ISLAMABAD: Stakeholders unanimously rejected exorbitant increase in property taxes by the Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI).

After a large gathering over the issue the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) all the stakeholders unanimously rejected the recently imposed exorbitant increase in property taxed by the MCI.

Chaired by the president ICCI Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, the meeting unanimously termed the new increase as illogical and irrational and decided that if the levies were not withdrawn, a series of peaceful protests will be launched as well as contempt of court pleas will also be filed to get the decision reversed.

The meeting was largely attended by representatives of all the stakeholders of the capital city.

They said that in the absence of a local government the Metropolitan Corporation has no moral ground or authority to enhance or impose new taxes and make policy decisions.

The participants said that some time back, the MCI had increased the property tax and the Chamber moved the Islamabad High Court deciding that the interim setup of MCI could not impose taxes and that such policy decisions can only be taken by the elected representatives of the local government.

The house also decided to contact the elected representatives of the capital city and ask them to come forward and help prevent the imposition of these highly objectionable taxes.

It was also decided that different committees will be formed and all the available channels will be used to oppose this inhuman move by the MCI.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2024