The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is likely to earmark resources from the WB funds sanctioned for the Tax Administration Reform Project (Tarp) to restructure the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation.
Sources told Business Recorder on Sunday the board has discussed the allocations of fund for the directorate from the Tarp allocation. The board has decided to examine the possibility of Tarp funds usage for DG Intelligence in consultation with the FBR Tax Policy and Reforms Wing.
Sources said the DG intelligence had sought Rs 1.5 million "secret service funds" from the board for monitoring the performance of tax officials, vigilance of key revenue collection stations and networking of data sources across the country.
The directorate wanted huge amount of "secret service funds" for its newly established Vigilance Wing to check revenue leakage at key points and keep a bird eye-view on tax officials, involved in corrupt practices. However, the board has dropped the idea of providing "secret service funds" to the directorate and is making arrangements for proper funding from the Tarp WB allocation.
The Vigilance Wing had become fully operational after induction of army officials. The Wing with headquarters in Islamabad comprises two full-fledged field vigilance units at Karachi and Lahore. There is a need of financial and logistic support for the Vigilance Wing for carrying out smooth operations, sources said. Sources said the vigilance and surveillance operations covering major revenue centers required substantial amount in the first year of operations for developing a network connecting vital revenue points. Moreover, funds are also required for purchase of gadgets used in vigilance and surveillance operations.
The Vigilance Wing is a combination of customs, income tax and army officers/officials, whereas utilisation of the existing intelligence and investigation officers would be done by regional offices at Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Multan, Sukkur, and Gujranwala.
The directorate officials would also develop working relationship with NAB, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), provincial Anti-Corruption, Establishments, SBP, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and other sensitive agencies.
The DG Intelligence would be engaged in mutual sharing of information/data observing prescribed limits, exchange of expertise with the said organisations for the mutual benefit. The DG Intelligence would give specific findings based on evidence/record, integrity assessment defendable at any forum and integrity check report to the FBR on as and when required basis, sources added.
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