ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi’s 15-day leave has triggered rumours within the tax circles that “he has probably left the chairmanship”.
According to sources, Shabbar Zaidi is not feeling well these days and that he recently underwent a surgery in a Karachi hospital.
Meanwhile, a lobby within the department has claimed that Zaidi won’t return to the office owing to a number of reasons.
“The FBR officials are not cooperating with him on issues pertaining to shortfall in revenue, which is why Zaidi is facing criticism from the PM’s finance adviser,” sources said. “In addition, tax officials are not happy with the government’s proposal to convert FBR into Pakistan Revenue Authority.”
Moreover, sources alleged that the tax officials were issuing the SROs without taking the chairman into confidence. Giving an example, sources said that Customs high ups reinstated the Karachi internal audit wing without the chairman’s consent.
Customs had merged the Internal Audit of Lahore and Karachi into Islamabad in October last year.
Sources further claimed that Zaidi was not happy with the political interference in transfer and posting matters.
“The FBR machinery is resisting against taking the action against corrupt officials of customs as well as FBR,” sources said. “The tax officials are paying no heed on corruption complaints which is why matters have started deteriorating.”
Talking to this scribe, senior FBR official Dr Hamid Attique clarified, “Leave is everyone’s right so he [Zaidi] has availed it. In addition, he has family commitments and that he is also under treatment. He will surely be back in the office by January 20, 2020.”
