Launched as the first-ever government payment aggregator for citizen facilitation and ease of business. Today, they have announced the collection of over PKR 1 billion in tax revenue. This is from multiple tax levies applicable across Punjab, since the launch of the aggregator.
In a meeting here on Thursday, this information and update was provided, where a progress review was also held for Punjab’s IT Board. In attendance at the meeting were Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor, Director General IT Operations Faisal Yousaf and other senior officials of the IT Board.
Keeping up with its promise to innovate and build efficient technology mechanisms for civil service and use, the Punjab government launched ePay. The mobile application was launched on 4th October 2019. This was a collaborative endeavor between the IT Board, and the Finance Department of Punjab.
The system provides general public with a stress-free and efficient method of paying all taxes. Payments to the government can be made through contemporary banking channels; without going through the existing cumbersome process.
Moreover, multiple new payment channels like Debit / Credit Card, Mobile Wallets, TELCO Agent Networks and Direct Debit from Account are being added to further increase the payment options available to the citizens and businesses.
Additionally, it is also planned to include Government to Public (G2P) and Government to Business (G2B) payment models in future to broaden the horizon of the program and also add Tax/Non-Tax receipts like Online Admission for Colleges/Schools Fee, Driving License Fee, e-Challan, Character Certificate, Domicile, Fitness Certificate (Commercial Vehicles) and Agriculture Income Tax.
The initiative has proved to be a game-changer in the local FinTech industry by playing a pivotal role in increasing tax revenue collection of the province and improving financial inclusion. In its first phase, 13 taxes/levies of 5 departments are made part of the system.
Excise & Taxation, Board of Revenue (BOR), Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA), Industries and Transport are the departments liaised with the system, where citizens can pay Token Tax, Motor Vehicle Registration, Transfer of Motor Vehicle, Property Tax, Professional Tax, Cotton fee, e-Stamping, Mutation fee, Fard fee, Sales Tax on Services, Punjab Infrastructural Development CESS, Business Registration fee and Route permit through e-pay Punjab.
Source: Express Tribune