PROPERTY TAX: The Cantonment Board Malir (CBM) has raised the property tax rates by 57 per cent with retrospective effect from July 2022. This implies that the citizens must pay the arrears as well. As if to add insult to injury, even late payment fee has been applied as if the increase was ‘delayed’ due to some act of the area residents. Already, the property tax rates of CBM are one of the highest, if not the highest, in Karachi. The authorities concerned should carry out a realistic assessment of the level of civic services being provided and the rates being charged against them. An honest assessment would surely make them consider a downward revision.
Muhammad Ali Baig
Karachi
INTRUSIVE ADVERTISING: Imagine being in a meeting or trying to unwind only to have your phone chirp with yet another automated pitch for an offer you did not ask for. This intrusive marketing approach irritates the users and reflects poorly on companies employing it. Mobile service providers behind such promotional calls and messages must rethink their tactics. Seeking permission for targeted advertisements and investing in personalised advertising show respect for users’ preferences and time. A balance between promotion and user experience will restore some level of sanity in our digital lives and will foster better relationships between consumers and service providers.
Sohaib Qureshi
Hyderabad
GOBBLING UP GREEN SPACES: In the days gone by, Mirpurkhas was not as surrounded and encroached upon by the so-called development schemes as it is today. The city was once well known for its mango production, but now most of the agriculture land has been converted into housing schemes that have gobbled up lush green lands. Are there any checks and balances on this sudden housing scheme boom? The so-called development is being done at a dire cost.
Talal Khan
Mirpurkhas
Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023