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Customs collectorates asked to submit lists of surplus staff

SOHAIL SARFRAZ

ISLAMABAD: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has asked all its collectorates to provide lists of surplus staff absorbed in the CBR and its field formations, it was learnt on Friday.

According to the new instructions, the information has to be submitted within 24 hours from all over the country including Hub.

The CBR has also directed collectors of customs, sales tax and central excise to submit the lists of all officials employed or absorbed in the customs, central excise and sales tax departments from the surplus pool of the Establishment Division.

Sources informed Business Recorder that the move is intended to get rid of intruders, who managed to get posting in the CBR by using their political leverage in the past.

The board has provided new format for the collection of specific information regarding surplus staff working in different collectorates.

The format comprises name, post against which absorbed, date of joining and absorption, post against which working at present and remarks.

The CBR has clarified that even if the required information is 'nil'; it should be submitted to the board on top priority basis.

The board has said that surplus staff has been absorbed in various collectorates from time to time against vacant posts, meant for ministerial staff. Therefore, list of surplus staff officials, who have been absorbed against different ministerial post should be submitted to the CBR immediately by fax.

The CBR has already abolished 1,000 posts from (Grades 1 to 21) to save huge amount of revenue.

The number of existing collectorates of customs, central excise and sales tax, have been reduced from 25 to 19 and the right-sizing of the direct taxes which include income tax, wealth tax, withholding tax and capital value tax is also under consideration by the government.