In lieu of performance allowance: FBR chief seeks minister’s approval for hike in basic salary

LAHORE: Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Asim Ahmad has sought approval of the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue for submission of a summary to the Prime Minister proposing enhancement of the existing fixed FBR incentive for the employees to 150% of their running basic salary in lieu of the FBR performance allowance.

According to a letter written on Tuesday, copy available with Business Recorder, the federal cabinet has approved in principle to give an executive allowance equal to 150% of the basic salary to government officials of grade 17 to 22 working in the federal secretariat on the pattern of the provinces. Officers of FBR were, however, excluded on the ground that they were already receiving a special allowance.

The letter has further pointed out that representations have been received from many FBR employees requesting for review of this decision on the ground that the FBR performance allowance has been frozen since 2015 to a level which has now become about 20% of the basic pay. In comparison, employees of many other organizations are receiving special allowance/incentives which amount to 100 to 150% of their basic pay. This disparity is resulting in the demoralization of the FBR employees, which may negatively affect their vital revenue collection efforts.

Accordingly, in order to remove the disparity in the salary structure, the Chairman FBR has proposed to move a summary to the Prime Minister seeking enhancement of the existing fixed FBR incentive for the employees to 150% of their running basic salary in lieu of the FBR performance allowance to bring their compensation package at par with organisations like NAB and FIA.

Meanwhile, sources from the local field formation have told this scribe that the strike by the FBR employees has come to an end as everyone is eying the outcome of summary approval by the federal finance minister. Many of the officials, officers and support staff were found calculating raise in their basic pay in case the summary is approved by the concerned authority.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022