ISLAMABAD: Homeowners in Islamabad have seen an astonishing 200 percent increase in property tax with a very little time to pay the dues.
The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) authorized the change in the property tax last December, making it effective from July 1, but the tussle between MCI and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) over who would manage the revenue directorate responsible for collecting tax meant that the distribution of property tax challans was delayed.
Bills that were supposed to reach the property owners in the first week of August were delivered last week, with the deadline set Sept 30.
A resident of F-6 said: “This is ridiculous and nonsense. There is no justification for a hike of more than 200pc whatever the reason. There should be a 10 to 20pc increase.”
“It seems the inner tussle between the CDA and the MCI to grab the civic powers of the capital territory resulted in the delay in the distribution of property tax bills. Bills that would otherwise have reached their destinations in August were distributed on Sept 21-22, leaving residents shocked at the raise on one hand and fearful of the deadline on the other,” a CDA official said.
Homeowners talked to a private news channel and demanded the Government bodies to revise the increased rate.
“This is totally unjust. We do not know who has the powers to decide the tax increase, but it is nothing less than a bombshell for residents who have to pay 200 times what they paid in property tax last year.
“I am surprised at the criteria being followed by the MCI. Such a significant increase in one go has left our budgets reeling. We are the salaried class, and have to maintain our monthly budgets accordingly. Now we have to look to our savings to pay the bills,” a G-10 resident said.
