QUETTA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Balochistan Assembly, chaired by Asghar Ali Tareen, observed that despite being the province’s third-largest revenue-generating institution, the Excise and Taxation Department had failed to significantly expand the tax net or improve collection rates.
The meeting was held on Wednesday to review audit paras related to the Excise and Taxation Department and evaluate its performance in enhancing provincial revenue generation.
During the session held in the committee room of the assembly, members expressed concern over the department’s lack of a comprehensive strategy and clear revenue targets, as highlighted in the audit report.
Officials briefed the committee that following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, revenue collection has become a top priority for provinces to finance development projects, infrastructure improvement, and human resource growth.
Chairman Tareen stressed the urgent need to modernise the department through digitalisation and the use of technology to bring Balochistan on par with other provinces. “If we fail to expose and hold the guilty accountable today, similar irregularities will continue to surface in the future,” he warned.
Haji Mohammad Khan Lehri emphasised that corruption in any department would not be tolerated. He said that if PAC desired, an inquiry could be initiated through the Chief Secretary to identify and act against those responsible for irregularities within the Excise and Taxation Department.
The committee also discussed the issue of low vehicle registrations in the province. Members were informed that the main reasons for residents preferring registration in other provinces included the lack of online verification, document transparency issues, and better facilities elsewhere. Committee member Ghulam Dastagir Badini directed the department to simplify and digitise the vehicle registration process.
Another key point of discussion was the poor recovery of professional tax, which stood at only Rs31.640 million. The committee directed the department to expand its collection beyond government employees to include private sector professionals, contractors, lawyers, doctors, and other taxable groups.
Member Wali Mohammad Noorzai expressed anger over an incomplete project by a contracted firm and directed the department to recover the funds or refer the case to the Anti-Corruption Establishment or NAB if recovery was not made.
Committee unanimously agreed that the Excise and Taxation Department must be provided adequate budgetary support and offices in every district to enhance its efficiency and revenue generation capacity.
The meeting was attended by PAC members Haji Wali Mohammad Noorzai, Mohammad Khan Lehri, Ghulam Dastagir Badini, DG Audit Shuja Ali, Secretary Excise Syed Zafar Ali Bukhari, Additional Secretary PAC Siraj Lehri, Additional Secretary Law Saeed Iqbal, and Chief Accounts Officer PAC Syed Idrees Agha.