The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday restored the agricultural income tax raise notifications it had declared null and void just a day earlier, with the House unanimously condoning the provincial government’s delay in tabling them before lawmakers.
Chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, the House began proceedings by approving a motion by Law Minister Rana Iqbal seeking validation for the delay in laying the notifications before the Punjab Assembly.
During the proceedings, the speaker recalled the notifications were not presented to the House for approval despite ongoing discussions in a relevant committee on changes to the agricultural income tax. The government’s issuances of the revised tax rates while deliberations were underway, he said, had created ambiguity regarding authority, making it necessary to clarify the legal position.
The speaker’s ruling of the previous day had paved the way for affected taxpayers to seek relief from courts, as it had declared that all collections under it were in violation of law. The reversion of the notifications effectively closes this, ensuring the revised tax rates will continue to be in force.
The Punjab Assembly also saw the introduction of several legislations, including the Punjab Film City Authority Bill, 2026 and bills concerning the establishment of seven private universities. Several resolutions were passed by a majority vote, including one supporting the construction of the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital; one paying tribute to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz; and one seeking the devolution of the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution to provinces.