LAHORE- Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has warned the corrupt officers in Excise and Taxation Department to mend their ways otherwise strict action would be pursued against them. He said there is no room for the corrupt people in the public departments and the government is determined to root such elements anywhere in the province. He said without eradicating corruption the wheel of national progress cannot be moved forward.
The Chief Minister said this while presiding over a high-level meeting here on Thursday which reviewed the matters relating to Excise & Taxation Department. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Secretary Home, Secretary Law, Director General Excise and other concerned officers were also present. DG Excise gave a briefing on departmental affairs.
The Chief Minister said that provision of best services to the masses is the mission of the government and capacity building of the department is being made for this purpose. He said that the efficiency and service delivery system of various government departments is being improved through promotion of information technology. He said that the services of Excise & Taxation Department will be computerised. The Chief Minister directed that Excise Department should complete the system of computerisation of property tax, token tax and other taxes at the earliest. He said that corruption is a big hurdle in the way of national development and the targets of progress and prosperity cannot be achieved without eradication of this menace.
He said that Punjab government has promoted corruption-free culture in the province and measures have been adopted for purging government departments of corruption. The Chief Minister warned that there is no room for corrupt officers and staff in Excise & Taxation Department. He said that the computerisation of the services of Excise & Taxation Department will help in dealing with all the issues in a transparent manner. He directed that the system of tax recovery be further improved.