Punjab Tightens Tax Monitoring of Marriage Halls

The Punjab government has decided to strengthen tax enforcement and revenue monitoring across marriage halls, marquees, farmhouses, and major food chains by introducing camera-based surveillance and expanding digital oversight of business transactions.

The decision was taken during a provincial revenue review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, according to a statement issued by Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari.

Under the proposed monitoring framework, all transactions carried out by marriage halls, large restaurants, food chains, and farmhouses will be brought under closer scrutiny to improve tax compliance and curb underreporting of sales.

The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to initiate strict enforcement action against businesses involved in issuing fake receipts, suppressing taxable sales, or otherwise evading their tax obligations.

The meeting also considered proposals to make digital payments mandatory for large restaurants and similar establishments in place of cash-based collections, as part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on the undocumented cash economy and improve transparency in commercial transactions.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif instructed officials to accelerate the shift toward digital payments and made it clear that the provincial government would adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward tax evasion and concealment of revenue.

She further directed the authorities to submit weekly tax collection reports and carry out sector-wise mapping to strengthen monitoring, identify compliance gaps, and improve revenue administration.

The Punjab government has set a provincial revenue collection target of Rs528.5 billion for the financial year 2026-27.

Officials informed the meeting that Punjab’s revenue collection had recorded a 38% increase, rising from Rs250 billion to Rs346 billion, reflecting improved collection performance and expanded enforcement efforts.

The meeting was also briefed that the operational jurisdiction of the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has been expanded from 10 districts to 26 districts, significantly widening its enforcement and collection footprint across the province.

Officials further informed the chief minister that the Punjab Revenue Authority has already established an Intelligence and Investigation Wing, a Tax Peer Audit mechanism, and a Legal Wing to support compliance enforcement, audit functions, and legal proceedings.

Expressing satisfaction over the authority’s recent performance, Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed that the Punjab Revenue Authority’s enforcement capacity, institutional resources, and human capital be further strengthened to support future revenue objectives.

She also instructed that the authority be equipped with modern technological tools and systems to improve tax monitoring, documentation, digital enforcement, and overall compliance management.

In addition, the chief minister directed that the media wing of the Punjab Revenue Authority be made more effective in order to improve public awareness regarding tax obligations, enforcement actions, and the rationale behind revenue measures.

She emphasized that whenever the Punjab Revenue Authority takes action against a taxpayer or business, the basis and legal justification for such action should be clearly and comprehensively communicated to the media to promote transparency and public understanding.