THIS is with reference to the report ‘KMC gets three months to review plan to collect utility charges through power bills’ (May 31). The Sindh High Court (SHC) appears to be in the process of giving approval regarding the collection of controversial municipal utility charges and taxes through the electricity bills, as it has directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to complete the exercise of reviewing the agreement with K-Electric (KE).

It was some 20 years ago when the then mayor of Karachi in association with the then executive district officer (EDO) of the city government had come up with the idea of imposing municipal charges against various utility services that have hardly ever been provided. This was unfair as the people of Karachi were even then paying pay water and sewerage charges to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). Those living in Clifton and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) areas paid their water and sewerage charges to the relevant agencies. Besides, everyone was paying the motor vehicle tax that covered road maintenance.

There was no justification in imposing dual taxation in the form of municipal charges. These charges were, and are, nothing but a way to hoodwink the people. Simply put, it is official extortion. It is unfortunate that KE is willing to allow itself to be involved in daylight robbery. It should revisit its decision.

On its part, the SHC should reject the KMC plan of subjecting the people of Karachi to double taxation for no reason.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2024