KARACHI, Oct 10: New land-use charges will now be applicable to only those cases which were registered after Sept 1, 2008 while old rates will be applied to all those cases which were duly registered and approved before September 2008.

However, it is mandatory for the old applicants to clear their cases till Nov 25, 2008 otherwise they will have to pay according to new charges.

In this regard the city council gave its approval on Friday through an amendment which was made in its earlier Resolution 395 enhancing the conversion of land-use charges which are due to be applicable from July 1, 2008.

Convener Nasreen Jalil had specially called the council meeting to debate the amendment on Monday.

She told the house that the Master Plan Group of Officers had briefed her about the problems that could arise if the date of the application of the new rates was not changed.

She also told the house members that there were many cases in process and petitions could be filed in court. As was evident in the past, such cases would always go in favour of petitioners.

However, her contention did not convince opposition members who objected to the legal status of the meeting. They were of the view that the amended resolution would benefit several applicants and deprive the city government of millions of rupees on account of renewal fees.

Taking the floor, treasury leaders Asif Siddiqui and Abdul Jalil contested the arguments of the opposition, saying that under Section 17 of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 the city council could change its decision within three months of the date of the application of the passage of the resolution.

They argued that it would boost the revenue of the city government which badly needed funds for the implementation of its ongoing schemes.

The convener had to suspend the proceedings of the house to allow both sides to narrow down their differences on a technical issue and later she deferred the debate on the issue for Friday.

When the house resumed its proceedings on Friday, the convener informed the house that she had specially summoned the EDO of the department of the Master Plan Group of Officers, Atiq Beg, to respond to the queries of the house members.

Mr Beg explained to the house the procedures regarding submission and approval of conversion forms which are available in banks.

He informed the house that there were 56 commercialisation cases which were under process while 10 cases had been completed and approved.

The EDO also told the house that No-Objection Certificates were sought from union councils concerned. This created uproar in opposition members who shouted slogans “It is false”.

Two opposition members resign

In a surprise move while the proceedings of the house were in progress, two opposition members, Anwar Baloch and Mubarak Sungoo, announced their resignation from the council.

They slammed the role of the council saying that it did nothing for the poor. They said the people of their respective union councils continued to suffer because of lack of civic amenities despite their hue and cry.

After making announcement of their resignation both the members left the house. The opposition members tried to persuade them to change their decision but failed.

Earlier, at the outset of the proceedings, leader of the house Asif Siddiqui on a point of order drew the attention of the chair towards new electricity rates which would badly affect the poorer sections of the population and the industrial sector.

Echoing the sentiments of the house leader, the convener called a special session of the council on Saturday at 4pm to discuss the current situation.

During the session some opposition members left the house. Treasury leader Masood Mehmood pointed out to the chair that attempts were being made to create a quorum problem.

Mr Asif Siddiqui accused the opposition of using delaying tactics in the passage of the resolution. He urged the convener to table the resolution for voting.

Thereafter, the house adopted the resolution in absence of opposition members.

The members who participated in the debate included Imran Ahmed, Sheikh Mehbur Rehman, Ramzan Awan, Abdul Razak, Sarwat Arif and Salman Baloch.

Later, addressing a press conference, opposition leaders Saeed Ghani and Abdul Razak alleged that the resolution would serve the interest of the so-called builder mafia and the city government would lose a significant amount of money.

They dispelled the impression that it would help the city government to control its present financial crunch and criticised the EDO for “concealing facts”.

They said the EDO had failed to convince the opposition as he did not answers most of the questions raised by the opposition, particularly about the expected revenue the city government might earn.