PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has released another Rs1 billion to the local government department for compensating Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) against losses incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier, the provincial government had sanctioned Rs4bn for all TMAs in the province as compensation for losses incurred in term of property tax waiver due to the closure of businesses due to the Covid-19 and whereas the provincial cabinet had also waived the 2pc property tax for one year to provide relief to businesses in the province.
Of the concession demanded from the provincial government, Rs1.5bn was released earlier whereas Rs1bn has been released now, while Rs1.5bn is expected to be released by the provincial government by June next year.
According to sources in the Local Government, funds have been withheld instead of being transferred to the accounts of TMAs and will be released after appointing an officer on the level of a deputy secretary to retain the authority to utilise the funds.
Due to this situation, all TMAs in the province are facing difficulties in meeting day to day expenses.
It may be mentioned here that in the light of the decision taken by the KP Cabinet on February 3, the Local Government had reduced stamp duty, tax on property transfer, registration fee and local council tax.
