KARACHI, Oct 29: The Karachi Race Club (KRC) has doubled the monthly fee of turf accountants from Rs5,000 to

Rs10,000 apiece, aimed at generating funds to overcome the financial crisis.

The decision was taken at a meeting lasted for an hour between members of the KRC Racing Committee and bookies at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

A source privy to the meeting said the decision which was enforced from Oct 26 came in the aftermath of bookies failure to raise their strength from 14-15 to about 22 which they have assured to do some six months back.

Continuing, the source said, the bookies got another incentive when they convinced the KRC officials to implement eight percent tax on betting amount, irrespective a punter win or lose.

While the bookies monthly fee has been doubled, the tax on betting amount is still applicable and not withdrawn. Previously, there was no tax on betting amount.The only relief that the punters got was reduction in ticket from Rs156 to Rs100 a year back.

Chaired by racing horse owner Syed Ismail Shah on behalf of KRC chairman Syed Sadruddin Shah, the meeting was attended among others by member Racing Committee Irfan Mehdi, Kamal Farooq, Tajammul Hussain Mirza, secretary KRC, Ayaz Shah Rashdi, deputy secretary KRC, Akbar Shah Rashdi and bookies Malik Ashqeen, Nauroze, Najeeb and Naeem Tony.—A.Z