ISLAMABAD, June 9: Sector I-8 and all model villages in the capital will be included in the property tax net from July 1, a source in the CDA told Dawn on Sunday.

Property tax is being levied on these areas for the first time in the history of Islamabad.

The source said the authority had completed the survey of these areas, and property tax would be charged from next fiscal year.

Sector I-8 had been exempted from property tax because majority of the CDA officials were residing in the sector, the source said.

Similarly, all model villages like Humak Town, Rawal Town, Margalla Town and Chak Shehzad will be brought in the property tax net.

These villages had been exempted from the tax because they did not fall in the revenue limits of the Capital Development Authority.

The total number of people living in these model towns is stated to be over 100,000, who are not being provided basic civic amenities by the CDA.

Although, the authority had built roads and streets and also set up sewerage in these areas, the authority did not provide maintenance facility.

The CDA also does not supply water to the residents of these model towns, compelling them to depend on water obtained through electric pumps.

The CDA chairman had directed the directorate concerned to conduct a fresh survey of property in Islamabad so that the tax net could be expanded.

The source said the Capital Development Authority had started collection of increased property tax from the citizens. The increase of 250 per cent was made last year.

Resident of Islamabad expressed their concern over the increase in tax, and said it would not only create problems for the owners of houses and commercial units, but also for the tenants, as the rise in property tax would also result in increase in rents.

“Rents in Islamabad are already high as compared to other cities, thus CDA should also restrict owners to keep the rents of residential and commercial units stable after increase in property tax,” a tenant said.