DW BUREAU / Chandigarh In order to give official recognition to Excise officials during enforcement activities, the Punjab Excise department has provided the official jackets to the officials of the department including Excise Inspectors, Excise Officers and above. These jackets carry the logo of Punjab Government and SOG (Special Operation Group) mark on the front and the name of the department at the back. Revealing this here today, a spokesperson of the Excise department said that reflective strips have been placed on these jackets to ensure the safety of the Excise officials during Nakas or raids. He said that the officials of the department were facing operational difficulties in the past while carrying out the enforcement Activities especially during nights and in the crowded areas due to lack of official recognition in the absence of official dress. The spokesperson further added that the officers of the department carrying out Excise Enforcement Activities had been demanding the roll out of such official jackets or dresses for a long time. He said that Excise & Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema fulfilled this long pending demand by launching this official jacket. He said that this initiative would go in a long way in ensuring smooth cordon, search and seizure operations by the officers and will definitely add to the professional efficiency of the department as far as Enforcement Activities are concerned. (editor@dailyworld.in)