Inland Revenue Audit Officers (IRAOs) of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) all over Pakistan have denied the allegations of the President Federal Revenue Alliance (FRA) employees union, creating an impression that promotion of Senior Auditors as "Assistant Commissioner" (Inland Revenue) would stop the promotion of Income Tax (Inland Revenue) employees.
This was stated by the Inland Revenue Audit Officers (IRAOs) of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in an announcement made here on Wednesday. Referring to the statement of the President, FRA in which he has termed the "Inland Revenue Audit Officers" as "Senior Auditors" they said the post of "Senior Auditor" (initially appointed in BS-16 by FBR in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2001) has been re-designated vide FBR's letter No 1(7) 2010/M-III dated 22.04.2010 subsequently approved by the Parliament, through Finance Bill, 2010.
The "Inland Revenue Audit Officers" has been defined as "Officer of Inland Revenue" vide clause (i) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, clause (g) of section 30 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 etc. At present, no Senior Auditor is serving in the FBR, Whereas, FRA is unaware of the legal position.
The IT officials further assumed that there is a proposal for "promotion" of the "Senior Auditors" as "Assistant Commissioners". Here once again the President, FRA has misquoted the facts. Despite lapse of 16 years the IRAOs have been prevented from their fundamental right of promotion. Presently, under the General Scheme of Up-gradation of Employees of the Federal Government, on July 28, 2010, a summary for up-gradation of post of "Inland Revenue Audit Officers" (IRAOs) from BS-16 to BS-17 was moved by FBR to the Establishment and Finance Divisions. The Establishment Division, on October 19,2010 recognising the injustice and discriminatory treatment with FBR "Inland Revenue Audit Officers" (BS-16) accorded the concurrence, however, certain queries were raised by the Finance Division vide OM No 1(1) R-1/2007-1171 dated 10.01.2011. Now after lapse of more than one year, on April 3, 2012 the Ministry of Finance too has approved the up-gradation summary moved by FBR and formal notification to this effect is likely to be issued by the FBR shortly.
The President, FRA's stance that the proposal for up-gradation of IRAOs was not agreed by Member Inland Revenue and Member Legal, FBR, hence a few IT officials, in other words have blamed the top most management of the FBR as both Member Inland Revenue and Member Legal FBR are not only the head of Income Tax Officers/officials but simultaneously they are also head of the "Inland Revenue Audit Officers" and other defunct sales tax staff who joined the Inland Revenue service. They are responsible for the betterment and welfare of the entire tax machinery. Since the Up-gradation summary of IRAOs, (being the employees of Federal Government) forwarded by FBR has been approved the establishment and finance divisions and any attempt to discard the decision of Federal Government would tantamount to disobedience of law and violation of Article 25 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan besides a severe attempt to negate the version of last two Chairmen of the FBR. We are against strike because our country's financial position is so critical and we have not sufficient funds to remove loadshedding. The IRAOs was of the view that the tax machinery should focus on one point agenda that is to achieve the revenue target of 1952 billion for the current fiscal. However, the competent authorities should take strict action against those who have stopped working in the field formations.
On the other hand, to integrate the Inland Revenue Wing and meet the revenue targets fixed by the Federal Government, the IRAOs would appreciate and welcome the proposal for up-gradation of Inland Revenue Officers and Inspectors Inland Revenue if the same is moved by the FBR, Inland Revenue Audit Officers added.
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