The FBR has requested the government to relax its decision to reduce the FBR’s workforce by 60 percent and to retain 1,730 vacant jobs.
It should be noted that the government had prepared a digitalization plan for the FBR, in which it planned to digitalize the FBR by eliminating vacant posts in the institution.
The FBR has requested relaxation in the right-sizing policy for the FBR during a meeting of the federal government’s Cabinet Committee on Right-sizing.
In the meeting chaired by the Finance Minister, the committee did not take any immediate decision and referred the request to a sub-committee for further consideration, which has been directed to review the FBR’s request and take a decision.
It may be recalled that the federal cabinet had decided to eliminate 60 percent of all vacant posts in August last year, but many departments have not yet implemented these instructions.
The FBR has about 23,822 approved posts, out of which 2,883 are vacant. According to the cabinet decision, at least 60 percent or 1,730 of these posts will have to be eliminated permanently. These posts have been vacant for years, but funds are allocated in the budget for payment of salaries. However, at the end of the year, the funds remaining from salary payments are spent on other areas. Out of the 2,883 vacant posts, 24 are vacant officer posts.
It should be remembered that former FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi had suggested eliminating at least 10,000 posts in the FBR. It should be noted that 97 percent of FBR’s tax collection in the form of withholding tax, advance tax, and taxes levied on imports is done through automated methods.
Sources said that the Rightsizing Committee did not give much thought to the FBR’s request and referred the request to a sub-committee. The FBR has taken the position in its request that many important posts are vacant and they need more manpower for the FBR’s transformation plan.
Earlier, while briefing the Rightsizing Committee, the Revenue Division said that in light of the cabinet decision, 158 posts of BS 18 and below and 27 posts of grades 16 to 20 have been declared dying posts.
