FBR seeks to cut expenditures: MoF asked to abolish posts of IMS and SP&R DGs

The Federal Board of Revenue has moved a summary to the Ministry of Finance to abolish posts of Director General Information Management System (IMS) and Director General FBR Strategic Planning and Research (SP&R) Wing, under the government policy to reduce unnecessary expenditures.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that both the said posts of the FBR were unproductive and unnecessary burden on the board. The overlapping of functions between the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (Pral) and the FBR IMS Wing has forced the FBR to propose abolition of the DG IMS.
In the presence of the Pral, there was no need of post of DG IMS as most of the IT related functions are already being performed by the Pral. There was duplication of functions between the Pral and the DG IMS Wing, which has also been highlighted by a donor agency. Therefore, both the posts of DG IMS and DG SP&R would be abolished following approval of the competent authority.
When asked about the status of resignation of the DG IMS, sources said that the FBR has moved the summary to the Ministry of Finance for acceptance of the resignation of the DG IMS. The DG IMS was hired on a huge amount of package over and above Rs 300,000 salary per month. Due to duplication of work, there is no need of the post of the DG IMS in the presence of PRAL, official added.
It is learnt that the FBR DG IMS Zafar Iqbal Siddiqi has written a third letter to the FBR Chairman regarding his resignation on August 4. The new letter reads, "although I never wanted to resign and had a great desire to contribute effectively in my role as DG (IMS) but got so disheartened/frustrated with the humiliating treatment meted out to me that there was no other respectable way left for me except to resign".
The letter further said, "in today's world, ICT is an important and integral part of any strategic organisation like FBR, IMS wing seems to be pain in the neck. It is really not understandable organisation hut for. If Pral is the substitute then FBR-must understand that there is no mechanism available In FBR to check Pral's governance and performance issues. It is the IMS wing which acts as a deterrence and watchdog to ensure that PRAL delivers as per the laid out goals being the regulators while Pral's role is that of a vendor.
The FBR has relied more on PRAL than IMS wing and unable to manage a balance between the two set ups to give rise to confusions and controversies. There is a specific role of IMS wing with distinct functions from Pral. It is, therefore, important to consider this aspect before any wrong decision is made, the DG IMS added.