PESHAWAR: Peshawar district counciPs convener Qasim Ali Shah on Wednesday formed a committee to probe into the award of contract for collection of tax on immoveable properties in Town-I at much lower rates.

`The administration of Town-I itself used to collect around Rs9 million tax per month on immoveable properties, but its administration has awarded the contract at Rs5 million to a contractor,` said councillor Sher Farzand, while speaking on the floor of the council.

He said that the loss of around Rs4 million each month would affect the development projects because funds being collected through tax collection were utilised for development.

Mr Farzand claimed that some elements in the administration were involved in the award of contract at cheaper rates and they had also warned of consequences if this issue was raised on the floor of the council by anyone. He demanded of the convener to set up a committee to probe into the matter.

Asia Khattak expressed her reservations about ignoring female councillors and minorities in the budget making process.

Zubair Ali demanded of the provincial and district governments to remove cemented blocks from the road in front of the Governor`s House, which had been causing frequent traffic jams on Sher Shah Suri Road.

In the development budget, he said, the district government had reflected some revenue from the general bus stand, which was disputed with the Town-I. He asked the district nazim to resolve such issues, as the district council would face financial problems if the Town-I continued possession of the bus stand.

He pointed out that no big scheme had been proposed in the development budget for Peshawar.

Through a unanimous resolution, the district council demanded of the district government to establish a hospital in the vacant building of the college of Frontier Education Foundation. He said that students of the girls college had been shifted to the nearest college while its building was lying vacant.

He said that the establishment of hospital in Nothia would reduce rush in other major hospitals of the capital city.

Gul Afzal Khan, another councillor, criticised the provincial government for its so-called claim of improving police and ending corruption. He said that police were avoiding registration of FIRs in cases of robbery, theft, etc. `Police have still been taking bribes from people,` he said.