FBR Cleans House: 200 Officers Reshuffled in Performance Crackdown

Grades 17-18 officers first in line as part of broader restructuring to meet revenue targets

ISLAMABAD: In a sweeping administrative overhaul, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has finalized the transfer and posting of over 200 Grade 17 and 18 officers from the Inland Revenue Service (IRS), citing poor performance of field formations, sources familiar with the matter told ProPakistani.

Key Developments:

• Immediate Action: Notifications for the first-phase reshuffle—targeting 40% of Grades 17-18 officers—are expected within the week.

• Second Phase Coming: A similar exercise for Grades 19 and 20 officers is already in the pipeline.

• Board Restructuring Planned: Proposals to replace multiple FBR board members are also under consideration as part of a broader reform push.

Performance-Driven Shakeup:

The decision follows high-level internal meetings where FBR leadership strategized urgent measures to boost revenue collection and ensure monthly targets are met. Sources indicate that underperforming field offices triggered the mass reassignments.

PM’s Direct Oversight:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken personal charge of FBR’s enforcement and policy operations, emphasizing that revenue goals must be achieved “at all costs.” The move signals the government’s hardening stance on tax administration amid fiscal pressures.

Broader Implications:

• The reshuffle aligns with Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to modernize tax collection and curb inefficiencies.

• It precedes potential tax relief for US tech firms, suggesting a dual strategy of domestic enforcement reforms and foreign investor concessions (as reported earlier by ProPakistani).

What’s Next?
With the FBR’s restructuring now in motion, observers await whether the shakeup will translate into improved revenue figures or face resistance from entrenched bureaucratic circles.

Background: Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest regionally, with persistent gaps in collection efficiency. The FBR’s aggressive measures reflect mounting pressure to shore up finances amid IMF program reviews and debt obligations.