Islamabad: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration is seeking the prime minister’s approval for increasing ICT’s annual budget to Rs2.8bn, a news source reported. This goal will be realised using the tax revenues generated by the city.
Islamabad generates PKR 4.6 billion in taxes through its excise & taxation and revenue departments each year. However, this figure goes directly to the national exchequer rather than being spent on the city’s development.
The local administration is trying to achieve the goal set by Prime Minister Imran Khan to turn Islamabad into a model city. However, it requires additional funding, stronger departments, and new posts, to do so.
Islamabad’s annual budget currently stands at PKR 1.3bn. If approved, the new figure mentioned will be incorporated in the 2019-20 budgetary proposal.
An official contended that Islamabad Capital Territory lacks several key departments and functions. He noted that there is no food authority, no cooperative department, and no forest department. He also added that several existing departments are understaffed, or have not been modernised like the excise and taxation department, resulting in huge losses.
