KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed on Wednesday that the new local bodies act can put Karachi on the path of progress as it empowers local bodies institution to generate its own revenue.
Speaking in a press conference, the PPP chairperson said that the recently passed new local bodies act gives more capacity and responsibilities to the institutions.
“The local bodies system can now put into action its own tax collection system, by implementing property tax system they can open a new revenue stream.”
Read more: Sindh Local Government Amendment Bill 2021 passed amidst ruckus
Bilawal said that entire Karachi collects only Rs 1 billion in property taxes but under the new law it can now increase in multifold levels.
“All municipal authorities will be answerable before the local bodies institutions,” he said. “If we get our good NFC award share from the centre then we can deliver more to the people of Karachi.”
The PPP chairperson said that the people of Karachi can see that the work of Administrator Murtaza Wahab is far greater than the work of a party that has governed the city for at least 30 years.
“If the people of Karachi give us more mandate we will be able to give more results,” he said before adding that the ethnic politics has no space in the city.
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The PPP chairperson said that the local bodies act was passed in a quick succession of time because of the November 30 deadline imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
“We wanted to build consensus with the members of opposition, civil society members and other stakeholders but the deadline didn’t allow us to do so.”
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the doors to negotiations over the bill is still open and amendments can be incorporated on the recommendation of the opposition members.
