The Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation will set up National Intelligence Division and Customs Tax Fraud Division with the help of international intelligence agencies of Malaysia, Turkey and Singapore.
Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that the directorate has also sought help of customs intelligence agencies of USA and UK to share their experiences in creation of anti-tax frauds departments.
The DG Intelligence has approached the international intelligence organisations to seek assistance in creating new departments. In this regard, the agency would hire an international consultant under the Tax Administration Reform Program (Tarp).
Sources said that the new organisational structure of the DG intelligence has proposed establishment of new departments like Internal Affairs Division, National Intelligence Division and Tax Fraud Division. The scope of the agency has been expanded under the FBR''s reform strategy for establishment of special vigilance units and other tax fraud divisions.
The role of DG intelligence has become unique and more specialised under the reorganisation, which requires training and expertise, who have already provided technical assonance in these specialised areas.
Sources said that the DG Intelligence being member of World Customs Organisation''s Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs), has approached representation from various missions of developed countries where such reforms have been successfully implemented. The international experts who have worked in areas of intelligence, tax frauds and internal affairs etc would be required in Pakistan.
Sources said that the countries such as Malaysia, Turkey and Singapore have successfully undergone restructuring of their intelligence divisions and created integrated systems taking into account best international practices.
The DG intelligence has also approached the Economic and Trade Intelligence Agency of UK and USA for arranging study visits for Pakistani customs officials. The agency has contacted the representatives of these agencies to share best international practices.
It is worth mentioning that Vigilance Wing of the agency had become fully operational with headquarters in Islamabad comprises two full-fledged field vigilance units at Karachi and Lahore. Sources said the vigilance and surveillance operations covering major revenue centres required substantial amount in the first year of operations for developing a network at source at vital revenue points.
The integrity check through computerised personal profiling of officers/officials in BS-11 and above would be done on a specially devised format. Sources for obtaining information about tax officials included posting/transfer notifications, corruption related complaints received by the department, investigated by DG, I&I; ground check reports from field Vigilance Units; information from ''Directorate General of Internal Audit, External Audit (Direct & Indirect Taxes), FTO, courts and other agencies.
Sources said the DG Intelligence would conduct documents-based integrity check of tax officials, which was a complete deviation from hearsay and whimsical assessments. The documents-based integrity check included documents/records/files, which form the basis for documents-based integrity check, mandatory annual declaration of assets, performance evaluation reports (PERs), personal files/records, Human Resource Information System; previous departmental inquiry proceedings record, income tax record and input from other agencies.
The DG Intelligence would also conduct cross-matching and data analysis of annual declarations, income tax record details/documents available with other agencies and on ground position of assets in possession of the reported officer.
Sources said the continuous vigilance and surveillance of tax officials would be done for verification of declared version of income, assets and expenses, track undeclared/misdeclared assets, ascertain real lifestyle, track Benami transactions and detect ventures and accounts of the tax officials.
The DG intelligence would keep a liaison with other anti-corruption agencies. The directorate officials would 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 FBR on as and when required basis, sources added.