HARIPUR:
Residents of Hattar have expressed serious concern over a decision by the Excise and Taxation Department to declare the entire Hattar area an urban locality and impose property tax on shops in urban areas.
According to officials, the tax has actually been collected by Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) Khanpur, while the excise department is only responsible for its collection. They said that when TMA Khanpur was established, certain localities were declared urban areas. The tax authority then carried out a formal survey of these areas, surveyed commercial properties and imposed property tax accordingly.
Officials said the tax rate, earlier Rs7 per square foot, has now been increased to Rs10 per square foot. They added that the levy applies regardless of whether a shop is closed or rented out, and that it has been in effect since 2021. All outstanding arrears for that period, they said, must also be paid.
On the other hand, residents of Hattar have termed the decision as unjustified and unfair, questioning the criteria for declaring Hattar an urban area. They argued that a transparent explanation is needed as to whether Hattar really meets the standards of an urban locality.
According to the residents, the excise authorities maintain that Hattar is a fully notified urban area and therefore the tax will be levied uniformly on properties located on the main road as well as in inner neighbourhoods. Locals further objected that the tax has been applied retroactively for the past seven years, which they described as completely unfair.
They said that various taxes are already levied on houses, billboards and advertisements and this additional burden was put on the public after Khanpur got the status of tehsil. Residents added that they had earlier conveyed their reservations to senior authorities at the time of establishment of Tehsil Khanpur.
Concerned citizens emphasized that they are not opposed to legal taxation, but reject arbitrary taxes imposed without public consultation. They said the time has come for all stakeholders to unite and raise their voice with the Chief Minister and relevant authorities while also pursuing other constitutional and democratic avenues.
Residents of Hattar have urged the provincial government to ensure that elected representatives and stakeholders are taken on board before any taxes are imposed so that decisions are transparent and fair, rather than unilaterally placing financial burdens on the public.
