KARACHI:
People buying sacrificial animals for Eidul Azha are facing a new ordeal as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has started collecting a “municipal service tax” at cattle market exit points, allegedly through coercive means.
According to reports, KMC personnel have set up check points at the exits of various cattle markets and are not allowing vehicles carrying sacrificial animals to leave unless the tax is paid. Buyers are charged Rs300 for small animals and Rs600 for large animals.
Terming the move unjustified, a senior KMC official, requesting anonymity, said the civic body already collects municipal utility charges and tax (MUCT) through electricity bills on a monthly basis. “When a tax is already being collected, there is no justification to collect it again,” the official said, questioning the legality of the practice.
He further pointed out that KMC is not responsible for cleanliness operations in the metropolis as these fall under Sindh Solid Waste Management Board while MUCT is meant for development and maintenance of infrastructure. “The veterinary department neither ensures cleanliness in cattle markets nor does vaccination of animals. It is unclear for what service this tax is levied,” he added.
However, a KMC spokesperson defended the move, stating that the municipal service charge has been duly approved by the KMC council and is only levied in markets established by the corporation.
Contrary to this claim, an investigation by The Express Pakinomist found that the tax is also levied on the Northern Bypass cattle market, which falls outside the jurisdiction of the KMC.
Several people complained about being forced to pay taxes. Faizan Khan said he was stopped by KMC officials after buying a cow from the Northern Bypass market. “We were issued a Rs600 note and told we could not proceed unless we paid. We already pay municipal taxes on our electricity bills – this is nothing but extortion,” he said.
Similar complaints were reported by Kashan Tariq at Bhains Colony and Muhammad Mazhar at Kamran Chowrangi cattle market who were charged Rs600 and Rs300 respectively.
Kashan said no such tax had been imposed in previous years. “As soon as the moon of Zil Hajj was sighted, KMC officials took position at market exits and started collecting tax from every buyer,” he said.
People have called on the authorities to take note of the situation and clarify the legal status of the tax, which many have described as an unnecessary financial burden ahead of Eid.
