Punjab Assembly Passes Whistleblower Reward Bill to Curb Property Tax Evasion

Lahore: The Punjab Assembly has passed a major amendment to the Urban Immovable Property Tax Act, 1958, introducing a whistleblower clause aimed at tackling property tax evasion. The bill, approved by a majority vote, will offer monetary rewards to citizens who report tax evasion cases.
Under the new legislation, both whistleblowers and excise officers who help uncover property tax evasion will be eligible for performance-based incentives. A whistleblower is defined as an individual who provides credible information leading to the recovery of evaded taxes or fines.
Rewards will only be granted if the information results in the collection of tax or penalty. No incentives will be given for information that is unreliable, already in the public domain, or previously known to authorities.
The Punjab government will later introduce a formal reward scheme for whistleblowers. Tax collectors will be responsible for identifying officials involved in concealing or neglecting tax collection duties. The government will also establish a procedure to reward officers based on individual or collective performance.
The amendment aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in the tax system. It also strengthens the mechanisms for tax reporting, investigation, and recovery.
The final approval of the bill now awaits the signature of Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan.