Protest against non-availability of stamp papers.

OKARA -- Dozens of property sale/purchase agreement writers and their clerks protested against what they called irresponsible attitude of the administrations of four branches of a bank regarding provision of e-stamp paper.

Since March, the government had halted registration of property sale/purchase. It resumed on May 1 with a special tax reduction from five per cent to 2pc to encourage registration, as the Punjab government suffered a severe shortfallin stamp paper revenue. Only two days are left to register sales deeds at revised tax rates owing to which there were large crowds outside all Bank of Punjab branches in the city.

On the other hand, as per the standard operating procedures for banks, no more than four people could enter a branch, resulting in long queues outside. Staffers at some branches were found directing the stamp paper seekers to go to other branches.

Deed writers Rana Khalid Mahmood, Muhammad Akram Faridi and many others told this correspondent that people were facing hardships in getting e-stamp papers, as the online system had choked owing to heavy traffic.

Some claimed that theBoP Mandi Roadbranch had stopped issuing e-stamp papers three months ago and the bank employees were non-cooperative.

BoP Dipalpur Chowk branch Operations...