By Qasim Ali
LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered for establishment of a special unit in the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) to enhance the province’s revenue collection and expand the tax base.Chairing a special meeting on revenue collection here on Sunday, the Chief Minister reviewed tax targets, potential new sectors, and ongoing reforms within the PRA. Director General PRA Moazzam Ali Sipra briefed the meeting that the Authority is taking concrete steps to improve tax collection mechanisms under the Chief Minister’s guidance.He informed that the new special unit would comprise industrial experts, tax consultants, legal specialists, and data analysts, who will work collectively to improve efficiency and transparency in tax administration. The DG PRA added that the Authority has decided to expand its operational jurisdiction to 30 districts by October 30, following the Chief Minister’s in-principle approval for the recruitment of 130 enforcement officers.Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the concerned authorities to assign additional responsibilities related to the Revenue Authority to Additional Deputy Commissioners (General) in districts. She also reviewed proposals for the inclusion of 19 new sectors in the tax net to increase provincial revenue.The meeting was informed that the PRA has launched a mobile application for the facilitation of potential taxpayers. The Chief Minister emphasized that honest taxpayers must not be harassed and that complete transparency and ease should be ensured in the tax collection process.
