PESHAWAR, April 14: Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Fazal Rabbani has directed the high-ups of the excise department to take strict action against those officials who fail to achieve tax recovery target.

He was presiding over a meeting which discussed the tax recovery campaign here on Monday.

While expressing concern over non-recovery of tax from the government departments, the minister ordered the officers concerned to speed up the recovery campaign and submit a progress report within a week, otherwise action would be taken against them.

He, however, said tax recovery would be made according to the laid down procedure and taxpayers would be extended all possible facilities.

Referring to the shortage of vehicles’ number plates, Mr Rabbani directed the excise secretary to take up the issue with the contractors concerned to overcome the shortage and in case of failure the contract should be terminated.

Mr Rabbani said culture of corruption and kickbacks would be rooted out from the excise and taxation department. He directed the ETOs concerned to display the fee chart for vehicles and properties in their offices. He said strict action would be taken against those officials who were found involved in malpractices.

The meeting was attended by secretary excise and taxation Khalid Hussain Gillani, director-general excise Aurangzeb and all excise and taxation officers.