Senior Minister of Sindh Sharjeel Inam Memon announced that the Excise and Taxation Department exceeded its fiscal year target of 130 billion rupees by collecting 143 billion rupees. This impressive achievement, surpassing the target by 10%, was driven by a focused campaign to recover dues from vehicles that had not paid their taxes.
The initiative included outreach to individuals unable to visit offices due to a lack of facilities, contributing significantly to the department’s success. In a press conference held at the Directorate of Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control on Tuesday, Memon highlighted the success of the first auction of premium number plates.
The proceeds from this auction are earmarked for a significant humanitarian project: building houses for flood victims.
The Sindh government is committed to constructing homes for 2.1 million families affected by recent floods. To support this initiative, the Excise Department has allocated 67 crore rupees, which will help fund the construction of 2,251 houses for those in need.
He stated that a separate office is being established for premium number plates.
These plates will now be issued through auctions, and the fee for choice number plates will be revised. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that society is facing a dangerous situation regarding drugs. Since March, 141 actions have been taken against drug dealers by the Narcotics Control Wing, resulting in the arrest of 158 individuals.
Fourteen vehicles have been seized, along with large quantities of various types of drugs, including ice, heroin, crystal, hashish, raw liquor, and other narcotics. He mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari, during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House shortly after assuming the presidency, instructed a crackdown on drugs. Unfortunately, the drug business is rampant in the country. The organization must take action against drugs, and we all need to fight against drugs together.
He stated that the Excise Department discovered that drug money was being sent to the account of a drug dealer named Qurban Shah. Concrete evidence has been obtained from the mobile phone of the accused, who is currently in Islamabad.
The ministry is seeking support from interior ministry for his arrest. A letter was sent to the concerned bank on May 23 regarding the drug dealer’s account, but the bank has not responded so far. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon reported that an accused, Basit Khawaja, who used to supply drugs in a concealed area of Karachi and also brought drugs from Islamabad, has been arrested. He noted that the bail notice was not even issued. Today, the accused is traveling to Lahore by ship from Karachi. He said that the Excise Department will continue to wage jihad against drugs with all due diligence.
