Islamabad, April 26, 2025: The Excise and Taxation Department, Islamabad, has strongly rejected recent media reports alleging the disappearance of vehicles from its custody, terming the claims as “baseless and misleading.”
In an official statement issued on Saturday, the department clarified that despite facing acute staff shortages and limited resources, its field teams have consistently performed their duties with dedication, generating billions of rupees in revenue in line with the targets set by the Ministry of Finance.
The department revealed that over the past several years, its road-checking teams have impounded more than 350 vehicles operating in Islamabad with tampered or altered chassis numbers. Out of these, over 270 vehicles were legally handed over to the police or rightful owners across the country after fulfilling all procedural requirements.
Furthermore, the department seized 14 non-custom paid (NCP) or smuggled vehicles, which were subsequently transferred to Customs authorities as part of the government’s broader anti-smuggling and revenue recovery efforts.
Responding to concerns regarding the allocation of untraceable vehicles, the Excise Department explained that, due to a government-imposed ban on the procurement of new machinery, and in compliance with seizure and disposal regulations, such vehicles were allocated for official use to several government bodies, including the offices of the Deputy Commissioner, Chief Commissioner, the Agriculture Department, Capital Development Authority (CDA), and Local Government Departments. The department emphasized that all allocations were properly documented and are fully traceable through official records.
“The department believes that such baseless and misleading media reports are attempts to overshadow the department’s positive performance,” the statement read.
Officials highlighted that in the current financial year alone, the Excise Department has collected over Rs15 billion in revenue, all of which has been deposited into the national treasury and verified through official treasury records.
In a move to enhance public convenience, the department has introduced doorstep services, allowing citizens to access excise facilities via simple phone requests, and has extended these services to various public parks in Islamabad during evening hours. Moreover, to eliminate cash handling and ensure transparency, the department has implemented online payment facilities through mobile banking applications.
The Excise and Taxation Department reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, categorically denying all allegations of corruption or misuse. It urged media outlets to verify facts through official channels before publishing reports that could mislead the public.
