Sindh Minister for Excise and Taxation, Mukesh Kumar Chawla in a meeting on Thursday expressed his satisfaction that the department has realized its responsibilities and hoped that it would continue with its spree.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary Excise and Taxation, Manzoor Memon, Director General, Excise and Taxation Shoaib Siddiqui and all directors of the department.

DG, Excise and Taxation in a briefing to the Minister and Secretary said as per a court order Rs3530.824 million has been collected as infrastructure cess in form of bank guarantee and this amount is included in the collection made during 2010-2011.

Shoaib Siddiqui informed the meeting that Rs3548.300 were recovered against the set target of Rs.2918.500 for motor-vehicle tax.

As for Excise Enactment Rs2948.989 million were collected against the target of Rs2900,000 million.

The target for Infrastructure Cess was Rs13000,000 million and the department managed to retrieve Rs17032.532 million during the last fiscal year.

The provincial excise and taxation department could however, collect Rs162.631 million under the head of Cotton Fee against target of Rs250,000 million.

Similarly, Rs162.631 million were retrieved as professional tax against the set target of Rs280,000 million and Rs142.246 million could be collected as hotel tax against the target of Rs. 160,000 million collection.

The Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla appreciated the officials of the department for their efforts and announced appreciation certificates and award for them.

He, however, also warned strict action against officials failing to achieve minimum 100 percent tax recovery targets set by the department.

The minister said he would recommend to the Sindh Chief Minister to announce awards for the outstanding officers.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011