GUJRAT, Oct 14: The Kharian excise and taxation office has failed to recover around Rs4 million as property tax from defaulters while as much amount is also owed by residents, it was learnt here on Friday.

Sources said that around 300 defaulters had owed a sum of Rs4 million of the department for the last several years. Some of the chronic defaulters are close relatives of two MNAs.

They said that residents also owed property tax to the tune of Rs4 million for the past two years. The provincial excise authorities had issued show-cause notices to Kharian officials in April for their failure to recover the defaulted amount and a regular shortfall in the monthly recovery target.

At this, the officials concerned issued notices to defaulters and residents in May warning them that their movable and immovable property would be sealed if they did not pay their outstanding dues.

However, sources said the excise staff did not use its powers and succumbed to the political pressure. At present, the Kharian excise office is going behind the monthly recovery target and the amount is increasing with the each passing month.

Acting AETO Amir Shahzad Gondal said that a massive plan of a crackdown on chronic defaulters was under study and action would shortly be taken against them.

He said that he and his staff were also making hectic efforts in improving the monthly recovery target.