LAHORE: The Punjab government has blocked around 850,000 vehicles in its digital system due to non-payment of token tax. Authorities also suspended their registrations as part of a strict enforcement drive ahead of the financial year deadline.
Excise and Taxation Department officials said the decision aims to accelerate tax recovery during the final seven days of the fiscal year. They added that the campaign targets long-standing defaulters across the province, including major urban centres such as Lahore.
More than 1.75 million vehicles pay annual token tax in Punjab. Officials confirmed that over 875,000 vehicle owners have already cleared their dues, contributing nearly Rs9 billion to the provincial revenue.
However, authorities estimated that payments worth more than Rs9 billion are still pending from approximately 850,000 vehicle owners. Therefore, the department has intensified enforcement measures to reduce the shortfall before the June 30 deadline.
In addition, senior officials directed Excise Taxation Officers to ensure strict implementation of vehicle blockades. They instructed field teams to keep operations active from 8 am to 5 pm daily and submit performance reports to the Director General’s office without delay.
Furthermore, the government has made it clear that no blocked vehicle will be restored in the system until full token tax payment is made. This policy aims to discourage repeated defaulters and strengthen compliance across the transport sector.
Meanwhile, authorities expect the crackdown to improve revenue collection significantly in the final days of the fiscal year. They also plan to continue monitoring defaulters through the digital tracking system to prevent future evasion.
The Excise Department has urged citizens to verify their tax status and clear outstanding dues promptly. Officials warned that continued non-compliance could result in prolonged suspension of vehicle registration and legal action under provincial tax laws.
