ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a significant penalty on a lady customs officer Ms. Faiza Naeem, an Appraising Officer deputed at the Air Freight Unit, Islamabad International Airport.
The penalty of withholding three increments for three years without cumulative effect comes as a consequence of her alleged inefficiency and misconduct while handling mobile phones. The disciplinary proceedings were initiated under the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020.
The case against Ms. Naeem revolves around allegations of omission and commission that constitute “inefficiency” and “misconduct” as per Rule-3(a) and (b) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. An Order of Inquiry, Charge Sheet, and Statement of Allegations were issued on January 25, 2023. Mr. Salik Mahmood, a civil servant holding the rank of PCS/BS-18, was appointed as the Inquiry Officer to investigate her conduct.
The Inquiry Officer submitted the inquiry report on May 22, 2023, which established the charge of “inefficiency” against Ms. Naeem under Rule-3(a) and recommended the imposition of a minor penalty under Rule-4(2)(b) – withholding increments for three years.
Following the report, a show-cause notice was served upon Ms. Naeem on June 7, 2023. She denied the charges and was granted a personal hearing on July 20, 2023, in compliance with Rule-17 of the Rules.
After thorough consideration of the available record, the Member (Admn/HR) of the FBR, acting as the Authority, determined that Ms. Naeem had failed to exercise due diligence in processing assigned Goods Declarations (GDs). Her negligence was evident in cases of short-shipped consignments where IMEI numbers were missing from examination reports. Instead of raising queries or conducting reexaminations, she appraised the mobiles that were not received with the shipment, indicating a lack of understanding of her role.
As a result, Ms. Naeem, holding the position of Appraising Officer at the BS-16 level, will face a penalty of withholding three increments for three years without cumulative effect, in accordance with Rule-4(2)(b) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. Her performance allowance, as outlined in Circular No. 1/2015, dated March 6, 2015, has also been suspended for six months from the date of this penalty.
Ms. Faiza Naeem retains the right to appeal this decision to the Appellate Authority under the Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977, within a 30-day window from the date of communication of this notification.
This development underscores the importance of maintaining efficiency and discipline within the civil service, as adherence to established rules and regulations is paramount in ensuring the effective functioning of government institutions.
