Treasury members lament indifferent attitude of govt, protest absence of mayor. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: In a rare move which saw both the aisles of the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) unite, local government representatives jointly criticised the government authorities for its failure in devising tax rules and resolve the water and land issues of the capital.



Presided over by deputy mayors of the IMC and attended by local representatives from all union councils, the 14th meeting of the IMC at the Pak-China Friendship Centre on Monday discussed a seven-point agenda including budget suggestions forwarded to the government and the demand for approving their developmental and non-developmental expenditures.



The meeting suggested increasing property tax and water charges to generate revenue for the local government. Moreover, they reviewed the facility of public-private partnership for the IMC under the Local Government Act 2015.



They said that this facility would not only consolidate the financial position of the IMC but will also play an important role in the development of the city.



IMC Opposition Leader Ali Awan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) warned that if the problems of the Islamabad’s land affectees is not addressed, they would stage a protest outside the National Press Club.



He demanded that issues of taxation, water and land should all be resolved within the next 15 days.



The government also came under fire from members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) during Monday’s meeting with District Council Chairman Sajid Ali Abbasi admitting that they could not speak the truth while sitting on the treasury benches.



He added that despite the fact that 30 months had passed since they were elected, the post of district chairman had yet to gain any recognition in the city.



Moreover, the absence of legal cover to the local government had encouraged members of the opposition criticised the government and the mayor.



Expressing frustration over the indifferent behaviour of the government, he said they were unable to counter arguments of the opposition members. Abbasi said even though PML-N was in power, their complaints were not being addressed.



Union Council-IV chairman said that while they were PML-N workers and had contested elections on the party’s ticket, no one from the party was listening to their demands. Such was the frustration among assembly members that they protested against the absence of Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz from the session.



This gave opposition members to mount their criticism of the government, slamming it for not allowing local representatives to collect property tax previously. They questioned under what law was property tax being collected now.



They also criticised the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for setting up a temporary cattle market while stopping cattle traders from setting up their own cattle markets.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2017.