Beware; as the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department is all set to ruin New Year celebrations for revellers enthusiastically looking forward to the new year.
The Punjab Excise and Taxation Department has sprung into action against the illegal sale of liquor and arranging New Year parties under the garb of musical shows, dance functions and other entertainment events without securing valid No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the department.
A special task force has been constituted under Excise and Taxation Officer (Excise) Tanveer Gondal who will head the squads comprising 2 AETOs and 8 inspectors. A police team will assist ETO (Entertainment) Falik Sher Gondal raid hotels, guest houses, clubs and other places to check illegal parties. The raiding team will register cases against the law-breakers. The Excise department also obtained the list of drug-peddlers from special branch to counter the sale of narcotics in the province.
AETO (Excise) Malik Fiaz told Pakistan Today that a complete ban on the sale of permitted liquor will be imposed in hotels after 6 pm and hotels had been informed in advance.
“We have already moved to counter illegal liquor manufactures and sealed an illegal factory preparing liquor without license last week. We also got cases lodged including in Mazang and Qila Gujjar Singh,” he added.
Pearl Continental, Royal Palm and Golf Club and Park Plaza, Hospitality Inn and Avari have obtained NOCs to avoid unpleasant situation during New Year festivities. But around 80 to 100 hotels and rest houses are yet to obtain NOCs.
ETO (Entertainment) Falik Sher Gondal said raids would start in the evening from Saturday throughout the length and breadth of city including Gulberg, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Shadman Model Town and Johar Town. However, the department could not raid DHA and Cantonments since the fell outside the control of Punjab government, another Excise official said.
The Excise & Taxation Department take action under Entertainment Act 158, section 10.
Under the entrainment tax, an organizer who held New Year parties either on public or private platform was liable to pay security money which varied from Rs 20,000 to Rs. 0.15 million depending upon the size and items of the shows.
He said the department would slap 65 percent on the total rate of admission at New Year functions where entry tickets were charged. However, where tickets were not imposed, no entrainment tax would be levied and the security money deposited with E & T department would be refunded them later, he added
Another official said that levy was not for the New Year only. If anyone organises a musical event or dance party at any time in the year, he must submit security, pay 65 percent tax and secure NOC.
Department sources said the E&T department was issuing liquor permits frequently to agents (non-Muslims), who could be seen standing outside the departments’ office to obtain permits daily. Interestingly, agents hand over permits to bar managements, who sell banned products to customers. Four bars have been set up in leading hotels because government allows them to sell liquor to non-Muslims.
