SKARADU: The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has withdrawn local taxes. Traders and Awami Action Committee Postponed Strike for one month to give government more time to amend the adaptation act 2012 under which Gilgit Baltistan Council has imposed taxes.
The notification issued on 25th November mentions that the Chief Minister has directed to that the notification of 14th June 2016 issued by LG & RD Department Gilgit-Baltistan be suspended/held in in abeyance with immediate effect. The notification directs that all taxes /collection of Local Council Revenues i.e. Tolls, Rates, Fees and Charges imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan under the Third Schedule of the Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government (Act 2014) through the Local Councils i.e. District Councils, Union Councils, Muncipal Committees/Municipal Corporations and Town Committees Gilgit-Baltistan have now been withheld with immediate effect and until a final decision/further direction of the competent authority
Addressing a joint press conference and the protesters at Yadgar Chowk along with the leaders of Anjuman-e-Tajran Skardu and Awami Action Committee, Senior Minister Akbar Taban said that the government could not impose taxes without granting a constitutional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the Sirtaj Aziz committee has been working to propose constitutional reforms to Giglit-Baltistan and if the committee grants a provincial status to GB then we have to pay all taxes.
He said many of the taxes even surprised me and we are all against these types of taxes. He said he will never betray with the people of GB and all the taxes will be withdrawn. He said Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman played a vital role in withdrawing the local taxes. He added that the government has formed a committee to work on withdrawing the taxes imposed by GB Council.
Watch the video report prepared by Rajab Ali Qamar from Skardu
