Punjab Government Launches Strict Tax Monitoring of Restaurants, Marriage Halls and Farmhouses to Curb Tax Evasion

The Punjab government has announced a major plan to improve tax collection and reduce tax evasion by increasing monitoring of businesses, including restaurants, marriage halls, marquees, farmhouses and large food chains.

During a provincial revenue collection meeting, Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed officials to strengthen tax enforcement and speed up the shift from a cash-based economy toward digital payment systems.

Under the new strategy, marriage halls, event venues, farmhouses and major restaurants will be monitored through surveillance technology to ensure businesses accurately report their transactions. Authorities stated that strict action will be taken against companies involved in fake tax receipts, hidden sales records or under-reporting of income.

The Punjab government is also reviewing a proposal to make digital payments compulsory for large restaurants to increase transparency and reduce undocumented cash transactions.

Maryam Nawaz emphasized a “zero tolerance” policy against tax evasion and said modern surveillance tools and digital systems would be used to identify violations.

Officials have been instructed to submit weekly updates regarding tax collection performance and sector-wise revenue mapping. The Punjab government has set a revenue collection target of Rs. 528.5 billion for the fiscal year 2026-27.

During the meeting, Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) officials briefed the Chief Minister about recent progress in provincial revenue collection. Officials revealed that Punjab’s tax collection increased by 38 percent, rising from Rs. 250 billion to Rs. 346 billion.

The PRA has also expanded its operations from 10 districts to 26 districts across Punjab and established specialized departments, including Intelligence and Investigation, Taxpayer Audit, and Legal wings.

Maryam Nawaz instructed the authority to improve enforcement capabilities, increase staff strength and introduce advanced technology for better tax management. She also directed officials to clearly communicate the reasons behind enforcement actions to the public through media channels.