The Federal Board of Revenue has issued stern warning to the tax officials working in the FBR Headquarters to avoid leakage of government documents including FBR instructions/directives issued for compliance by Large Taxpayer Units and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) to the unauthorised persons including journalists. In this connection, the FBR has issued a circular here on Tuesday.
Sources told Business Recorder that the circular has been specially issued to prevent leakage of FBR's papers, drafts and documents to the media. For avoiding leakage of FBR's documents, a warning has been issued to the Board's employees. According to the FBR, Rule 18 of Government servants (conduct) Rules, 1964 stipulates that no government servant shall, except in accordance with any special or general order of the Government, communicate directly or indirectly any official document or information to a government servant unauthorised to receive it, or to a non-official person, or to the press.
However, instances have come to the notice of the Board management where classified official documents have been seen in the custody or unauthorised persons. Furthermore, confidential official information is leaked to unauthorised persons and entities which is a matter of serious concern.
Such unauthorised disclosure of official information causes embarrassment to the Board on one hand while on the other, it violates standard norms of discharging government business, FBR stated. All concerned are, therefore, reminded to exercise due diligence in this matter and adhere to rules and regulations while handing official information. Violations of these instructions in future will be taken very seriously, the FBR added.