Written by Mrs. Anjum Shahnawaz LAHORE — The Punjab Assembly has declared recent government notifications revising agricultural income tax rates unlawful, ordering an immediate suspension of their enforcement, assessments and collections. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan issued the ruling during the Assembly’s 41st session while hearing a privilege motion moved by lawmaker Zulfiqar Ali Shah. The Speaker said the notifications lacked legal validity as they were not presented before the Assembly in line with statutory requirements. He directed the Excise and Taxation Department to halt implementation of the revised rates and instructed the provincial government to place the notifications before the House within 15 days, along with a detailed explanation for the procedural lapse. The matter has also been referred to the Assembly’s Committee on Law Reforms and Delegated Legislation, which has been tasked with fixing responsibility and submitting its findings within one month. The dispute relates to notifications issued on March 5, 2025, revising agricultural income tax rates, followed by another notification on September 10, 2025,…