FBR chief concerned about slow-moving tax reforms project

The chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), M. Abdullah Yusuf, has expressed concern over certain slow-moving projects under the Tax Administration Reforms Project (Tarp). Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that the Revenue Division secretary-general has conveyed his reservations to the members for completion of all projects as per timelines agreed with the World Bank.
In this connection, the board has decided to evaluate progress on reforms under Tarp. According to the FBR chief, the tax administration reform program is not proceeding as smoothly as it should, and that some of the projects are behind schedule. With the rollout of RTOs and MCCs at a critical stage, we must review how the tax authorities are managing the program. For this purpose, tax officials must learn and apply new change management techniques to ensure that the reforms are not placed at risk, he said.
Accordingly, the board has approved a three-day Change Management Workshop for the Board in Council Members and the director generals of the supporting directorates. The workshop will provide action-centred learning interwoven with a mid-term overview of Tarp.
Abdullah Yusuf said it is extremely important that we must accomplish reform programme as a strong and effective team, rather than a group of individuals, so the event will also provide an opportunity to inculcate co-operation and team spirit at the topmost management level.
The workshop will be conducted by Gordon Gullan, who is currently running a highly successful Management Development Programme for the Egypt Customs Authority, and will come to FBR with excellent credentials as an international expert in action-centred senior management development. He will be assisted by Alan Gilmour, who is already known to the FBR.
The FBR chief said the event should be held in Islamabad instead of our usual venue - Bhurban. The program is highly interactive and each segment builds on the previous one. "It is, therefore, most important that we are ready to start at the designated time, and that we do not miss any of the event", said Abdullah Yusuf.