Tax Officer, Senior Clerk Suspended in Property Tax Scam Worth Rs. 393 Million

The Jaranwala district administration (Faislabad) has uncovered a Rs. 393 million scam involving the misappropriation of Transfer of Tax on Immovable Property (TTIP) fees during the registration of sale deeds. Negligence and misconduct by Municipal Corporation officials have been blamed for the staggering loss, reported a national daily. Commissioner Silwat Saeed has recommended disciplinary action against former Municipal Officer (Finance) Mujeeb-u-Zaman Shami and ex-Chief Officer Zubair Watto. A letter has been sent to the Secretary of Local Government and Community Development Punjab for further action. A committee comprising auditors from the Local Fund Audit, Board of Revenue, and Auditor General of Pakistan’s office has been proposed to review TTIP fees, stamp duties, registration fees, and related taxes over the past five years. The scam came to light during an inquiry by the Director of Local Government Faisalabad into sale deeds registered between July 1, 2022, and June 15, 2023. The investigation revealed that TTIP fees were not properly recovered/deposited, leading to significant revenue losses for the Municipal Corporation. Several Municipal Corporation employees have been suspended, including the tax superintendent, retired head clerk, and multiple junior and senior clerks. The commissioner has directed all deputy commissioners and revenue officers in the Faisalabad Division, including those in Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, and Chiniot, to ensure the timely collection of taxes and fees under the Local Government Act.