ISLAMABAD, JAN 2 /DNA/ – In a major step towards facilitating the business community and promoting ease of doing business, the Excise and Taxation Department Islamabad has announced the establishment of a dedicated Facilitation Desk at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to provide on-the-spot services to ICCI members and their families.
The announcement was made by Director Excise and Taxation Islamabad, Bilal Azam, during an impressive interactive session held at the ICCI. He was accompanied by Magistrates Ali Hassan Peerzada and Mir Yameen.
Bilal Azam informed the participants that the Facilitation Desk at ICCI will provide services related to token tax payments, renewal of tobacco licenses, professional tax matters, registration and transfer of vehicles, registration of real estate dealers and motor vehicle dealers, under one roof. He further stated that an Excise and Taxation Department mobile vehicle will also visit the ICCI premises as and when a reasonable list of vehicles requiring registration, transfer or related services is provided by the ICCI focal person.
Highlighting the department’s digital transformation initiatives, the Director Excise and Taxation shared that so far over 600,000 vehicles have been issued M-Tags in Islamabad. He said the department is committed to expanding M-Tag service points across the federal capital to ensure maximum public convenience. In the same spirit, M-Tag installation facilities will be made available at the ICCI premises to facilitate chamber members and their families.
He encouraged motorists to obtain M-Tags and cooperate with the department as responsible citizens to help make Islamabad a secure, regulated and safe city. He also announced that mobile excise service vehicles can be deployed to commercial markets on the demand of respective Traders Welfare Associations (TWAs) presidents.
Bilal Azam categorically assured the business community that there will be no double taxation, clarifying that the Excise and Taxation Department and Capital Development Authority (CDA) will collect taxes strictly within their respective domains. He also announced the revival of the issuance of official cards to real estate dealers, which had long been demanded by the sector.
The Director further added that through automation and real-time system upgrades, the department has significantly enhanced service delivery, generating Rs. 21.3 billion in revenue, while ensuring transparency and efficiency.
Earlier, in his welcome address, President ICCI Sardar Tahir Mehmood highlighted the proactive role of ICCI in advocating for ease of doing business. He appreciated the facilitation already being extended by the Excise and Taxation Department but stressed the need to further enhance services, particularly in M-Tag issuance, token tax payments, vehicle registration and transfer, and the revival of card issuance for real estate dealers. He strongly demanded the establishment of a dedicated Excise and Taxation Desk at ICCI, which was warmly welcomed by the department.
ICCI Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub, Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Committee members Zulqurnain Abbasi, Waseem Chaudhry, Chairman ICCI Standing Committee on Administration Raja Abdul Majeed, and prominent trade leaders including Yousuf Rajput, Khalid Chaudhry, Israr Mashwani, Chaudhry Arshad and Shahid Abbasi along with a large number of ICCI members, actively participated in the question-and-answer session and appreciated the department’s facilitation-oriented approach.
