By Shaikh Daniyal
LAHORE: The Punjab Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Department (ET&NC) has launched a major administrative shake-up, with departmental sources saying more than 22 officers and officials have been suspended across Lahore, Faisalabad and other offices amid an intensified accountability drive.
Official suspension orders reviewed by this newspaper confirm action against several officials in Lahore and Faisalabad. The orders describe the suspensions as being made on “administrative grounds” and do not, by themselves, establish corruption, misconduct or criminal liability against the officials concerned.
The action comes as the Punjab government steps up scrutiny of alleged corruption, financial irregularities and misuse of authority across government departments.
In Lahore’s Excise Region-A, an official order dated Sept. 2, 2026, confirms the suspension with immediate effect of E&T Inspectors Faisal Hussain Bhatti, Muhammad Nadeem and Tanzeela Abdul Rahim.
Bhatti was posted at Professional Tax Circle “G”, while Nadeem was serving at Property Tax Circle Jia Musa, Zone-16, and Tanzeela Abdul Rahim at Property Tax Circle Salamatpura, Zone-18.
The order, issued by Director Excise & Taxation Region-A Muhammad Mushtaq Faridi, states that all three were suspended on administrative grounds and directed to report to the Directorate forthwith.
Separate official orders reviewed by this newspaper confirm administrative action in Faisalabad Division.
One order confirms the suspension of Mian Muhammad Irshad, an E&T Inspector in Faisalabad, with immediate effect on administrative grounds. The order refers to a recommendation by the Excise and Taxation Officer, Zone-I & II, Faisalabad, but does not specify allegations of corruption or other misconduct.
Another order confirms the suspension of Amir Shabbir, a driver posted at the E&T Office Chiniot. He was also suspended with immediate effect on administrative grounds and directed to report to the General Branch of the E&T Office Chiniot.
Both Faisalabad orders were issued under the authority of Director Excise & Taxation Faisalabad Division Tanveer Abbas Gondal.
Departmental sources said the action is considerably wider than the officials identified in the orders reviewed by this newspaper.
According to the sources, Director Excise Region-C Shahid Ali Gillani ordered the suspension of 14 Excise Inspectors, four Junior Computer Operators, three constables and other personnel.
Those suspended reportedly include Muhammad Farooq, Qurrat-ul-Ain, Qaiser Huma, Faisal Naeem, Kiran Ayub, Fahad Hussain, Ehtesham Butt, Muhammad Bilal Mashkoor, Tahir Mayo and Constable Muhammad Atiq, among others.
The individual suspension orders concerning these Region-C officials were not available to this newspaper for independent verification.
Sources said separate allegations concerning certain officials associated with the Motor Branch involve suspected irregularities in matters including the registration of non-custom-paid vehicles, collection or handling of withholding tax and vehicle transfer fees, and alleged misuse of official authority.
However, the allegations remain subject to inquiry. This newspaper could not independently establish which, if any, of the suspended officials are linked to individual alleged irregularities.
Departmental sources further claimed that matters concerning some Excise officials have come under scrutiny by investigative agencies. The status of any such investigation and the identities of officials involved could not be independently verified.
Sources also said Inspector Khalid Bashir and Junior Clerk Kashmala Shehzadi of Region-B Lahore were suspended and directed to report to the Directorate General Excise office. The specific grounds for their reported suspension could not be independently verified.
The latest action comes against the backdrop of the Punjab government’s wider anti-corruption campaign.
Sources said Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Zaman and Director General Anti-Corruption Establishment Sohail Zafar Chattha recently addressed departmental secretaries, commissioners and deputy commissioners through video link, with officials reportedly directed to strengthen accountability mechanisms and take effective action where credible evidence of corruption or misuse of authority emerged.
Departmental sources said the Excise Department’s recent measures were part of an effort to tighten internal accountability as scrutiny of alleged irregularities across provincial departments increases.
Further administrative or disciplinary action against Excise personnel could follow as the exercise progresses, they added.
The suspension of a government employee is an administrative action and does not constitute a finding of guilt. The official suspension orders reviewed by this newspaper concerning Region-A Lahore and Faisalabad state “administrative grounds” and do not attribute corruption or criminal wrongdoing to the suspended officials.
Any separate allegations of corruption, financial irregularities or misuse of authority against individual officials would require determination through the relevant departmental, investigative or judicial process.
