E-courts are being initiated in all districts of the Punjab under Punjab Revenue Authority Appellant Tribunal to assist tax payers said Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha on Tuesday.
She mentioned that after holding dialogue with all stakeholders in the province, a tax policy is being devised which will ensure in protecting the public interests. Ms Pasha shared these views while addressing a ceremony regarding tax day under the umbrella of Punjab Revenue Authority. She said that the purpose of observing tax day is to highlight the importance and need of tax in performance of state affairs and apprising the citizens of performing this national obligation.
It was also highlighted by her that taxing the populace is the government’s right and payment of tax is a duty of the people. She mentioned that it does not mean that undue burden be put on taxpayers on behalf of the government. This is the reason that all provincial agencies including Punjab Revenue Authority are bringing those people in tax net who were not paying their tax. She said that a modern computerised system is being introduced for making tax receipts system foolproof so that possibilities of tax theft and leakage could be eliminated.
While speaking at the ceremony, Minister for Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, stated that Punjab has made unprecedented progress during the last eight years and its credit goes to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who has introduced modern system of governance not only in tax but also in every public sector. He said that Excise & Taxation department is putting a big share in resources of the province through tax collection from different sectors.
He also added that the receipts of the department have registered an increase of 300 percent and there is a need of further hard work for relying on personal resources. He said that now people will not have to visit Excise office for the payment of their tax but the system of recoveries has been made online.
Present among the guests were Chief Executive Punjab IT Board Umer Saif, Lahore Chamber of Commerce President Abdul Basit and Bank of Punjab President Naeemud Din, Chief Secretary Punjab Capt (R) Zahid Saeed, First Secretary of German Embassy Islamabad, PRA Chairman Raheel Ahmed Siddiqui.
