Daily Times

KARACHI: The newly established Local governments in Sindh province under leadership of Mayors and Chairmen would start collecting various levies from respective district’s jurisdiction that is likely to get unpleasant response from poverty stricken people, Daily Times has learnt.

According to the sources, district councils would be collecting education tax, health tax, tax on vehicles other than motor vehicles, any other tax authorized by the government, local rate on lands assessable to land revenue, fees in respect of schools, colleges, health facilities established or maintained by district government, fees for license granted by district government, fees for specific services rendered by a district government, collection charges for recovery of tax on behalf of the government as prescribed, toll on new roads, bridges, within limits of a district, other than national and provincial highways and roads.

Besides, taluka and town councils it would levy local tax on services, tax on transfer of immovable property, property tax on annual rental value of buildings, lands, fee on advertisement, other than on radio and television, and billboards, fee for fairs, agricultural shows, cattle fairs, industrial exhibitions, tournaments, other public events, fee for approval of building plans, erection and re-erection of buildings, fee for licenses or permits and penalties or fines for violation of licensing rules, charges for execution and maintenance of works of public utility like lighting of public places, drainage, conservancy, and water supply, fee on cinemas, drama, theatrical shows and tickets thereof, and other entertainment, collection charges for recovery of any tax on behalf of the Government, District Government, Union Administration or any statutory authority as prescribed.

Similarly, Union Councils would collect fees for licensing of professions and vocations, fee on sale of animals in cattle markets, market fees, fees for certification of births, marriages, deaths, charges for specific services rendered by union council, rate for remuneration of Village and neighborhood guards, rate for execution or maintenance of any work of public utility like lighting of public places, drainage, conservancy and water supply.

Mayors of metropolitan corporations in the province would exercise powers of anti-encroachment ,law and order in respect of sections 109, 133, 145 of Criminal Procedure Code and sections 30-A to 34-B of Police Act of 1861 in respect of properties and assets of Local governments.’

Offices and subjects devolved to LG ‘s are civil defense, community development and organization, inland fisheries in metropolitan areas, social welfare, sports and sports boards, culture, co-operatives/co-operation, primary schools in metropolitan areas, technical education; finance, budget and accounts relating to Local Government.

Similarly, district roads and buildings would be responsibility of LG’s. In transport sector, intra-city, district transport including bus depots, traffic engineering, planning, parking, mass transit and public transport have also been devolved.