Provincial Minister Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that the ratio of annual tax collection of the department has raised from Rs8 million to Rs32 million due to the efficiency and transparency introduced in the system. No development is possible without an effective revenue collection system.
When masses believe that their tax money would be spent to facilitate them they will never consider tax as burden for them. It is need of the hour to make the tax collection system transparent and expand its net in order to collect more revenue.
The Minister expressed these views while addressing a seminar at a local hotel held in connection with Tax Day celebrations. Earlier, a tax awareness walk led by the Minister was held from Alhamra to Falettis Hotel. In order to sensitize the participants of the seminar a number of stalls and presentations by the partner departments were also arranged.
Moreover, the companies and the persons who paid large amount of taxes last year were also given shields during the seminar. Secretary Excise Dr Ahmed Bilal, DG Excise Akram Ashraf Gondal, DG Narcotics Control Raja Zahid Hussain and a large number of officers and officials of the department were present on the occasion.
Mian Mujtaba said in his address that image of Excise Department has been modernized during the last 10 years. It became possible due to computerization, transparency and expansion in tax net of the department. He said that Excise Department is planning to introduce universal number plate system during the next phase which would provide the same serial number for the whole of province. The department is also planning to receive taxes through online system and the State Bank has allowed five national banks to collect taxes under online system.
The department has also decided to introduce smart registration cards having such security features which not so have far been provided by any other province. He said five police stations run by the Punjab Excise Department would be functional very soon while facilitation centers for collection of revenue from motor vehicle and property owners would also be set up at all the nine divisional headquarters till June of this year.
The Provincial Minister said that payment of tax should be considered as national obligation and not the burden. He said that an awareness campaign in this regard must be launched at college and university level. The seminar was also addressed by Secretary Excise, DG Excise and other speakers.