Double Shot says branches will reopen soon after PRA seals outlets

LAHORE: Popular coffee chain Double Shot has said its Lahore branches will reopen “very soon” after the Punjab Revenue Authority sealed multiple outlets over alleged sales tax reporting violations.

Founder Ali Chughtai confirmed the temporary closure in a brief statement, saying the company was cooperating with the relevant authorities and would update customers as soon as operations resume.

“We are law-abiding citizens and were working to make Pakistan a better place for everyone,” he said, apologising to customers for the inconvenience caused by the closure.

According to an official order cited in reports, PRA sealed multiple Double Shot branches under Section 59A of the Punjab Sales Tax on Services Act, 2012. The authority alleged that the business had bypassed the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System and under-reported taxable sales.

PRA claimed invoices were issued outside the electronic invoicing framework despite the system being installed at the premises. It further alleged that records showed a difference between actual sales and declared sales in tax returns.

The company has not issued a detailed response to the allegations but has assured customers that the closure is temporary.

Double Shot is among Lahore’s well-known local coffee brands, with a strong customer base and multiple branches across the city. Its management said it looks forward to hosting customers again soon.