KARACHI: A number of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) employees and officers particularly those belonging to Punjab and KPK had to cancel their flights and train reservations and some would not be able to celebrate Eid with families after FBR suddenly order cancellation of leaves prior to and after Eid.

Chief Collector Enforcement South Zahid Khokhar and many others had their leaves approved before the official Eid holidays. But, they had to cancel their flight reservations.

Most of these officers and officials will not be able to reach their families in other provinces in time. The government employees faced severe misery in finding flights or train seats and many of them remained deprived.

Deputy Director Dr. Mumtaz had his leave approved and even left for Lahore, but he had to come back Karachi after the FBR instructions. However, some officers who had left for their hometowns preferred to stay with their families.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on September 19, 2015 instructed all heads of field formations both Inland Revenue and Customs to ensure full attendance prior to or after the Eid-ul-Azha holidays declared by Government in the formations of FBR.

This sudden circular has spread panic among the officers and officials alike. Many officers and officials had already got their leaves approved for the above-mentioned period.

Moreover, the order added, in case any officer/official already been granted leave during the aforementioned days, the same may be treated as cancelled.

Both IRS and Customs officers have criticized such a sudden order adding that it would have been better had the authorities issued these directives earlier, as a large number of FBR employees already made arrangements even the payments for their trips to their natives towns and cities to celebrate Eid with families.

Officials said that the head of formations had granted approvals to leave applications after due deliberations so that there could not be any significant staff shortage.