Pakistan, June 9 -- LAHORE - Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the registration of all restaurants and wedding halls in Punjab, in a move aimed at formalising the sector and increasing the province's tax base. The decision was made during a high-level meeting and will apply to both small and large establishments.

CM Maryam made it clear that this initiative is not about raising taxes, but about ensuring fairness in the system. She rejected all proposals to increase existing taxes, stressing that the government would not allow any extra financial burden on the public. "We won't punish those who already pay taxes while letting tax evaders go free," she stated.

The new policy aims to bring more businesses into the formal economy, hel...