RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday raised concerns over property tax amendments and Suthra Punjab sanitation fee.
A delegation of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), led by its president Nosherwan Khalil Khan, had a meeting with Nauman Khalid, Director Excise & Taxation, Rawalpindi Division, to discuss business community concerns regarding recent Finance Act amendments, property tax valuation and assessment, and the sanitation fee introduced under the Suthra Punjab programme.
The delegation included Senior Vice President Waseem Aslam, Vice President Ikram Abbasi, Executive Committee members and representatives from various business sectors.
During the meeting, the RCCI delegation highlighted the additional financial burden on businesses due to revised property tax assessments and the imposition of sanitation charges amid rising energy costs, utility bills and operational expenses.
The delegation expressed concern over possible duplication of charges, noting that businesses already pay various fees to Wasa and the Excise & Taxation Department. It also raised serious reservations over making payment of the sanitation fee mandatory for obtaining No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for property transfers and commercial transactions, particularly where bills have not been issued or received.
It stressed that such requirements should not obstruct legitimate business and property transactions. RCCI President Nosherwan Khalil Khan emphasised that taxation policies must be transparent, equitable and formulated in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
He called for a review of property tax valuation procedures to address anomalies and ensure fair assessments. The RCCI urged the authorities to base sanitation charges on updated field surveys and actual service coverage, introduce appropriate classifications and relief for small businesses, and review existing charges to prevent duplication.
It also recommended a streamlined mechanism for resolving billing disputes, a dedicated grievance redressal system, online complaint tracking, reasonable grace periods and instalment facilities. The RCCI delegation further called for the suspension of penalties and late-payment surcharges on disputed bills until resolution, along with a review of the mandatory NOC requirement.
The RCCI delegation stressed that a fair, transparent and practical implementation mechanism is essential to protect business interests, facilitate property transactions and ensure that taxation policies do not further burden the business community.
Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026
