Islamabad, Jan 1: The district administration of Jaranwala, Faisalabad, has uncovered a massive Rs. 393 million scam involving the misappropriation of Transfer of Tax on Immovable Property (TTIP) fees during the registration of sale deeds. The scandal, which was attributed to negligence and misconduct by officials at the Municipal Corporation, was exposed following an inquiry into the registration of sale deeds between July 1, 2022, and June 15, 2023.
According to reports, the investigation revealed that TTIP fees were not properly recovered or deposited, leading to a significant loss of revenue for the Municipal Corporation. In response, 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 proceedings.
The authorities have proposed forming a committee, consisting of auditors from the Local Fund Audit, Board of Revenue, and the Auditor General of Pakistan’s office, to review TTIP fees, stamp duties, registration fees, and other related taxes over the past five years.
As part of the ongoing investigations, several employees from the Municipal Corporation have been suspended, including the tax superintendent, retired head clerk, and various clerks. The Commissioner has also 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 in accordance with the Local Government Act.