KOHAT, March 12: The tehsil council has discussed imposition of tax on companies which are supplying natural gas on commercial basis to other areas because the government has failed to release royalty to Kohat district a guaranteed under the constitution.

Commenting on a joint resolution moved by members of the council and tehsil nazim Dilbar Khan said that if the proposed tax was considered legal they would discuss it with the government and oil and gas exploration companies.

He informed the convener of the house, Zikria Khan, that the issue of early disbursement of two and a half per cent royalty from the natural gas and oil had already been taken up with the government. The royalty due as the commercial supply from Shakardarra oil fields was in progress for the last two years.

Following deliberations over delay in completion of Jinnah Municipal Plaza the house decided to blacklist the contractor and award a fresh contract.

The basement and first floor of the proposed plaza was auctioned for Rs40 million two years back but the contractor had only laid foundations during the period causing unrest among the owners whose millions of rupees had been stuck up in the project.

The nazim ordered immediate release of funds following a walkout by UC Nazim Iftikhar.