Chairman FBR addresses field formations; urges them to step up efforts for revenue collection
Chairman FBR, Dr. Muhammad Irshad has exhorted the officers of FBR posted in field formations to step up their efforts and work to the best of their abilities in the next couple of months to meet the revenue collection target set for the year.
"I know it is a gigantic task but time and again the FBR officers and staff have done it in the past and I am sure with greater focus, energy and vigour in their revenue collection efforts, they can meet this year's target as well," he said in a video-link address beamed out live from the FBR House in Islamabad to the officers in FBR's field formations across the country.
The Chairman while speaking to the officers after his extension as the Chairman FBR, said he had lots of expectations from the officers of both IRS and PCS posted in the field formations to prove that they were capable of delivering on the hopes and promises of generating sufficient revenue to drive the socio-economic agenda of the government. "It is a question of professional capacity, competence, prestige and honour that each one of us faces in measuring up to the challenge of achieving the tax collection target and stemming the trend of revenue shortfall that has gone unchecked for almost three quarters in a row now," he said.
The Chairman reminded the officers that there were certain areas such as recovery of arrears, realisation of revenue stuck up in litigation, regular auction of confiscated goods, implementation of valuation rulings and expeditious clearance of goods at ports and airports which with renewed efforts and greater focus could yield a considerable amount of revenue to shore up the overall revenue figures for the current year.
He assured the officers that he understood and deeply valued the welfare of all his officers and staff and he had already in a short period as Chairman FBR taken a host of measures to inject new energy and vigour in the organisation by resolving pending issues regarding promotions, upgradation of posts and fresh recruitments. "My vision is to transform FBR into a choice organisation in the public sector, by providing the best environment for discharge of duties .. I wish to transform FBR into an organisation which cares for its employees ... I believe in the fact that a happy employee is a productive employee and employee satisfaction and employee welfare within the ambit of law are positively correlated," he added.
The Chairman also shared with the officers the aims and objectives of the FBR Foundation that had already become operational with the swearing-in of Mr. Saleem Ahmed Ranjha, a BS-21 officer of Pakistan Customs Service, as its first CEO the other day. "Every journey begins with the first step taken in the right direction and it is my resolve to make every possible effort for the welfare of employees whether serving or retired and FBR Foundation provides an ideal platform for offering all types of welfare services, including quality education and healthcare, in a structured fashion to the serving and retired employees of FBR," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, FBR Foundation CEO Mr. Saleem Ahmed Ranjha thanked the officers and FBR leadership for reposing trust in him and letting him the opportunity to serve the FBR employees. He said he had several ideas in his mind to turn them into initiatives in the coming months as he hoped to work in close association with his fellow FBR colleagues to make the FBR Foundation a success. He said the membership drive for the Foundation would start very soon and the membership form would be uploaded on FBR's website.
