MUHAMMAD ALI
KARACHI: National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) has reportedly disconnected internet connection of Regional Tax Office (RTO) building over non-payment of Rs 1.952 million; it is learnt here on Saturday.
A clear mismanagement showed in tax department during last month of the current fiscal year that might cost huge revenue loss to the national kitty, sources said.
They said that internet connection of RTO building was activated by Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) in July 10, 2009 but since then, no allocation had been made by the Federal Board Revenue (FBR) under the head of electronic communication.
In reply to a question, sources said RTO used to pay Rs 0.162 million per month to NTC under the head of telecommunication till July 2012 but no further payment had been made due to unavailability of NTC bills.
They said that payment of NTC broadband bills has been pending for almost a year as PRAL, which used to deliver NTC payment invoices to RTO, did not dispatch it since July 2012.
Sources further said that RTO had requested the board to allocate separate funds for paying electronic communication bills in 2010 but no response was given till to-date that resulted serious chaos at RTO building.
They said, "Everything is now online in FBR and suspension of broadband in RTO building might create adverse impact on revenue collection".
When contacted, Network Administrator PRAL Muhammad Asif Ilyas Awan dispelled the impression that PRAL was liable to dispatch NTC bills to RTO, saying that PRAL had never ever dispatched NTC bills to RTO.
He said, "Payment of NTC bills is the responsibility of RTO and PRAL has nothing to do with it".
However, the contract revealed that internet connection of 8 MBPS was issued to Muhammad Asif Ilyas with the postal address of data centre is mentioned for billing purpose, which is located at 3rd floor of RTO and operated by PRAL.
Sources informed that officials at RTO are going to meet NTC officials on coming Monday and will convince them for the restoration of internet connection on token payment.
When contacted, officials at NTC, who did not want to be quoted, said, "Internet connection won't be reactivated unless the pending payment is settled. They further said, "No token payment is accepted for the restoration of broadband service".
"This abrupt suspension of internet service on last Thursday had created chaos like situation in RTO.
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