SAPM Shabaz Gill corrects false information about new taxes on graves

Spokesperson to Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Dr Shahbaz Gill, has debunked reports claiming a new tax has been imposed on burial services.

“The Punjab government is planning to impose tax on the purchase of new coffins and graves in Lahore. A tax of Rs1,000 would be imposed on smaller ones (for children) and Rs1,500 on bigger ones (for adults),” a private media outlet had claimed Tuesday.

According to reports, Lahore Metropolitan Corporation had forwarded a request to the Local Government Department, seeking approval for the tax on graveyards that come under its jurisdiction.

Lahore Mayor Mubashir Javid had distanced himself from the reports, saying that he had nothing to do with it.

“The Punjab government has dissolved the rights of the mayor as well as the local bodies and assigned administrative powers to the commissioner,” he had said while speaking to a private media outlet, adding that the tax “was proposed by the commissioner”.

However, all claims were rubbished by Punjab CM’s spokesperson, who questioned if the reports were nothing but an “attempt to malign the government and tax culture”.