Punjab Minister for Finance, Excise & Taxation and Law Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that cash prizes will be given to those officers and staff who will improve the recovery of property tax. However, those government officials involved in overbilling and harassing the people will not only be removed from their posts but besides administrative action, their cases will also be sent to Anti-Corruption, he added. The Provincial Minister said that field postings in the department will only be made on merit and those officers and directors showing poor performance will be transferred to head office. He asked Secretary Excise to send the promotion cases of the directors to Provincial Selection Board at the earliest. He said that the files of promotion cases should be completed at the earliest and conditional promotion cases should immediately be sent to Provincial Selection Board and all formalities should be completed during this period. He also directed to provide new vehicles to all directors for improving the recovery of property tax.
He expressed these views while addressing directors’ conference. Secretary Excise Khalid Masood Chaudhry, Director General Ahmed Aziz Tarar, regional directors and other officials attended the conference. Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman directed the directors to keep contact with the office-bearers of chamber of commerce and other professional organizations in their respective divisions and besides creating awareness about the increase in taxes and payment, their complaints should also be removed. He said that government has made helpline 0800-02345 operational for the facility of people and people can contact on helpline from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm regarding information and complaints about property tax. He said that legal action will be taken against the officials involved in committing excesses. Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that as a result of re-evaluation of property tax, 150 percent increase was expected in property tax but keeping in view the difficulties of the people, 50 percent increase has been made as compared to last financial year. He said that if any citizen received challan form of increase of 50 percent or above, he should contact concerned Excise Office or helpline so that challan of correct tax could be issued for payment.
