By Abdul Ghani

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has strengthened its institutional accountability mechanism by constituting a new Internal Affairs and Integrity Oversight Committee, according to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan.

The new mechanism is part of a broader, multi-layered accountability framework maintained by the revenue authority, combining internal audit, performance monitoring, integrity oversight, disciplinary proceedings and external audit.

According to the document, the previously existing Integrity Management Cell (IMC) now serves as the secretariat of the newly-constituted committee.

A key feature of the strengthened mechanism is maintaining an Integrity Risk Register, which is communicated publicly in the interest of transparency.

The document says these initiatives form part of the FRB’s commitments under the IMF Extended Fund Facility and the deliverables of the Prime Minister’s Economic Governance Report.

The FBR also maintains a dedicated Internal Audit Wing, which reports directly to the chairman and provides an independent internal check on the Board’s operations.

This is complemented by separate performance review & compliance risk management committees for the Inland Revenue Service and Pakistan Customs Service. These committees monitor officers’ efficiency and performance management while assessing compliance risks within the respective services.

The document further states that the regular efficiency and discipline regime is strictly enforced within the FBR.

A significant number of officers have been placed under suspension, while disciplinary proceedings have resulted in major and minor penalties against delinquent officers.

The FBR has described these actions as evidence that accountability is being actively pursued rather than remaining merely on paper.

In addition to its internal accountability arrangements, the FBR remains subject to external audit, providing another layer of independent scrutiny over its governance, financial and administrative practices.

The new integrity oversight committee and other monitoring arrangements are part of a comprehensive accountability architecture designed to strengthen transparency, institutional discipline and governance within the country’s principal tax collection body.

Credit: INP-WealthPk