Garbage tax bills to be issued from January 10 and non-payment to invite cases and arrests
Workers of Lahore Waste Management Company busy in removing the garbage as Punjab government launched modern and organized system of cleanliness in the Provincial Capital City with the collaboration of Turk companies. PHOTO: APP
RAWALPINDI:
The property tax shortfall of the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department in Rawalpindi has reached 55 per cent, prompting the director general to take strict notice of poor recovery and reprimand officers. Complaints regarding the collection of professional tax from a top housing society in Rawalpindi have also been taken up, leading to action against a constable.
It has been decided that from January 1, 2026, the excise department will also start collecting garbage tax from houses and shops.
From January 10 to January 20, the department will issue garbage tax bills to residents and shopkeepers of the Rawalpindi Division. In case of non-payment of garbage tax bills, cases will be registered and arrests will be made.
For the supply and distribution of garbage tax bills, temporary daily-wage garbage bill distributors will be hired on a lump-sum salary. The Excise Department will receive 10 per cent of the total recovery as compensation for garbage tax collection.
In urban union councils, the garbage tax will be Rs300 per house, Rs600 for double-storey houses and Rs900 for triple-storey houses.
In rural union councils, the garbage tax will be Rs200 per house. The excise department has complete property data of every district and tehsil, including the Rawalpindi Division, and garbage tax bills will be distributed to every house and shop. Shops built in streets and sitting areas will also be required to pay Rs300 as garbage tax.
For residential properties, garbage tax will range from Rs300 to Rs1,200 for three-marla, five-marla, 10-marla and kanal houses. Commercial shops will be charged between Rs1,000 and Rs3,000, while factories and industrial units will pay between Rs2,000 and Rs5,000 as garbage tax.
The property branch of the excise department, Rawalpindi, has failed to achieve its property tax targets during the first six months of the current financial year, from July 1 to December 20.
According to departmental sources, the shortfall during the first six months stands at 55 per cent. Despite arrests and notices by the property cell, the tax targets could not be achieved.
Expressing strong displeasure over poor performance, the excise and taxation director general has ordered all inspectors and field staff to remain in the field, while show-cause notices have also been issued to six officers.
According to a departmental spokesperson, during operations carried out this week, 48 property units of defaulters were sealed and Rs5.8 million was recovered as tax. Operations will be carried out on a daily basis till December 31 to increase the target achievement.
