Tag: FBR Chairman

  • Rashid Mahmood’s appointment as FBR chairman sparks controversy over overlooked senior officers

    Rashid Mahmood’s appointment as FBR chairman sparks controversy over overlooked senior officers

    The recent appointment of Rashid Mahmood as Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has ignited debate, as it appears that a number of senior FBR officers were bypassed for the role.

    According to sources, Mahmood’s appointment has overlooked 24 senior officers in the field and 6 at the FBR headquarters, highlighting concerns over the lack of a seniority-based appointment process at the FBR—a stark contrast to other key institutions.

    Further sources reveal that Members of Customs Operations are currently on extended leave, and many senior officers are absent, which points to potential inefficiencies within the department

    Notably, Mahmood’s predecessors, including Amjad Zubair Tawana, Asim Ahmed, and Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, were also appointed despite more senior officers being available, raising questions about the appointment criteria.

    The timing of this appointment is particularly critical as the government faces a daunting tax target of Rs12.31 trillion for the coming 11 months. According to Mettis Global, if revenue collection falls short, even by a month or two, achieving this goal will be increasingly difficult.

    In addition to these challenges, the new chairman will need to navigate ambitious revenue collection targets and oversee essential system digitisation efforts.

  • Rashid Mahmood Langrial appointed as chairman of FBR

    Rashid Mahmood Langrial appointed as chairman of FBR

    The government has appointed Rashid Mahmood Langrial, currently Secretary of the Power Division, as the new Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). This announcement was made through a notice from the Cabinet Secretariat Establishment Division.

    According to the notice, “Rashid Mahmood, a BS-21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service and presently serving as Secretary of the Power Division, is transferred and appointed as Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, with immediate effect, in accordance with Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973.”

    Langrial, who entered the civil service in 1995, boasts a diverse career across various sectors.

    His previous roles include Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, Commissioner of Lahore Division, Secretary of Agriculture in Punjab, Chief Executive Officer of the National Power Parks Management Company (NPPMCL), Chairperson of the Lahore Ring Road Authority, and Secretary of Tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Earlier in his career, he also served as Assistant Commissioner in Sindh and as Deputy Secretary in the Punjab Secretariat.

  • Federal secretaries to play key role in Customs Board as part of tax reform drive 

    The interim government is poised to establish a dedicated Customs Board as part of the ongoing reform initiative to oversee the operations of Pakistan Customs. 

    Within the framework of the tax reform programme, five federal secretaries, namely those from Finance, Industries and Production, National Food Security, Commerce, and Interior, are slated to serve as ex-officio members of the Customs Board. 

    Insiders reveal that FBR Chairman Amjad Zubair Tiwana recently apprised Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar of the FBR’s reform agenda. 

    Additionally, reports suggest that the government has decided to institute a novel position, “Member Appraisal,” within the Customs Department with the aim of segregating appraisal from operational and enforcement functions. 

    Sources further indicate that the government intends to expand the scope of the Track and Trace System to encompass additional sectors as part of the new reform framework. 

    Furthermore, as part of the reform measures, tax authorities are set to implement an electronic invoicing system in designated sectors with the objective of overseeing the entire supply chain and mitigating the risk of smuggling.