How caretakers plan to execute FBR revamp swiftly

ISLAMABAD: While the Islamabad High Court restrained the caretaker government from restructuring the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), a notification by the caretaker government for the implementation committee had envisaged deadlines of four to 10 days to finalise all spadework for the entity’s revamp.

At a time when the spadework was being finalised without going into minute details, some FBR officers approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that issued the restraining order.

Under Annex-1 of the implementation committee’s notification, the finance ministry also issued notification about sub-committees of the implementation committee, along with respective ToRs [terms of reference], immediately after issuance of the notification by the Cabinet Decision on a summary for the FBR re-structuring.

The government devised a plan to finalise the restructuring plan within specified deadlines. It also envisages the preparation of legal package by the legal sub-committee for implementation of FBR’s restructuring plan, approved by the cabinet, including statutory draft of new legislation, amendments to respective statutes, changes in Rules of Business, 1973 and other related rules and regulations by the implementation committee for finalisation of revised mandate of Revenue Division with creation of Tax Policy Unit, constitution of the Federal Tax Policy Board, constitution of the Federal Board of Customs and Federal Board of Inland Revenue Operationalisation of Customs Administration and Inland Revenue Administration in four-day period as the current day plus four.

The finalisation of the proposed legal package by the implementation committee would be accomplished in zero plus six days. The vetting of the proposed legal package from the Law Division would be done in zero plus seven days.

The submission of the proposed legal package to the cabinet would be done as directed by the government. Now under the third heading of Administrative Changes (Assets, HR, and Finances), the implementation committee will take full stock of all assets, HR, and finances/ liabilities of all formations of FBR and prepare complete lists within zero plus four days, prepare a transition plan for the distribution of assets, HR and finances/ liabilities between Inland Revenue, Customs and Revenue Division including Tax Policy Unit to ensure that their operations are not compromised in zero plus seven days.

The finalisation of a transition plan for the distribution of assets, HR, and finances/ liabilities by the implementation committee within zero plus 10 days and implementation of the approved transition plan for a re-structured FBR as approved by the federal cabinet.

Under the fourth heading of Change Management, it states that the leadership of IRS and Customs associated with the re-structuring process to engage with respective field formations online, and physically in five major cities to create awareness and ownership for approved re­structuring of FBR in zero plus seven days.

The engagement of the finance minister and her team with the respective economic teams of the major political parties to create their understanding and buy-in for the approved restructuring is an ongoing process.

The awareness sessions with other stakeholders in the public and private sector as well as think tanks and donors by the minister and her team will be conducted as an ongoing process.