Excise team restrained from sealing Lucky Cement Factory

PESHAWAR: The administration of Lucky Cement Factory (Pezu Plant) has got the restraining orders from the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to avoid being sealed by Excise and Taxation Department for non-payment of Rs15 million property tax.

A team of the district office of the Excise and Taxation led by Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Irshad Afridi reached the factory on Friday to seal it, but the administration informed the Excise Department team of the PHC orders.

However, after reports of the sealing of the factory the administration issued a press release clarifying the matter.The release said that factory’s operations including cement production and dispatches continue to run smoothly. Lucky Cement informed local Excise and Taxation Department under the supervision of its ETO, Irshad Afridi, tried to close the main entrance of its Pezu plant this morning (Friday), “which was an illegal act in light of the Peshawar High Court decision.”

However, the administration informed the Taxation Department officials about the PHC decision after which Excise and Taxation Department returned. The release further said that the Lucky Cement is the largest taxpayer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the only source to provide employment opportunities in Darra Pezu area.

ETO Irshad Afridi, when contacted, told The News that they had launched an extensive and intensive drive against the tax defaulters in the district.He said the PHC had dismissed the writ petition of the Lucky Cement after which the Excise team proceeded to seal it on Friday for defaulting on Rs15million property tax.

The ETO further said that they had been working on the case for the last six years to collect the tax amount, but they had to put their action off as the Lucky Cement brought 60 days restraining orders and filed a review petition in the PHC.