LAHORE: The Punjab Excise and Taxation Department has renewed another 500 alcohol permits, bringing the total number of permits renewed so far to 4,000.
These permits were issued to only the members of the Christian community for the sale and purchase of alcohol.
Well-informed sources within the Excise Department told Customs Today that renewal of these permits had been speeded up due to Eid holidays. On every occasion like Eid and other national holidays, the Excise Department earns millions of rupees from the sale of alcohol in the wake of excise duty.
According to an official of the Punjab Excise Department, there are 10,000 permit holders in Punjab, and all these permits had expired on June 30, 2015. The Excise Department issues these permits on specific terms and conditions to members of the Christian community to sale and purchase alcohol.
Now, 4,000 permit holders have received their renewed licences after paying their annual fee. The Excise and Taxation Department annually gets more than Rs 1 billion under the head of excise duty on the sale of alcohol in Punjab.
