Advertisement and Local Tax Department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (LT KMC) failed to generate revenue as compare last years, having 1600 sites approved this year Pakistan Today has learnt.
Irregularities and corruption have become routine business in Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), source told Pakistan Today, that the recovery of the Local Tax Department was Rs520million in the year 2009-10, which increased to Rs110million in the year 2010-11 and reached at Rs630million including Rs160million revenue generated from shop signs last years.
In the year 2010-11, the total advertisement sites were 1378 including 1069 land sites and 309 private sites.
However, sources informed that the recovery of the Local Tax Department had reached up to Rs690million in the year 2011-12, having more than 2000 sites including more than 1500 land sites and 500 private sites.
“Although Rs40million is a direct increase in the contract of shop signs in the year 2011-12, which makes up the total recovery of Rs 670million in current year,” sources added.
Increase in land and private sites by around 700 while rise in recovery by just Rs60million including 40million of a direct increase in shop signs’ contract, definitely raise many questions on the performance of Local Tax Department. When tried to contacted, Senior Director Local Tax Department, Akhtar Ali Shaikh, did not respond of multiple phone calls.
It is pertinent to mention here that the 1600 sites are approved in the By-laws, but violation of the laws is rampant.
Sources further said that the Senior Director Local Tax Akhtar Ali Shaikh enjoys the backing of Karachi Commissioner Roshan Ali Shaikh
Interestingly, Karachi Commissioner Roshan Ali Sheikh and director of Advertisements and Local Taxes (LT) department of KMC Akhter Ali Sheikh both are brother. However more than 300 men who are performing their duties in the concerned departments however there is a one-man show i.e. Akhtar Shaikh, the director advertisements KMC to run the entire business from issuing licenses to installation and surveys.
