MIANWALI, March 15: The Mianwali district coordination officer has cancelled the toll tax collection contract and sealed all octroi posts.

The district government gave toll tax collection contract for Rs8.3 million to a local contractor. Objections were raised in district council meeting and an opposition member offered more money.

Meanwhile, other contractors offered huge amounts for the contract but the government paid no heed to such offers. People and transporters also complained against imposition of tax and misbehaviour and frequent excesses of the contractor.

A letter from EDO (finance and planning) Dr Syed Haider Ali alleged that toll tax collection contract procedure was not transparent. Moreover, the district government was not authorized to impose tax on national or provincial highways except on roads and bridges constructed by it.

Some contractors also moved the Lahore High Court against the contract. The DCO was ordered to probe the issue. He immediately cancelled the contract and sealed octroi posts.