FAISALABAD, Aug 31: Amid pandemonium, the district council approved imposition of toll tax on seven major roads of the district here on Tuesday. Heated debates were witnessed between treasury and opposition councillors during the session presided over by convener Raza Nasarullah Ghuman.

The opposition councillors alleged that the contracts for the collection of toll tax had already been granted to favourites due to which the local government was bent upon to get approval from the house.

They claimed that all segments of society had rejected the tax. There was no justification for the local government to take decisions against the people's will, they added.

On the other hand, the councillors belonging to ruling group contended that imposition of taxes was the main source of income. Funds were direly needed to meet expenses of the district government.

They presented a resolution before the house for declaring the district as toll tax free from next year. The resolution was adopted with thumping majority. After the debate, the house approved the plan for collection of toll tax. Its rate is as follows:

On Jaranwala Road the tax is Rs3.57 million, Tandlianwala Road Rs2.3 million, Samundri Road Rs11 million, Millat Road Rs2.4 million, Narwala Road Rs3.3 million, Dijkot to Sarshmeer Road Rs1.32 million and Kanjwani Road Rs1.8 million.

On the issue of the withdrawal of trade and professional tax, the councillors of both the groups also exchanged hot words with each other. The ruling councillors claimed that the local government had imposed a trade and professional tax after getting approval from the house.

But the provincial government refused to endorse the decision and did not issue a notification. In such circumstances, there was a dire need to abolish the tax and evolve some foolproof strategy, they observed.

They also demanded the chair to table the resolution for abolition of tax before the house so that it could be withdrawn. After noisy speeches, the convener, through a ruling ordered to refer the matter to the Punjab government for a decision.