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CE directs CBR to oust corrupt, inefficient officials

JAVED MEHMOOD

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf has asked the high command of the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to sideline corrupt and inefficient officials within three weeks, reliable sources told Business Recorder.

The Chief Executive, who was given a lengthy presentation on tax-related issues on Thursday, reportedly said in the meeting, "I have been told about the corrupt and inefficient CBR officials, sitting on key posts, I know their names, which will not mention here because some of them may be sitting in this meeting."

"I have asked CBR Chairman Riaz Hussain Naqvi to oust these elements from the revenue generating organisation either by taking action internally or by referring their cases to the National Accountability Bureau within three weeks," sources further said quoting of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive, said sources, made it clear in his maiden encounter with tax managers that he would not tolerate inefficiency and corruption in the CBR.

It was learnt that the CBR had already identified its 100 senior officials, who either are inefficient or involved in corruption cases, and these officials may face action from the next week following a go-ahead signal from the Chief Executive.

Pervez Musharraf supported rightsizing in the CBR and directed its chairman to continue it until its rightsizing, said sources.

Sources also said that during the meeting the Chief Executive asked the tax managers to implement the laid down policies in letter and spirit because in the past the policies were not enforced efficiently as a result the entire system collapsed miserably.

During the meeting the CBR chairman told the Chief Executive that all efforts would be made to achieve the target of revenue collection in 1999-2000. He, however, expressed the fear that non-enforcement of General Sales Tax at retail stage might cause shortfall in revenue collection.

Regarding rightsizing, the CE was told that this process had almost been completed in the indirect taxes wings where 1,000 posts had been abolished, while a strategy is being evolved to rightsize all the wings of the direct taxes.