Punjab to install surveillance cameras at marriage halls and restaurants

The Punjab government has decided to install surveillance cameras at marriage halls, marquees, farmhouses and major food chains to improve monitoring of business transactions and curb tax evasion.

The decision was taken during a special meeting on provincial revenue chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday. Officials briefed the participants on revenue collection and the performance of the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA).

According to the briefing, every transaction carried out at major food chains, marriage halls and farmhouses will be recorded and monitored. The meeting also decided to take strict action against businesses involved in issuing fake receipts or concealing sales.

The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to submit weekly reports on tax collection and sectoral mapping, while also ordering a gradual transition from a cash-based economy to digital payment systems.

The meeting discussed installing digital payment facilities at major restaurants to replace cash transactions, aiming to improve transparency and documentation of economic activity.

“If the world can move from cash to digital payments, why can’t Pakistan?” the chief minister remarked, reiterating the government's zero-tolerance policy towards tax evasion. “The camera’s eye will see it, and the digital system will detect it as well,” she said.

Officials informed the meeting that a revenue target of Rs528.5 billion has been set for the fiscal year 2026-27.

The briefing further revealed that Punjab’s revenue collection has increased by 38 per cent, rising from Rs250 billion to Rs346 billion. The operational reach of the PRA has also expanded from 10 districts to 26 districts across the province.

Participants were informed that the PRA has established dedicated Intelligence and Investigation, Taxpayer Audit, and Legal Wings to strengthen enforcement and improve tax compliance.

Expressing satisfaction with the authority’s performance, the chief minister appreciated the PRA’s efforts and directed officials to further enhance its enforcement capacity, increase human resources, and equip the organisation with modern technology.

She also instructed the PRA to strengthen its media and public awareness campaigns to encourage tax compliance. Maryam Nawaz emphasised that whenever enforcement action is taken, the reasons behind it should be communicated to the public in a comprehensive and transparent manner.

The meeting was attended by senior officials responsible for provincial revenue collection and taxation.