ISLAMABAD: CDA plans 80% to 100% raise in property tax, water charges

By Fazal Sher

Cash strapped Capital Development Authority (CDA) has planned to increase property tax up to 80 percent and water charges up to 100 percent to meet its expenditures, Daily Times learnt on Tuesday.

The sources said the authority’s Revenue Directorate had sent a summary to CDA Board for review of property and water tax. The authority had reviewed water and property tax last time in year 2000, the sources said.

They said CDA Board after approval the authority would send the summary to Cabinet Division for final approval. They said the civic body had revised taxes in 2000 under section 15-A of the CDA Ordinance 1960, read with section 33 of the Municipal Administration Ordinance 1960 and with the sanction of federal government.

It is learnt that currently CDA had fix water charges for domestic consumers, government-owned residences, construction purposes, government buildings and institutions, hospitals and commercial buildings. The current domestic water charges depended upon consumption. CDA charges Rs 8 per month for consuming 1,000 to 5,000 gallons of water from the consumers, Rs 10 for use of 5,001-20,000 gallons of water and Rs 12 for use of 20,000 gallons and above, sources said.

Similarly, rate of per month water charges for government-owned residences has been fixed according to the category. CDA charge Rs 48 from category A and B, Rs 48 from C, Rs 62 from D, Rs 84 from E, Rs 110 from F, Rs 140 from G, Rs 162 from H and Rs 188 from I. After revision of water tax CDA would charge double water tax from the residents of these government owned flats, they said.

They said water charges for private residences per month ranged from Rs 96 for less than 250 square yards houses and maximum Rs 378 per month for 2,000 square yards and above houses. Water charges for different government main buildings range from Rs 14,400 for Sindh and Punjab House, Rs 8,640 for Foreign Office, Rs 7,200 for CDA Officers Hostel, Rs 6,480 for Government Hostel, Secretariat buildings Phas-1 and II Rs 51,600, Rs 4,320 each for Frontier House and Balochistan House. While per month water charges for judges residence is Rs 188 per month.

The official said property tax for residential buildings was different in various sectors. Property tax for E series plot area per square yard is Rs 6 and covered area per square feet Rs 6. For F series per square yard plot area tax is Rs 4.50 and Rs 5 for per square feet covered area. For I series plot area up to 365 square yards, Rs 2.50 per square yard for plot area and Rs 3.20 per square feet for covered area and for plots area more than 356 square yards, Rs 3 per square yard for plot area and Rs 4.50 per feet for covered area.

Similarly, property tax rates for commercial buildings range from Rs 6 per square yard plot area and Rs 9 per square feet covered area, he said, adding, minimum tax rate for fruit and vegetable market was Rs 3 per square yard plot area and Rs 5 per square feet covered area.

However, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid said he was unaware of any summary sent to CDA Board regarding revision of water and property tax.
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