PESHAWAR, Oct 18: The NWFP government is not expecting much results from the on-going drive of filing of income tax returns in absence of big land holdings in greater number, according to official sources.

Besides, prolonged drought experienced by majority of the rain-fed and some of the irrigated areas of the NWFP during the last financial year has further limited the scope of Agriculture Income Tax revamped during the financial year ended on June 30, 2001.

According to new form of farm tax introduced by the provincial government through the Land Tax and Agriculture Income Tax Ordinance, 2000, promulgated on July 27, last year, all those farmers and owners of landholdings whose agriculture-related sales exceeded Rs 200,000 were required to file income tax return for the 2000-2001 financial year by Sept 30, 2001 with the revenue collection authorities of their respective districts. However, after negligible response by the landed gentry of the NWFP, the provincial government extended the last date to Oct 15, 2001.

“Now we are being asked again to extend the deadline for the second time,” the provincial minister for excise and taxation Aminullah Gandapur said.

According to him, in view of the tax returns being filed for the first time farmers community, in several parts of the province,  have come up with complaints  specially  about determining their annual cost of production.

The provincial authorities had instructed all 24 District Collectors (DC) in the province to get the income tax returns filed by Oct 20 and dispatch the same to the provincial Board of Revenue to ensure their early scrutiny.

Farmers/owners of land holdings up to 100 acres (under crop) in the case of unirrigated and 50 acres (cropped area) in the case of irrigated/cultivated area were asked to file the returns. However, in view of the prolonged drought during the last year not much of the land holdings are likely to fall under the farm tax net.

Similarly, among those who would be filing returns very few would be required to pay income tax due to low rates of income tax.

According to new land tax and agriculture income tax law, all those who appear to be liable to pay income tax (with over Rs 80,000 net income in the 2000-2001 financial year) would be eligible to claim rebate for the amount they paid on account of land tax.

Those who will not fall under the income tax net they would be liable to pay land tax at the rates already announced by the provincial government.

Dist council hall: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Thursday visited the secretariat of the Peshawar district and directed authorities concerned to release immediately the allocated amount for the construction of the proposed district council hall near Bacha Khan Chowk.

He inspected the existing hall, which is to be used as the district council hall after its repair, expansion and renovation.

He said the district council chamber and the guests gallery should be distinct from each other.

The governor was informed during a briefing that the proposed   construction and renovation would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs6.55 million.

In reply to a question, he said the three million rupees already allocated out of the transition money for the building of the district secretariat should be used for the construction of the district council hall.

He asked the authorities to release the amount immediately, and carry out the construction work in different phases.