Punjab property tax collections fall short of FY26 target despite enforcement drive

The Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department is struggling to meet its property tax collection target for fiscal year 2025-26 despite measures to widen the tax base and revised property valuation rates introduced by deputy commissioners.

In an effort to boost recoveries before the close of the fiscal year, the Director General Excise and Taxation has directed officers and field staff to remain actively engaged in recovery operations and cancelled all leave until June 30.

As part of the enforcement campaign, officials from the department’s five property tax zones sealed 362 properties belonging to tax defaulters during the past week.

The department also recovered Rs9.3 million in outstanding dues over the same period, according to officials.

Among the field formations, Zone-IV Gujar Khan emerged as the top-performing area in property tax collection. Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Abdul Qadir secured the highest recovery performance, followed by ETO Asim Sardar and ETO Kulsoom Zahra.

Despite housing several upscale neighbourhoods and large taxable properties, Zone-V continued to record the weakest recovery performance among the five zones. Officials said complaints had previously been submitted to the Director General regarding the reporting of allegedly bogus taxable properties from the zone.

Field officers expressed optimism that collections would improve before the end of the fiscal year, noting that nearly two weeks remain for recovery efforts. They said notices had been issued to all defaulters and enforcement operations were continuing throughout the day in an attempt to maximise collections before June 30.