Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said the state’s Excise and Taxation Department has recorded strong revenue growth in the financial year 2025 to 26, highlighting the impact of policy reforms and improved administrative efficiency.
He stated that the department collected Rs 11,782 crore by March 31, 2026, exceeding the revised target of Rs 11,200 crore by Rs 582 crore.
Cheema credited the achievement to proactive governance and business friendly policies introduced by the state government. He noted that excise revenue has seen a sharp rise over the past four years, increasing from Rs 6,254.84 crore to Rs 11,782 crore. He added that the government has now set a higher target of Rs 12,800 crore for the financial year 2026 to 27, reflecting its focus on strengthening revenue while maintaining transparency and compliance.
Outlining the plan for the upcoming fiscal year, the minister said the new excise policy aims to generate Rs 10,520 crore through licence fees, compared to Rs 9,877 crore in the previous year. He also pointed out that all 207 retail liquor groups in the state have already been allotted for 2026 to 27, indicating strong confidence among licence holders in the government’s policy framework. According to him, the overall response to the policy has been positive, ensuring stability in the liquor trade along with a steady flow of revenue to the state.
Speaking about future plans, Cheema said the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is targeting total excise revenue of Rs 12,800 crore in 2026 to 27. He expressed confidence that this goal will be achieved through stricter enforcement, better compliance systems and carefully designed policy measures that balance revenue growth with effective regulation.
