Month: July 2026

Lahore: Provincial Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said on Tuesday that complete digitalization of the tax system would be ensured during the current financial year. Transparency, effective enforcement, and improved collection of existing taxes will remain the government’s key priorities.

Addressing the Annual Strategic Conference organized by Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) here, he added, Punjab government will achieve its revenue targets in the new fiscal year without imposing any additional burden on taxpayers. Zero-tolerance policy will be adopted against fake invoicing and tax evasion and tax defaulters will be convinced to fulfill their tax obligations, while unregistered businesses will be brought into the tax net through registration.

PRA Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Supra, Board Members, and senior officers and officials of the PRA attended the conference.

Congratulating Punjab Revenue Authority on achieving Rs. 368 billion in revenue collection during FY 2025-26, with an exceptional 36 percent annual growth, the Provincial Minister said that PRA has achieved a remarkable milestone by collecting Rs. 97 billion more in taxes than fiscal year 2024-25. He appreciated the outstanding performance of the Authority and congratulated the entire PRA team on this achievement.

Provincial Minister said, that increase in Punjab’s own-source revenues represents significant progress towards reducing dependence on the federal government and reflects the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He added that tax reforms are not aimed solely at increasing revenue; rather, the Punjab Government is actively working to promote transparency in the tax system and eliminate corruption. He emphasized that higher revenues translate into better public services. The Government is utilizing taxpayers’ money to improve healthcare and education facilities, provide essential infrastructure for businesses, and implement public welfare projects.

The Finance Minister further stated that public cooperation is essential for eliminating corruption from the tax system. He urged citizens to always demand a proper receipt while making payments and to discourage businesses which refuse to issue e-bills or accept digital payments. During the new fiscal year, he said, institutional capacity of the PRA would be further strengthened and the use of modern technology expanded to make enforcement more effective.

During the conference, the Punjab Finance Minister also distributed certificates of appreciation among officers and officials of the Punjab Revenue Authority in recognition of their outstanding performance.

Addressing the ceremony, PRA Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Supra said that PRA had achieved the highest tax collection in its history during FY 2025-26, attributing this success to the Authority’s effective strategy, digital reforms, and teamwork. He stated that the implementation of the electronic tax system is playing a key role in eliminating corruption from the tax administration.

He added that further reforms during the current fiscal year would ensure greater transparency in the tax system and enhance the institutional capacity of the Authority. He emphasized that achieving the prescribed revenue targets is not possible without reforms and transparency, as taxpayers’ confidence in state institutions remains the cornerstone of a successful tax system.

Lahore: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh reaffirmed FPCCI’s unwavering commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

These remarks were made during an Exclusive Networking Session hosted by the FPCCI here at its Regional Office in honour of a high-level delegation from Al-Raee Group, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The event served as a dynamic platform to promote bilateral trade, encourage investment, and explore new opportunities for commercial collaboration between the two countries.

Atif Ikram said that FPCCI continues to play a pivotal role in fostering meaningful business linkages and enhancing economic cooperation between the private sectors of the two brotherly nations. He noted, FPCCI Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Business Council is actively facilitating business-to-business engagement, supporting stakeholders, and creating new avenues for trade, investment, and strategic partnerships, thereby contributing to stronger economic integration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Addressing the gathering, FPCCI Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Aijaz highlighted the transformative opportunities emerging under Saudi Vision 2030. He observed that the Kingdom’s ambitious economic diversification agenda has unlocked unprecedented investment prospects across a wide range of sectors including construction, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, tourism, information technology, healthcare, food security, industrial development, and professional services. He encouraged Pakistani investors, exporters, and industrialists to capitalize on these promising opportunities and establish a stronger presence in the Saudi market.

Zaki Aijaz further emphasized that Pakistan possesses significant competitive strengths in textiles and apparel, construction materials, agriculture and food products, pharmaceuticals, information technology, engineering, industrial manufacturing, and a highly skilled workforce. He expressed confidence that Pakistani businesses are well-positioned to become strategic partners in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing economic transformation.

Speaking on the occasion, Al-Raee Group Chairman Bilal Mohammad Zubair said that Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes investors and business leaders from Pakistan. He invited the Pakistani business community to establish their enterprises in the Kingdom with 100 percent foreign ownership, offering them the opportunity to become part of one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. He added that Saudi Arabia provides a highly investor-friendly environment, modern business infrastructure, and comprehensive support services for foreign investors with even greater opportunities emerging under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms.

Karim Aziz Malik, Chairman of the FPCCI Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Business Council, also addressed the participants and underscored the importance of deepening economic cooperation, strengthening institutional linkages, and promoting sustainable business partnerships between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The session was attended by representatives of chambers of commerce and trade associations, industrialists, exporters, entrepreneurs, and members of the business community. The enthusiastic participation reflected the growing interest of Pakistan’s private sector in expanding trade, investment, and commercial cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Lahore: Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ejaz on Tuesday reviewed beautification, sanitation, dengue surveillance and monsoon preparedness during a visit to Allama Iqbal Town.

He directed the departments concerned to expedite civic improvement measures to ensure a cleaner, greener and safer environment for citizens.

During the visit, the deputy commissioner planted a sapling on Canal Road under the ongoing tree plantation campaign. Chief Officer Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) and Assistant Commissioner Allama Iqbal Town accompanied him during the field inspection.

The DC inspected beautification and cleanliness work on Nazria Pakistan Avenue and Gopi Rai Road and reviewed the pace of ongoing development and sanitation activities. The assistant commissioner briefed him on dengue surveillance operations, cleanliness arrangements and preventive measures being implemented across the tehsil.

Officials informed the deputy commissioner that indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance by field teams was continuing regularly, while modern technological tools were being used for larva mapping to improve monitoring and response.

Muhammad Ali Ejaz directed the teams to immediately conduct anti-dengue spraying in the affected house and ten surrounding houses whenever larvae were detected to effectively contain the spread of the disease. The DC also reviewed the desilting of drains in Jazak City and instructed the authorities to complete the work on priority before the monsoon season. He said timely desilting would ensure smooth drainage and significantly reduce the risk of urban flooding during heavy rains.

He directed officials to ensure daily road washing and maintain high standards of cleanliness and beautification on all major roads. He also ordered that all drains be cleared before the rainy season and said every available administrative resource should remain mobilized for efficient waste collection and sanitation.