The Punjab Excise & Taxation Department has intensified its efforts to recover outstanding property taxes by launching a large-scale crackdown on defaulters.
The Punjab department is not only focusing on tax evaders but also holding its own officers accountable for failing to meet tax recovery targets.
According to an official press statement released on Friday, Punjab Director General Excise & Taxation, Umar Sher Chatha, stated that the crackdown aims to eliminate financial losses caused by persistent defaulters. However, he also emphasized that accountability will extend beyond tax defaulters—officers who fail to meet their recovery targets will also face strict consequences.
To ensure an efficient recovery process, a performance review of taxation officers across Punjab is already underway. The department is compiling lists of underperforming officers, and those failing to improve will first receive show-cause notices. If their performance does not improve, their salaries will be deducted, and by the end of the year, they risk losing their positions entirely, according to the statement.
Punjab’s Excise & Taxation Department has set an ambitious target of collecting Rs28 billion in property taxes. To achieve this, stringent enforcement measures are being implemented, and the ETO Operations will directly oversee the recovery process to maintain efficiency, transparency, and strict accountability.
Providing an update on the crackdown, DG Excise Umar Sher Chatha revealed that in the last 12 days alone, 12,000 properties in Lahore—linked to defaulters owing Rs860 million—have been sealed. Across Punjab, over 38,000 properties with outstanding dues totaling Rs1.5 billion have been sealed. However, as tax recovery efforts intensify, many properties are being swiftly de-sealed upon payment.
In Lahore, 3,600 properties have been de-sealed following recoveries of Rs110 million, while across Punjab, 11,000 properties have been restored after owners cleared outstanding dues amounting to Rs830 million.
The DG issued a stern warning to both defaulters and officers, stressing that no official has the authority to illegally de-seal properties without ensuring proper tax payments. Punjab’s Excise Department is committed to maintaining financial discipline and ensuring that tax defaulters face strict action without favoritism.