In a country where economic anxieties often echo louder than policy announcements, a statement like “no new taxes” doesn’t just sound good—it feels like a sigh of relief. This week, Punjab’s Finance Minister, Mujtaba Shuja-Ur-Rehman, made that promise publicly. Not behind closed doors. Not hidden under jargon. But clearly and boldly, before a full committee and, symbolically, before the people of Punjab.
It’s not every day a budget conversation turns emotional. But then again, this is not just about numbers. It’s about people. It’s about homes where families stretch every rupee. It’s about small businesses barely staying afloat. It’s about trust—something that’s hard-earned and easily lost in governance.
So when the Minister stood in the Civil Secretariat, surrounded by colleagues and officials, and said the government would balance the upcoming budget without imposing new taxes, the words resonated deeply. Not because they were perfect. But because they reflected an understanding that people need relief more than ever.
Behind Every Budget, a Human Story
When we think of budgets, we often think of ledgers, graphs, and government spending. But let’s pause and zoom in. Imagine a cobbler in Multan who opens his shop at dawn and closes well after dark. He doesn’t know what the “Resource Mobilization Committee” is. But he knows what inflation feels like. He knows what it means when fuel prices rise. He knows what it costs when property tax assessments change and eat into the little space he rents.
This year, that cobbler—and thousands like him—may finally feel seen.
Punjab’s new approach isn’t about inventing fresh ways to collect money from the masses. It’s about improving the way existing taxes are collected, and more importantly, about collecting them from those who have long evaded their fair share.
The minister said it simply: “Major defaulters should be the priority for recovery efforts.”
And that one line speaks volumes. It flips the old model of burdening the low-hanging fruit—small businesses, street vendors, salaried employees—and instead focuses on those who’ve benefited the most while contributing the least.
A Government That Learns From the Ground Up
Unlike policies that feel imported from ivory towers, this one seems rooted in reality.
Take the recent reforms in property tax valuation. Instead of sticking to outdated rental values, Punjab has shifted towards Capital Value assessment, a method more aligned with actual property worth. This isn’t just a revenue tactic—it’s a fairness strategy. It ensures that someone living in a modest home isn’t taxed the same as someone sitting on luxury real estate.
According to DG Excise Umar Sher Chattha, this reform alone has helped increase collections, with a 27% revenue bump in March compared to last year. That’s not just a success on paper. That’s funding for schools. Roads. Public hospitals. Social safety nets.
And more importantly, it’s a reminder that good governance can be both efficient and empathetic.
Technology, Not Tyranny
For decades, one of the biggest reasons people feared taxes was the bureaucracy behind them. Forms no one could understand. Officials who acted more like gatekeepers than guides.
But things are changing.
Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Chairman shared during the meeting that 15 new regional offices have been established and the Internal Revenue Information System (IRIS)—modeled after the Federal Board of Revenue—has been rolled out to streamline processes.
This isn’t just digital transformation—it’s cultural transformation. It signals a shift from suspicion to service. From red tape to responsibility.
And when tax systems feel trustworthy, people are more willing to participate. Voluntarily.
Curbing Narcotics and Cleaning the Streets
Interestingly, the budget conversation wasn’t just about money—it was also about morality.
Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman didn’t hold back when he spoke about curbing narcotics. His words didn’t feel like token statements. They felt urgent.
“We must discourage the manufacturers and distributors,” he said.
In a province where drug addiction quietly destroys families and communities, this commitment is more than political—it’s personal. It’s about creating a budget that doesn’t just balance the books but restores balance in society.
Beyond Revenue: Roads, Rights, and the Road Ahead
It’s easy to get lost in the details of excise collections and sales tax reforms, but one of the more thoughtful parts of the meeting came from Minister for Communication and Law, Sohaib Ahmad Bharath. He talked not just about collecting vehicle tax—but about protecting the roads those vehicles use.
In a province where infrastructure often deteriorates faster than it is built, this shift in thinking matters. It reflects a vision that goes beyond money—a vision about maintenance, sustainability, and dignity in public spaces.
Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan added another layer, advocating for electric vehicle incentives. A small nudge in policy, perhaps, but one that could shape a cleaner, quieter future for Punjab’s chaotic streets.
The People-Centric Budget Model
At the end of the day, budgets are moral documents. They show, more clearly than speeches ever could, what a government truly values.
And from what we’re seeing, this budget values people. It values fairness over force. Innovation over intimidation. Reforms over revenue targets.
Instead of squeezing the middle class or threatening micro-businesses, the Punjab government is focusing on the efficiency of existing systems, bringing more people into the tax net not through punishment, but through transparency, inclusion, and clarity.
And this, in its essence, is the kind of governance that builds trust.
A Chance to Redefine Public Service
Too often in Pakistan, budget season comes and goes with the same tired tropes—new taxes, fuel hikes, utility shocks. But this year, Punjab seems to be signaling a new kind of thinking.
One that says: We can collect better without collecting more.
One that says: Let’s build roads and still protect the rickshaw driver who uses them.
One that says: Let’s crack down on drug lords without harassing street vendors.
One that says: Let’s reform property taxes but keep homeowners informed and respected.
It’s a subtle but seismic shift. And if implemented with honesty and consistency, it might just set a precedent for the rest of the country.
What This Means for the Average Citizen
If you’re reading this as a citizen of Punjab, here’s what it means:
- No surprise taxes in the upcoming budget.
- A focus on collecting dues from large defaulters, not small earners.
- Smarter systems, easier tax processes.
- Improved infrastructure backed by targeted, fair revenue collection.
- And a commitment to tackling social problems like drugs, not just financial ones.
The Final Word: Hope Over Hardship
This isn’t a victory lap. The challenges are still real—debt, inflation, unemployment, and a fragile economy. But it’s a reminder that governments can lead with compassion, that budgets don’t have to mean burden, and that change, even if gradual, is possible.
Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and his team aren’t offering miracles. But they are offering something rare in today’s world: a plan with a pulse.
And sometimes, that’s the most powerful kind of policy—the kind that sees the person behind the paycheck.
