A recent drone based audit by the Property Tax Wing of the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department has revealed that as many as 400 major villas, high value commercial buildings and large plazas across prominent housing societies and VIP localities were absent from the property tax net. The findings emerged from an aerial survey conducted in late October and early November, relying on digital mapping tools to compare on ground structures with official tax records. According to officials, the uncovered discrepancies pointed to notable omissions in several upscale areas, prompting immediate scrutiny from senior authorities. Director Audit and Enforcement Asim Bukhari subsequently referred five excise inspectors to the Anti Corruption Establishment on allegations that they kept these properties outside the tax net in exchange for sizeable illicit payments.
The drone audit highlighted inconsistencies between the physical footprint of significant properties and the entries listed in the tax system. The inspectors responsible for the affected regions were reportedly unable to provide satisfactory explanations when questioned about the absence of these units. As a result, the Director Audit and Enforcement forwarded a detailed reference to the Anti Corruption Establishment, including a list of the omitted properties and the names of the area inspectors assigned to each locality. The Anti Corruption Establishment has acknowledged receipt of the reference and confirmed that the matter is currently being examined. Once the initial review is completed, senior officers will be briefed and formal summons will be issued to the inspectors identified in the complaint. The case is expected to undergo a structured inquiry process to establish accountability and determine the extent of irregularities uncovered by the aerial survey.
The findings come at a time when the department is facing a substantial shortfall in property tax collection. During the first five months of the 2025 to 2026 financial year, from July 1 to November 30, the department recorded a 55 percent deficit in revenue collection compared with assigned targets. All excise inspectors fell short of their goals, prompting the Director General of Excise and Taxation to issue strict directions to achieve the six month target by December 31. This has placed additional pressure on field officers to recover outstanding dues and ensure accurate assessment of taxable properties. The deficit has raised concerns regarding gaps in enforcement practices, accuracy of data entry and broader oversight mechanisms within the property tax system.
In response to these challenges, the department initiated fresh enforcement operations during the first week of December. Between December 1 and December 5, officials sealed 37 property units belonging to tax defaulters and recovered Rs4.587 million in outstanding taxes. Warrants were also issued against 119 defaulters as part of the push to improve compliance and restore discipline within the assessment and collection process. The drone audit has amplified calls for a more digitised, transparent and verifiable tax management framework, as authorities increasingly rely on technology driven tools to identify irregularities, validate records and limit opportunities for misreporting within the property tax landscape.
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