Excise senior official penalized for withholding information on alcohol sales and permits: report

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has imposed a fine equivalent to ten days’ salary on the Director of Excise and Taxation, Islamabad, for failing to disclose requested information regarding alcohol permits and sales, according to a report by ProPakistani.

In August 2024, Saddia Mazhar, a citizen, filed an information request with the Excise and Taxation Department, seeking detailed records related to alcohol permits and sales in Islamabad. The request included data on the number of alcohol permit holders, beer purchases by license holders since January 2023, a list of licensed alcohol vendors, excise duties collected, and the total supply provided to permit holders.

Despite the formal request, the Excise and Taxation Department did not provide a response. Mazhar subsequently filed an appeal with the Pakistan Information Commission, prompting the Commission to issue repeated notices to the department.

However, no representative from the Excise and Taxation Department appeared, nor was the requested information submitted. On November 14, 2024, a final show-cause notice was issued under Section 20(1)(f) of the **Right of Access to Information Act, 2017**, with a copy also sent to the Ministry of Interior. Both notices were ignored.

In an order issued on November 26, 2024, the Commission expressed concern over the deliberate obstruction of the law’s implementation. It highlighted that the Director had been given multiple opportunities to respond but failed to comply. The Commission stressed that such conduct undermines the principles of transparency and accountability enshrined in the Act, which seeks to ensure public access to information.

As a result, the Commission imposed a fine equivalent to the Director’s salary for ten days for willfully delaying and obstructing the disclosure of information. Additionally, the Commission directed the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, and the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues to ensure compliance with its order and to report back at the next hearing.

The Pakistan Information Commission reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the **Right of Access to Information Act, 2017**, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in public offices.