Bajwa assumes charge as secretary revenue division

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 1999 05:00 Written by Administrator Tuesday, 09 July 2013 10:00

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Tariq Bajwa has been given the additional charge of Secretary Revenue Division with effect from July 5, 2013, said a notification on Monday.

In pursuance of establishment division’s notification, Tariq Bajwa has assumed the charge of secretary revenue division, it added.After assuming the charge, the chairman will be able to move summaries directly to the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Officials consider this step towards autonomy to the FBR.

In recent past, all the chairmen of the board had assumed the charge of secretary revenue division – which helped top tax managers to cut down procedural delays. The revenue body chief has to send summary to secretary finance division, but being secretary revenue he is authorised to move summary directly to the finance minister.

The autonomy of the revenue body is crucial in view of historically massive revenue shortfall last financial year. Corruption and inefficiency have marred the federal board of revenue. The FBR’s tax system is running on auto mode since majority of taxes are collected at import or withholding stages, contributing practically nothing to the FBR.

To achieve a highly ambitious tax target of Rs2,475 billion for this financial year, the revenue body requires out of box solutions. Otherwise, another massive shortfall is impending, which the country cannot afford in view of the country having entered into another significant International Monetary Fund’s loan of $5.3 billion.  Mehtab Haider



Courtesy:  The News