Multan: The Excise and Taxation Department Multan division collected nearly 50 per cent of its annual property tax target during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
According to a report issued by the excise department, Punjab government had set a property tax target of Rs 2.41 billion for Multan division for the current fiscal year. By September 30, the department had collected Rs 1.18 billion, availing taxpayers of a five per cent concession offered by the provincial government.
More than 77,000 residential and commercial taxpayers got benefit from the concession package during the three-month period.
According to the report, Multan district topped the division with 51 per cent recovery, followed by Lodhran with 49 per cent, Vehari with 48 per cent and Khanewal with 38 per cent.
Multan district collected Rs 890 million, achieving 51 per cent of its target. Lodhran collected Rs 40 million with 49 per cent recovery, while Vehari collected Rs 137.6 million, achieving 48 per cent. Khanewal stood fourth with collections of Rs 106 million, representing 38 per cent of its target.
The number of taxpayers benefiting from the concession also increased significantly compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. Around 55,000 taxpayers had availed themselves of the facility last year, whereas the figure rose to more than 77,000 this year-an increase of over 22,000 taxpayers.
Officials said the increase also included newly added units in new housing societies and other areas brought into the tax net. Effective publicity of the concession package through print and social media, coupled with digital initiatives, helped encourage more people to pay their property taxes.
Director Excise and Taxation Iftikhar Ahmed Bhalli appreciated the cooperation of the business community and termed the record quarterly recovery a result of the collective efforts of officers and employees of the department.
He said the department would continue focusing on tax recovery with the same dedication and commitment in the coming months.