Drummers to join tax collection drive

Commissioner orders action against farm levy defaulters

BHAKKAR:

In a move reminiscent of the Mughal era, Sargodha Division Commissioner Dr Irshad Ahmed has ordered announcement of action against agricultural tax defeaters on drumbeat in addition to serving notices.

He issued orders for pasting notices outside the houses of landlords who have not paid the agricultural income tax, running advertisements on cable television and making announcements in this regard in the medieval manner with the help of drummers.

While questioning the officers who did not achieve the revenue targets and praising these who performed well, the commissioner said the message of the government should be effectively conveyed in the villages. Addressing a meeting with the Bhakkar deputy commissioner, assistant commissioners, tehsildars and revenue officials, he said revenue collection was the primary responsibility of the officials concerned and no excuse would be accepted in this regard.

The commissioner said any revenue officer who would not work effectively would not be allowed to serve in any district of Sargodha division.

He also expressed frustration over government land not having been cleared of illegal occupation in various areas. He said it would be deemed in such cases that the occupiers had the blessings of the official concerned.

Such a revenue officer should be arrested because his incompetence was causing financial loss to the state, he asserted.

"Our main job is public service delivery," he said, adding that the revenue officers should uphold their dignity and achieve the targets in every case. Progress on cases in courts, agriculture income tax collection and dues recovery, land record management, transfer and registry, lease of government land, recruitment of Patwaris, rural revenue centres, revenue case management system, Khidmat service and other matters were reviewed in detail in the meeting.

Dr Irshad Ahmed issued orders to expedite recruitment on the vacant posts of Patwaris and conclusion of revenue cases that had bee pending for over a year.

Bhakkar Deputy Commissioner Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhoon said while briefing the commissioner that the collection of government dues would be ensured by the end of the ongoing month.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2022.