KARACHI, Oct 6: The Saddar Town Council has approved a proposal to levy tax on cinema tickets to raise revenue for this cash strapped local government tier.

A tax of Rs2 to Rs5 is proposed to be levied, bringing about Rs20 million to the town’s coffer annually. The town council met on Saturday, a statement said.

The levy on movie tickets was necessitated after the town’s advertisement department was merged with the city government, taking away a major source of revenue.

At the outset of the meeting, a minute’s silence was observed to mourn those killed in the recent Rimpa Plaza firing incident.

Convener Wazir Rahbar apprised the council that the town faced a shortage of funds to run its affairs. He said taxes were being levied to increase the town’s resources with the objective of timely provision of civic facilities to the people.

The town council meanwhile approved a proposal to name Outram Road after late Prof Masihuddin Ahmed Siddiqui. It also approved the widening of Ahmed Raza Khan Road from the KWSB Pumping Station to the Nullah, as well as the installation of floodlights at Gizri playground.—APP