LAHORE: The government of Punjab has launched a comprehensive initiative to strengthen the infrastructure of the excise, taxation and narcotics control department, acknowledging its sustained and robust performance in revenue collection.
As part of this initiative, construction of a new two-storey government building for the offices of Excise and Taxation Region-B has officially commenced at the Arazi Centre on Raiwind Road, Lahore. Secretary Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Punjab, Muhammad Masood Mukhtar, along with Director General Excise and Taxation Punjab, Umar Sher Chatha, visited the site and laid the foundation stone in the presence of senior officers of the department. Media representatives were briefed on the scope, objectives and timeline of the project.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Muhammad Masood Mukhtar said the excise and taxation department contributes billions of rupees annually to the national exchequer with complete transparency. He said that during the first six months of the current fiscal year, the department achieved 61 per cent of its assigned revenue targets, registering 40 per cent growth, which he termed a reflection of improved governance and operational efficiency.
He emphasized that the expanding mandate of the department requires a corresponding enhancement of institutional capacity, adding that modern infrastructure is vital for sustained performance and effective public service delivery.
DG Excise Umar Sher Chatha informed the media that the Region-B office building is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs240 million and is scheduled for completion within the current year. He said the region currently accommodates hundreds of employees and faces serious space constraints, which have been affecting efficiency. He added that the new facility would provide a better working environment and significantly improve public service delivery. The DG announced that construction of a three-storey Excise Office for Region-A at Harbanspura would begin shortly in view of the large staff strength.
He further said that steps are underway to identify land for additional regional and district offices across Punjab. Purpose-built government buildings, he noted, would help eliminate the recurring expenditure of crores of rupees on rented premises, leading to long-term savings for the public exchequer.
DG Umar Sher Chatha added that all new buildings are being designed in line with environment-friendly and energy-efficient standards to enhance sustainability and institutional performance.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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