KARACHI: Chiefs Management – FBR of both Pakistan Customs and Inland Revenue have prepared the reports regarding officers and officials of FBR, which would be submitted to Chairman FBR for approval in a couple of days.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had asked for the details of all cases of officials, officer of BPS-16 and above belonging to the Pakistan Customs Services, Inland Revenue Services and other cadres of the FBR against whom formal disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the FBR from June 2013 onwards on the charges of corruption, issuance of bogus refunds, criminal connivance with tax evaders, misuse of authority and negligence resulting loss of revenue.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has taken notice of rampant ‘corruption’ and appointment of officers with ‘embarrassingly compromised reputations’ at key positions in the Federal Board of Revenue, initiating a process that may eventually cleanse the tainted organisation.
In a strongly-worded letter, the Prime Minister’s Office also directed FBR Chairman Tariq Pasha to submit a detailed report about the ‘integrity’ of all FBR members, officers heading field formations and strategic units of the FBR of both Customs and Inland Revenue.
The prime minister has given November 28 as the deadline to the FBR chairman to submit a report about his all top officers, including those who faced inquiries in the past but still serving on lucrative posts.
Former FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa had initiated a cleansing exercise but after his transfer in November 2015 things became worse.
The chairman is the final authority in the appointment of members of the FBR and heads of all field formations. After assuming office in July this year, Pasha has brought his own team at the headquarters and in the field formations.
The decision to take notice of unethical practices in the tax machinery and official patronage available to corrupt officers suggests that PM Abbasi is in the mood of fulfilling his promise to broaden the tax base –and the first step towards that is to cleanse the organisation of corrupt people.