Lahore: Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja has admitted large-scale corruption within the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA), revealing that PRA staff themselves are involved in facilitating tax evasion. He announced that the provincial government is introducing a new system to close loopholes in tax collection and improve transparency.
Wrapping up pre- and post-budget discussions in the Punjab Assembly, the minister acknowledged serious weaknesses in the current revenue framework and said reforms are underway to curb leakages.
New System to Strengthen Tax Collection
Addressing lawmakers, Mujtaba Shuja stated that a modernized tax mechanism is being rolled out to prevent evasion and bring more service providers into the tax net. He specifically mentioned high-income businesses such as wedding decorators, who earn millions but often remain undocumented.
He informed the House that nearly 80 percent of Punjab’s revenue comes from federal transfers, leaving the province with limited fiscal control. Despite these constraints, the provincial government achieved 41.7 percent of its revenue target in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, adding that no new taxes were imposed.
The minister said the government remains on track to meet its financial goals and emphasized that transparency has significantly improved compared to previous administrations.
Budget Transparency and Assembly Proceedings
Responding to objections from MPAs over budget disclosure, Mujtaba Shuja said department-wise details are now being shared with the Assembly. However, he explained that project-wise breakdowns would take time due to several schemes still being in progress.
A total of 22 treasury and 16 opposition members took part in the four-day budget debate.
Opposition Raises Rights Concerns
During the session, opposition MPA Waqas Mann raised concerns about restricted access to lawyers for the PTI founder, calling it a constitutional violation. Parliamentary Secretary for Law Khalid Ranjha responded that legal representation is available in all cases and advised seeking court intervention if access is denied.
Panel chair Samiullah Khan acknowledged that meetings had not occurred for some time but stated that sub-judice matters cannot be discussed in the Assembly, urging opposition members to pursue legal remedies.
The Assembly session was later adjourned indefinitely.
Opposition Announces Protests
Following the session, opposition lawmakers alleged lack of transparency regarding the PTI founder’s health and announced peaceful protests on February 8. They also welcomed Punjab’s appointment of a permanent Inspector General of Police and voiced concerns over selective accountability in recent policing incidents.
Opposition leaders further praised security forces for counterterrorism operations in Balochistan while demanding briefings from federal authorities and action against political elements allegedly linked to militancy.
