Further extension of moratorium on collection of municipal tax in K-Electric bill

K Electric can disconnect power only on energy dues, collection of municipal tax by K Electric will cause hardship to common man: Sindh High Court/File Photo

Karachi: The Sindh High Court has extended the injunction to collect municipal tax in K Electric's bill.


In the Sindh High Court, a hearing was held on the issue of KMC municipal tax collection in the bill of K Electric, in which Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab appeared in the court.


During the hearing, Munira Malik, senior judicial assistant lawyer, also raised objections on the municipal tax collection in the K Electric bill and said that the process of awarding the tax collection contract to K Electric is not transparent. K Electric is a private company regulated by federal agencies. The approval of the provincial cabinet is not important for the contract.


The judicial assistant said that K Electric can disconnect electricity only on energy dues, collection of municipal tax by K Electric will cause hardship to the common man.


Meanwhile, Mayor Karachi told the court that the contract was given to K Electric in a transparent manner, we will satisfy the court that this procedure is in the interest of the people, K Electric has collected other taxes including PTV before this. Going forward, this tax was also during the tenure of Mayor Waseem Akhtar, it has been advertised earlier, we are facing difficulties in resolving the issues so the case should be heard on priority basis.


On Murtaza Wahab's request, Justice Nadeem Akhtar said that the case will be heard after the winter vacation, the case cannot be transferred to another bench.


Later, after hearing the arguments of the parties, the court adjourned the hearing for January 16 and extended the injunction to collect municipal tax on behalf of K Electric.