ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued new guidelines governing the suspension of officers and staff, setting out the circumstances in which such action may be justified and when it should be avoided.
According to a circular, the revised instructions require authorities to consider the nature and seriousness of allegations before recommending the suspension of any officer or employee.
The FBR has directed that an initial inquiry must be conducted before recommending an officer’s suspension. Authorities must also take the nature of the allegations into account while deciding whether suspension is necessary.
The circular states that officers should not be recommended for suspension over minor errors or trivial disciplinary violations. Instead, suspension shoisuld be considered in light of the seriousness of the allegations and the circumstances of each case.
Suspension allowed in serious cases
Under the new guidelines, an officer may be suspended when facing serious allegations or in cases where the circumstances could lead to dismissal from service.
Suspension may also be warranted in cases involving insubordination, detention or the risk that an officer could interfere with an ongoing inquiry.
The instructions aim to ensure that suspension recommendations are based on the nature of the alleged misconduct rather than minor mistakes or insignificant disciplinary issues.
Field formations directed to follow guidelines
The FBR has directed all field formations to strictly comply with the new guidelines when recommending the suspension of officers and staff.
The board has also rescinded its previous circular, dated October 7, 2026, concerning the suspension of officers. The new instructions replace the earlier directive and establish the revised criteria for recommending suspension.
The guidelines emphasise that suspension decisions must follow an initial assessment of the allegations, with due consideration given to the seriousness of the matter and the possibility of interference with an inquiry.
