LAHORE: Property owners in Punjab paid Rs 26 billion as tax on their properties during the last fiscal year, ending on June 30, 2017.

Director General Punjab Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Muhammad Akram Ashraf said this while talking to APP here on Monday.

He said collection of such a huge amount showed hard work on the part of officials of his department as well as  trust of masses in the provincial government.

He said property tax record had been computerised in 18 districts of the province including Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Bahawalpure and Narowal. In the remaining districts, work would be completed till December 2017, he added.

The DG said computerised tax notices were being issued to the taxpayers in districts where property tax record had been computerised.

He said 5% tax concession was offered to those who would pay their property tax till Sept 30. He urged the taxpayers to benefit from the tax concession and discharge their national liability on time.

"State-of-the-art facilities are being provided at this department to gain trust of people. We are also taking revolutionary steps to fight corruption and increase revenue," he said.

Akram Ashraf said vehicle data registration was also another important initiative of the Punjab government.

"Centralisation of vehicles data record has enabled the owners to pay the token tax of their vehicles at any district office of Motor Registration Authority throughout the province," he said.

He said a concession of 10% was available on token tax of vehicles till July 30, 2017.

He said after this date indiscriminate action would be taken against those who would fail to pay the token tax.

The department had set up a helpline to facilitate public with phone number 0800-08786. Complaints and suggestions could be lodged on this helpline, he added.