their taxes. Similarly, fee of educational boards can also be paid through the “Zama KP” application.

The application was developed with the technical and financial assistance of the sub national governance programme and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of British Government.

The chief minister said that the application was a historic and important step of the provincial government towards e-governance. The initiative, he said, would not only facilitate people in payment of taxes but also increase tax collection.

“Easy and efficient payment of taxes is an important step towards citizen facilitation,” he said, while addressing the launching ceremony. He said that government was providing efficient facilities to citizens through employing information technology.

Under the provincial e-governance strategy, said the chief minister, large scale reforms were underway in excise and taxation department. “Work is also in progress to digitise the canal system in the province through which consumers can get all the information regarding effective use of water,” he added.

He said that land record in the province was also being computerised. He added that government was also taking revolutionary steps in other sectors.

“Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway and Dir Motorway have been approved, economic zones are being established in different districts to ensure uniform development of the whole province,” said the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2021