Quetta commissioner orders kiosk tenants to submit payment schedule within a week

QUETTA: A meeting was held under the chair of Quetta Division Commissioner Shahzeb Khan Kakar to resolve issues related to rents, arrears and other matters of shops and kiosks run by the Municipal Corporation.

Quetta Deputy Commissioner Mehrullah Badini, Quetta Division Additional Commissioner Agha Samiullah, Quetta Division Assistant Commissioner Revenue Syed Kalimullah, Anjuman-e-Tajiran president Rahim Kakar and officials of the Metropolitan Corporation attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the complete record of Metropolitan Corporation properties. A briefing said the corporation runs about 90 kiosks. Of these, 42 owners have started paying their rents and dues. The remaining tenants also owe arrears from 2021 to date.

Arrears in instalments, annual 10 per cent increase to stay

The meeting decided that the rent set by the government must be paid regularly in every case. Commissioner Shahzeb Khan Kakar said that, for the convenience of tenants, arrears could be collected in instalments instead of in one go, so that they could pay their dues easily.

However, he made it clear that under the existing agreement the payment of rent is compulsory. He said the annual 10 per cent rent increase under a clause of the agreement would also remain in force.

The commissioner directed all shopkeepers and kiosk owners to draw up, within a week, a workable schedule under which monthly rent would be paid regularly and arrears would be cleared in instalments. He warned that action would be taken under the relevant laws if this was not carried out within the set period.

Directive to remove illegal platforms

The meeting also discussed that business is being run on illegal platforms set up in front of several kiosks. Some kiosk owners also hand these platforms over to others and collect rent. The commissioner called this contrary to the rules and directed that all such illegal platforms be removed. He also directed that government property be used only in line with the prescribed rules.

The meeting was told that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure regular collection of rent for Metropolitan Corporation shops and kiosks, payment of arrears and transparent management of government property.

Photo: Courtesy DGPR Balochistan