Tax dept should focus on facilities to people: CM

LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said Excise and Taxation Department should particularly focus on giving facilities to people and the role of agent-mafia in registration of motorcycles and vehicles should be eliminated.

A high-level meeting was held under the chair of Usman Buzdar at his office here on Monday in which the performance of Excise and Taxation Department and proposed launch of universal number plates were reviewed.

Addressing the meeting, the CM said that the Excise and Taxation Department should particularly focus on giving facilities to people and the role of agent-mafia in registration of motorcycles and vehicles should be eliminated.

The agent-mafia extorts money for the registration of vehicles in collusion with the officials concerned. I will not tolerate it and this should have to come to an end now, he added. He said the department should focus on giving relief to the people and delaying tactics should be avoided. He hoped that the launch of universal number plates will help in identification of vehicles. Rush will be decreased in Lahore and Rawalpindi offices besides increasing the revenue. He said that the vehicles registration process should be made further easy to facilitate people. It is in my knowledge that file is willingly kept pending in the Excise Department. The Excise Department officials who willingly create any trouble for the people should better find any other assignment as undue delay in files’ disposal will not be tolerated now. I take public difficulties as my own, he added. He said that non-filers should not face any difficulty in the registration process after the purchase of vehicle of prescribed limit and they should also be facilitated with regard to registration. The CM directed the Excise Minister to conduct field visits for knowing public problems and their redressal. Secretary Excise briefed about the launch of universal number plates. Excise Minister Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed, Secretary and DG Excise, CEO Punjab Safe City Authority and others attended the meeting.

regional languages: The Punjab government has decided to expand the scope of cultural activities to district and tehsil level for promoting rich cultural heritage of the province.

The CM said that folk festivals and events will be held to promote indigenous culture of Cholistan and Pakistan Day will be celebrated with full fanfare in the province. Meanwhile, the cultural float of Information Department will present cultural shows in different districts. He said a social media unit will be established in the DGPR department and approval has been granted for the recruitments. The DGPR department will be synchronized with the latest requirements as the projection of the government’s performance through social media is the need of the hour. The meeting also deliberated upon the proposal of issuing Sehat Insaf Cards to the journalists in the province. The CM directed the Information Department for presenting a report by preparing feasible recommendations in this regard. Secretary Information and DGPR briefed the meeting about the department. Ministers Hashim Jawan Bakht and Syed Samsam Bukhari, chief secretary, chairman P&D, spokesman to CM and others attended the meeting.

public welfare: Minister for Information Syed Samsam Ali Bukhari called on Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at his office here on Monday. The CM congratulated Samsam Bukhari on his new assignment and extended good wishes for his success. He said the PTI government has tirelessly worked for public welfare in a short span of time, adding role of Information Department, especially the DGPR, is important in projecting this performance. The Information Department and the DGPR will have to perform duties in an effective manner and in accordance with the new needs, he added. Usman Buzdar said Information Department and the DGPR will be harmonised with the latest necessities because we are living in an era of digital technology and every possible effort will be made to enhance the organisational capacity of the DGPR Department. He said the importance of an effective and organised communication system is very clear and inclusive projection of public-welfare programmes is essential. The Information Department and the DGPR will have to take a lead in this regard, he said.