KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): More than 60 percent of residents of the capital of northern Kunduz province have not been paying cleanliness tax to the municipality over the past many years, the mayor said on Sunday, calling insecurity a major challenge.
Najibullah Omarkhel told Pajhwok Afghan News during an interview that once again losing a number of areas near Kunduz City, the provincial capital, to the Taliban had a negative impact on all the sectors, including the municipality.
He said Kunduz’s municipality suffered huge financial losses after the city’s falling to the Taliban. Markets were set ablaze, the municipality’s building was damaged and more than 12 vehicles were stolen, recalled the mayor. “The municipality is now facing many problems.”
“We have been working from dawn to dusk over the past one month to repair the damages. The municipality building and the torched markets were demolished and reconstructed.”
Calling insecurity as main hurdle to the municipality’s works, the mayor said insecurity besides creating other issues had negatively impacted the municipality’s revenue collection effort.
He said about 60 percent of residents didn’t pay taxes and as a result his department’s revenue had declined. “If people continue not paying taxes, it will render the municipality unable to deliver services.”
He said those not paying taxes over the past three to four years included businessmen and shopkeepers.
The mayor also said about 20,000 seedlings would be planted in Kunduz City and flower pots would be placed at academic areas, he added.
He said the baby plants would be preserved under an organized programme and efforts were being made to establish a few recreational park next year.
Omarkhel asked Kunduz residents to keep care of the plants and pay taxes. “If people want services from us, they should be supportive. We don’t have enough vehicles, people should pay taxes in order we carry out our works.”
Sns/ma
