Karachi: The Sindh Assembly passed the Sindh Urban Immovable Property Tax (Amendment) Bill 2024, authorising the provincial government to collect property tax from cantonment areas, as reported on June 13.
According to the bill, cantonment boards will continue to collect this tax on behalf of the Sindh government, retaining two percent as service charges. This decision was confirmed in a recent cabinet meeting. The assembly did not discuss the rising retail prices of essential medicines due to opposition from Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho. She explained that reducing prices would make it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to operate in Pakistan due to increased import costs for raw materials.
Sindh Law and Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar assured the assembly that the government would compensate families of citizens killed in street crimes in Karachi. He noted that the suspect in the murder of engineer Itteqa Moeen had been arrested and mentioned funds released for the Safe City project in Karachi. Ziaul Hassan Lanjar aclaimed a decrease in street crimes and addressed safety concerns regarding LPG dealers, promising compensation for families affected by the recent LPG cylinder blast in Hyderabad.
