ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue has accomplished 80 percent automation for putting in place Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and remaining 20 percent work will be completed within next few months, FBR’s Chief Management Bashirullah Khan said.
“We are undertaking strenuous efforts to link all HR data with HRIS. Once the online system starts functioning, all matters pertaining to transfers, postings, location, promotions and profiles of the FBR officials and officers will come under one head and will be only a click away,” FBR Chief (Management) Bashirullah Khan expressed these views during an exclusive chat with the Customs Today.
Bashirullah said that there were two areas falling in his domain – Inland Revenue Service (IRS) and its field formation, adding that the Chief (management) had to deal with all affairs pertaining to postings, transfers, promotions, disciplinary proceedings, permissions and granting of leaves of these departments.
“There are a total of 11 sections under the purview of the FBR Chief (management) including five sections dealing only with service related matters of employees from BPS 1 to 22,” he pointed out, adding that service profiles were prepared and all related problems including disciplinary proceedings and actions, leave of all nature and other such matters were dealt under the MIR (4) of Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973. Similarly the other three sections deal with the affairs of employees from BPS 17 to 22 respectively, he added.
Bashirullah disclosed that in addition to these responsibilities, the FBR Chief (management) had to look after all the affairs of a number of ex-cadre employees in Inland Revenue (IR), about 850 employees in the IT Section and second-cadre employees of IR besides affairs of the newly appointed employees, adding that the department also had to devise a foolproof plan for their role, effective performance and promotion.
The Chief (management) said that the FBR had a sanctioned strength of 27,000 posts from BPS 1 to 22 but currently it was being run with only 23,000, adding that no new recruitment had been made since 1995 and the shortage of staff had been affecting the performance of field formation and indirectly revenue collection.
“Due to a ban on recruitment these posts could not be filled so far,” he pointed out, adding that the FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa as well as Member (Admin) Shahid Jatoi had already made it clear that all these posts must be filled in a transparent manner.
He claimed that they were in constant contact with the National Testing Service (NTS) and the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) to ensure recruitment of talented candidates on the basis of purely on merit.
“You see, the FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa has adopted the policy of zero tolerance towards the officials and officers involved in corrupt practices and he has issued clear directives regarding initiation of disciplinary proceeding against all such officers under Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973,” he disclosed, adding that the department always ensured to assign honest and dedicated officers to inquiries to decide cases on merit.
Bashirullah claimed that unlike past, discipline had been ensured through strong administrative measures and strict enforcement of laws, adding that prompt action was taken to avoid unnecessary leave, willful absence from duty and poor performance.
He also appreciated and welcomed the up-gradation of the post of inspector from BPS 14 to 16, saying that now their recruitment would be made through the FPSC.
