FBR restores performance allowances of law-abiding employees

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has restored the performance allowances of a handful of its employees after they declared their assets, officials said on Tuesday.  

The officials said the board restored the performance allowances, which are equal to 100 percent of the basic salary, of 20 officials of the Customs and 14 employees of the Inland Revenue departments.

In September 2015, the FBR discontinued performance allowances of hundreds of Customs and Inland Revenue officials of BS-16 as these officials had not submitted the declaration of assets, required as per the Guidelines for Performance Allowance 2015, which was approved last year to control corruption and improve the overall performance.

As many as 806 officials of customs and 474 officials of Inland Revenue, belonging to various cadres, were drawing performance allowances.

Sources said the tax officials are apparently quite reluctant to declare their assets, as less than one percent of the staff has provided the required details.

According to the guidelines, the employees, who failed to file their annual declaration of assets and liabilities, will also be de-notified for performance allowance. Apart from this, on non-filing of the Income tax returns on due dates, employees will be de-notified for allowance.

An official said several employees of Customs and Inland Revenue have multibillion rupees of assets.

The FBR is reviving its vigilance department to ensure transparency in functions and integrity of the workforce in view of corruption in both Pakistan Customs and Inland Revenue.

A report, recently submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, proposed the revival of vigilance department within the FBR. The report said numerous functionaries of the FBR did not enjoy reputation of integrity.

In the past, there was a vigilance department attached with the FBR. Its role was to ensure transparency in functions and integrity of the workforce.

However, the department became non-functional and the management of integrity in the FBR and its field formations was put at stake.

“There is need to revive the department and post reputed officers from within and outside the FBR,” said an official.

“The revival of vigilance department with officers of reputation and experience of integrity management would definitely reduce the scope and demand of illegal gratification.”