The Excise and Taxation Department has issued an ultimatum to property owners to pay all outstanding property taxes by December 7, otherwise their commercial and residential properties will be sealed immediately.
Addressing the media, District Excise and Taxation Officer Shafqat Hussain Qureshi stressed on Tuesday that the government has issued strict orders for this enforcement action and no excuse will be accepted in case of non-payment.
Qureshi said that under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, timely payment of property tax is a civic duty, much like paying electricity or income tax dues. He confirmed that owners who fail to pay by the deadline will not only have their properties sealed but will also be fined.
The official explained the urgency, stating that the government needs to complete its annual financial accounts in December. He added that the collected revenue is essential for funding public welfare projects.
“Just as the public honestly fulfills other responsibilities, it is also their duty to pay taxes on time,” Qureshi said. He urged citizens to fulfill their “national responsibility” to avoid trouble. He highlighted that nations that are punctual in tax payments play a key role in their country’s development.
In line with the Chief Minister’s directives, Qureshi stated that the Excise and Taxation Department is committed to depositing maximum tax revenue into the national treasury this month and appealed for public cooperation to achieve this goal.
For payment, citizens have been directed to obtain the official challan from the relevant inspector at the Excise and Taxation office and deposit the amount in the bank. Qureshi specifically warned against making direct cash payments to any official without a receipt and urged taxpayers to save their bank deposit slips to avoid any future complications.