ISLAMABAD: The Acting Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Dr. Muhammad Irshad, Member Operations Inland Revenue is the best option for the government to continue as the chairman FBR up to June this year, till the passage of financial budget for the fiscal year 2017-18. The acting chairman is likely retire from service in April this year
Other two lead contenders for the post of chairman FBR include Secretary Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and Advisor to Finance Minister Tariq Pasha and DG Income Tax Investigation (I&I) Khawaja Tanveer.
However, a well placed official source at FBR told Customs Today that even after the retirement, the government would have to grant superannuation to Dr. Muhammad Irshad for two or three months up to July 1 to get the budget passed.
Moreover, the source said that no one else even from both the lead contenders could meet the revenue target placed by the government before the FBR. Dr. Muhammad Irshad played key role in meeting the revenue target last year too.
“Furthermore, hailing from Inland Revenue-Operations, he has full how know about the ways to enhance the volume of revenue as well as has full understanding about the problems and difficulties faced by the staff on the ground” the source added.
Similarly, almost entire field staff has good will and opinion about him therefore, the source said that only he could mobilize the staff for making strenuous self-motivated efforts to meet the enthusiastic revenue collection target fixed by the government to FBR.
“As per available information with the concerned quarters, both the lead contenders are in grade 21 and the government will have to at first promote them into grade 22 and then appoint as the chairman FBR” the source added saying that high powered selection board had met and made some decisions in this regard, but those decisions could not be implemented due to foreign trips of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whose approval was must for the purpose.
Moreover, the source said that higher concerned circles thought it more appropriate to appoint next FBR chairman from within the FBR because of the good results and performance demonstrated by FBR under the chairmanship of the retired chairman FBR Nisar Muhammad Khan.
The source further revealed that Tariq Pasha was more interested in the post of Secretary Economic Affairs’ Division because sitting Secretary EAD Tariq Bajwa was most likely to be elevated to the post of Finance Secretary in place of Acting Secretary Finance Shujaat Ali Khan.
“Once, Tariq Pasha gets any such assurance from the concerned quarters, he will be out of the run for the office of chairman FBR, and then only Khawaja Tanveer will remain the lone contender for this office” the source added.
However, after the retirement of acting Chairman FBR Dr. Muhammad Irshad, then the government would have to find out an appropriate candidate for the office of chairman FBR as since then a number of good officers would have been promoted to fill the gap emerged out of the retirement of their seniors.
It is pertinent to note here that on 18th of the current month, upon the retirement of chairman, Federal Board of Revenue, Nisar Muhammad today, the Finance Minister has assigned Dr. Muhammad Irshad, Member (Operations-Inland Revenue) to look after the work of chairman FBR, till the appointment of a regular chairman.
The incumbent Chairman, Nisar Muhammad has retired on reaching the age of superannuation. Dr. Muhammad Irshad, is a BS 22 officer of the Inland Revenue Service.
