Excise Department to collect garbage tax from January in Rawalpindi

The property tax shortfall of the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department in Rawalpindi has reached 55 per cent, prompting the director general to take strict notice of poor recovery and reprimand officers.

Complaints regarding the collection of professional tax from a top housing society in Rawalpindi have also been addressed, leading to action against a constable.

It has been decided that from January 1, 2026, the excise department will also start collecting garbage tax from houses and shops. From January 10 to January 20, the department will issue garbage tax bills to residents and shopkeepers of the Rawalpindi Division. Non-payment of these bills will result in cases being registered and arrests being made.

For the supply and distribution of garbage tax bills, temporary daily-wage distributors will be hired on a lump-sum salary. The Excise Department will receive 10 per cent of the total recovery as compensation for garbage tax collection.

In urban union councils, the garbage tax will be Rs300 per house, Rs600 for double-storey houses, and Rs900 for triple-storey houses. In rural union councils, the tax will be Rs200 per house. The excise department has complete property data for every district and tehsil, including the Rawalpindi Division, and garbage tax bills will be distributed to every house and shop. Shops located in streets and sitting areas will also be required to pay Rs300.

For residential properties, the garbage tax will range from Rs300 to Rs1,200 for three-marla, five-marla, 10-marla, and kanal houses. Commercial shops will be charged between Rs1,000 and Rs3,000, while factories and industrial units will pay between Rs2,000 and Rs5,000.

The property branch of the excise department in Rawalpindi has failed to achieve its property tax targets during the first six months of the current financial year, from July 1 to December 20. According to departmental sources, the shortfall during this period stands at 55 per cent. Despite arrests and notices issued by the property cell, the tax targets have not been met.

Expressing strong displeasure over the poor performance, the excise and taxation director general has ordered all inspectors and field staff to remain active in the field, while show-cause notices have been issued to six officers.

According to a departmental spokesperson, during operations carried out this week, 48 property units of defaulters were sealed, and Rs5.8 million was recovered in tax. Operations will continue daily until December 31 to increase target achievement.