The Sindh High Court (SHC) has reserved its verdict on a petition challenging the collection of Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes (MUCT) through K-Electric bills. A two-member bench, headed by Justice SalahuddinPanwar, made the decision after hearing arguments from both sides, resolving the petitions based on the assurance of a review of the tax collection agreement.
During the session, Mayor Karachi MurtazaWahab and various legal representatives presented their cases. The court was informed that Mayor Wahab assured a thorough review of the municipal tax agreement, ensuring that K-Electric will not directly deduct the municipal tax from consumers. Mayor Wahab proposed that a special committee, composed of local council members, would be established to manage the tax collection process instead. Additionally, he assured that citizens who pay less than Rs 10,000 to K-Electric will not be subjected to the municipal tax.
Recognizing the financial strain on Karachi’s citizens due to inflation, the court directed relevant authorities to provide relief to consumers using less than 300 units of electricity per month. The court has granted a three-month period to review the agreement and complete the necessary procedures.
