Tax collection targets to be met, CM informed

SRB given a target of Rs180 bn and collected Rs128.2 bn during the first eight months of the current financial year

KARACHI:

The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) and the Excise & Taxation Department are likely to meet their annual targets, with the Board of Revenue (BoR) experiencing a dip in collection, with last year’s rain and ensuing floods blamed for the dip.

This was revealed during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at his official residence on Thursday. Representatives of the province’s tax consolidation institutions - the SRB, Excise and Taxation and the BoR - attended the meeting.

The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) was given a target of Rs180 billion, with the provincial body collecting Rs128.2 billion during the first eight months of the current financial year. The revenue increased by 22 per cent and the total target would be achieved easily, SRB officials told the meeting.

Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla informed that his department was given a target of Rs127.2 billion against which Rs63.331 billion had been collected during the period. The department collects provincial excise, motor vehicle tax, cotton fee, infrastructure cess, entertainment tax and various fees.

The minister said the department collected property tax and professional tax which had been transferred to local bodies. At that time too, property tax collection was recorded at Rs8 million and professional tax at Rs464 million.

He said that against the target of Rs12 billion, the department has collected Rs4.25 billion. The department has collected Rs6.996 billion against a target of Rs14 billion under the head of motor vehicle tax. Similarly, Rs51.6 billion has been collected against the target of Rs100.8 billion infrastructure cess.

He revealed that they had collected Rs8 million in entertainment tax and Rs1 million in various types of fees have also been collected. The CM ordered the department to launch a campaign against tax-defaulting vehicles.

Revenue Minister Makhdoom Mehboob informed the meeting that BOR was given a target of Rs36 billion against which almost Rs9.961 billion had been collected. He added that the recovery process has been affected due to heavy rains and floods.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2023.