The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would approach the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry for obtaining funding of Rs 188.818 million for 20 new projects under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) funding in 2008-09.
It is worth mentioning here that the FBR has utilised a meager amount on reforms under the Tax Administration Reform Project (Tarp) and the reform process might be completed in 2010 instead of December 2009 due to problems in infrastructure development of reformed units and information technology.
Sources told Business Recorder on Thursday that the FBR had approved 45 new projects in the second half of 2007-08 and a priority list was also compiled for these projects. The issue would be taken up with the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry at the appropriate time to get sufficient funding for new projects out of the available PSDP resources of the Revenue Division in 2008-09.
Accordingly, a proposal for re-appropriation of funds shall be made by the FBR to the Planning Commission and the Finance Division. The FBR is making strenuous efforts to prepare five-year Infrastructure Development Plan and various schemes approved in the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP).
Sources said the board has given top priority to the establishment of Tax Facilitation Centers (TFCs). It would make arrangements for location of new TFCs. It has been decided that land would be purchased for the TFCs keeping in view a number of stations required.
It shall also be decided whether to reduce the number of new TFCs keeping in view delay in purchasing lands by respective regional tax offices (RTOs) and the corresponding revenue collection at various stations.
It was decided that various issues related to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) like purchase of plot adjacent to Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) building at Mauve Area Islamabad, allotment of car-parking spaces for RTO/LUT/MCC building at Islamabad, allotment of land at the back of FBR House for emergency exit, and relocation of covered car-parking space allotted to FBR HQ shall be pursued vigorously.
It was decided that the Monitoring Unit of Directorate of Project Monitoring, Implementation and Evaluation (DPMIE) shall visit the ongoing development schemes more frequently by the tax officials in future.
Sources said the release of funds was not allowed by the Finance Division in the fourth quarter of 2007-08 keeping in view the current financial crunch in the country. According to sources, availability of PSDP funds in 2007-08 was increased to Rs 1.006 billion; thereby crossing psychological barrier of Rs 1 billion mark.
The PSDP demand was transferred from the Ministry of Housing and Works to the Revenue Division and as such, the Revenue Division now appears as a separate entity in the Ministry of Finance.
Sources said that a comprehensive Management and Technical Capability was established in FBR HQ. The Project Monitoring and Evaluation Cell (PM&EC) was established to monitor the PSDP projects of FBR. The project section of FBR was reinforced by posting of Secretary (Projects), Second Secretary (Projects Finance) and Drawing/Disbursing Officer. The above sections were amalgamated into Directorate of Project Monitoring, Implementation and Evaluation (DPMIE).
Sources said the software in the name of "Project Monitoring and Evaluation System" (PMES) was obtained from the Planning Commission, which provides web-based provision of physical and financial progress of development schemes.
Other projects during 2007-08 included construction of additional block in FBR HQ was commenced after completing all its requisite formalities; 5.5 kanals of land adjacent to FBR HQ was purchased from the CDA for construction of additional car-parking. The Director Generals of RTOs were allowed to purchase land from private parties after completing the requisite codal formalities.