KABUL (SW) – Documents obtained by Salam Watandar indicate a number of influential figures, foundations and private entities have not paid taxes worth millions for billboards to the Kabul Municipality.
In the list include names such as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, chief of the Hezb-e-Islami party, Hashmat Khalil Karzai, late cousin of the former president Hamid Karzai, and presidential advisors Gen. Deen Mohammad Jurat and Haji Almaas Zahid.
The Marshal Qaseem Faheem Foundation, Ahmad Shah Masoud Foundation and Dostum Foundation too are defaulters.
Public entities such as Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Defense, Fire Department and private firms such as Smart Eagle, Khpalwak Ahmadzai, Asif Irfan, Atlast, Shaharvand, Shahkaar, Mafkoora, My Service, Hayat, as well as a number of education institutions have not paid the taxes for the billboards they occupy in different parts of the city.
According to the KM, these funds could have helped execute a number of beautification and development projects in the metropolis. In conversation with Salam Watandar, a number of Kabul residents lamented the tax evasion by foundations of the known figures and by those in power.
As per the breakdown, the Marshal Qaseem Faheem Foundation has erected a total of 15 billboards across the city, but has not paid AFN 1.20 million worth of dues per year between 2012 and 2017. It amounts to AFN 7.2 million in these six years.
However, Najib Barwar, head of cultural affairs at the Marshal Qaseem Faheem Foundation, said this foundation was established after the death of Fahem, and as per the directive issued in 2014 by the then vice president, Mohammad Yonus Qanooni, these billboards are exempt from tax.
It is worth noticing, in an official communiqué, Sadiq Mudabir, former head of the office of administrative affairs and council of ministers secretariat, had categorically stated that some advertisement firms exploit the status and names of such national figures by acquiring free billboards and later replacing them with commercial advertisements.
The Ahmad Shah Masoud foundation has also erected 15 such billboards in various parts of Kabul, but has not paid AFN 9.21 million from 2012 till 2017. It is worth noticing most of these billboards are standing in the Category A area of the city. Salam Watandar wished to have the views of the Ahmad Shah Masoud foundation, but repeated calls were not responded.
The Dostum Foundation too is among the defaulters with arrears worth AFN 22,500 in this regard.
Gen. Deen Mohammad Jurat, presidential adviser and leader of the Movement for Sanctuary of the Values of Jehad, owes AFN 1.23 million to the Kabul Municipality for billboards.
Among the private firms not paying their dues to the KM include Afghan Mashal owned by Haji Almaas Zahid, senior presidential adviser. This firm has evaded taxes worth AFN 44.49 million from 2010 till 2015. Haji Almaas Zahid declined to comment. Another top defaulter is My Service firm owing a number of billboards inside the Hamid Karzai International Airport. This firm is owing the KM up to AFN 28.32 million as outstanding dues.
Mirwais Yosufi, chairman of the My Service, told Salam Watandar this firm has nothing to do with the KM, and instead it pays 51 per cent of the income from these billboards to the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.
In the public sector, the Ministry of Defense has across the city some 47 billboards for which it has not paid AFN 20.30 million to the KM for the past six years. Mohammad Radmanesh, spokesman for the MoD, told Salam Watandar these billboards are located in areas corresponding to the security sector, and are exempt from tax in line with the presidential decree.
The Ministry of Public Health has 47 billboards in Kabul for which it has not paid AFN 2.16 million to the KM in the past six years. Clarifying the situation, Hafeezullah Sadat, head of financial affairs at MoPH, said all these billboards are associated with the non-government organizations that are partners of MoPH.
The Kabul Fire Department too has not paid taxes in the past six years for the billboard it has in the city, which amount to AFN 5.4 million.
The list of defaulters is a big one and has the names of many known figures including Hashmat Khalil Karzai who owes the KM 80,000 and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar who owes the KM AFN 36,000.
ENDS
