The Punjab government has launched a strict crackdown on tax evasion and fraud, as Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed authorities to deploy modern technology and strengthen real-time monitoring across key business sectors.
Chairing a high-level Punjab Revenue meeting, the Chief Minister ordered enhanced surveillance of markets, shops, wedding halls, marquees, farmhouses, food chains, and other commercial outlets to ensure transparency in financial transactions and eliminate underreporting of sales.
As part of the new enforcement strategy, CCTV cameras will be installed in marriage halls, marquees, farmhouses, and major food chains to monitor business activity and record transactions more effectively. The government said the move aims to curb fake receipts and ensure every transaction is properly documented.
Officials were also directed to explore mandatory digital payments in large restaurants, reducing cash-based dealings and promoting a shift toward a digital economy. Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized a “zero tolerance” policy against tax evasion, stating that modern surveillance systems and digital tools would help detect financial irregularities more efficiently.
The meeting was informed that the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has recorded a 38% increase in revenue collection, rising from Rs 250 billion to Rs 346 billion. The authority’s jurisdiction has also been expanded from 10 to 26 districts, along with the establishment of intelligence and investigation, taxpayer audit, and legal wings.
For the fiscal year 2026–27, the Punjab government has set a revenue target of Rs 528.5 billion. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over PRA’s performance but directed further improvements in enforcement capacity, human resources, and technological systems.
She also instructed the PRA media wing to actively communicate enforcement actions to the public, ensuring transparency by sharing the reasons and details behind each operation, with the goal of strengthening tax awareness and promoting a stronger tax culture in the province.
