LAHORE: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a major penalty on Ms. Kiran Zahra, a BS-18 officer of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS), following disciplinary proceedings related to her prolonged unauthorized absence from duty.
According to an official notification issued by the FBR, Ms. Zahra, serving as Second Secretary at FBR Headquarters, was charged with “misconduct” under Rule 3(b) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020. Initially, she was granted a two-year ex-Pakistan leave—comprising 365 days on half pay and another 365 days of Extra Ordinary Leave (EOL) without pay—from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2024. However, instead of rejoining duty on October 1, 2024, she requested a further extension of leave, which was not approved by the competent FBR authority.
Despite clear directions from the FBR, communicated through letters dated October 11 and November 4, 2024, Ms. Zahra failed to resume her responsibilities. Consequently, under Rule 7 of the Civil Servants Rules, disciplinary action was initiated without a formal inquiry. A show cause notice was served on February 16, 2025, to which Ms. Zahra responded, citing medical grounds, including diagnoses of granulomatous mastitis and Gohn’s disease. She claimed she was receiving treatment at the Breast Cancer Institute in Westmead Hospital, Australia.
A virtual hearing was held on April 24, 2025, during which the IRS officer repeated her earlier stance. The FBR Authority, however, noted inconsistencies in her documentation. She was offered the option to undergo medical verification through an independent board in Pakistan, but she refused. Furthermore, she failed to provide any proof of medication purchases, casting doubt on the legitimacy of her claims.
After reviewing the leave records, reply to the show cause notice, and her oral submissions, the Secretary Revenue Division and FBR Chairman concluded that the charges of unauthorized absence stood proven. Accordingly, a major penalty of “Dismissal from Service” was imposed under Rule 4(3)(e) of the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020.
The IRS officer’s absence from October 1, 2024, to date has also been regularized as EOL without pay. Ms. Zahra has the right to file an appeal under the Civil Servants (Appeal) Rules, 1977, within 30 days of this notification.
This action by the FBR underscores its commitment to upholding discipline and accountability within the IRS, reinforcing that prolonged unauthorized absences will not be tolerated.
