ISLAMABAD: The most powerful and notorious group in the country’s bureaucracy – Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) has again succeeded in appointing a senior officer as Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)/Secretary Revenue Division, a seat considered for Inland Revenue Service (IRS) officers.
A notification available with this scribe revealed that Dr Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan, a BS-22 officer of PAS presently serving as Board of Investment (BoI) Secretary has been transferred and posted as Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division with immediate effect and until further orders.
The Federal Cabinet has given its approval.
Dr Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan is considered close to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government as he served in Punjab in the last five years.
The PAS has been known to lobby for technical posts of chairman FBR and Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP).
A source close to this development informed that incumbent Finance Secretary and Fawad Hasan Fawad had created hindrance in the amendment in Auditor General’s (Functions, Powers and Terms and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2001 but they failed.
DMG group officers had a desire to appoint AGP from their group however according to the above-mentioned bill; AGP should be from the Audit and Accounts Service.
One officer of IRS claimed that chairman FBR should be from IRS. PAS officers do not have the understanding of tax matters which is why they fail to perform well. The PTI government wants reforms in the tax department but it cannot change the system with these officers, the officer added.
Punjab government on Monday appointed DG Punjab Food Authority from PAS, who is under investigation in the Saaf Pani case.
In addition to this, the cabinet gave the approval to appoint Dr Muhammad Suleman Khan as Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Interestingly, the caretaker government on the request of PTI removed Dr Muhammad Suleman Khan from this seat before the election.
The notification stated that Dr Muhammad Suleman Khan a BS-22 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, presently serving as National Coordinator National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has been transferred and posted as Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB) with immediate effect and until further orders.
In another notification, government appointed Mehr Khaliq Dad Lak as NACTA National Coordinator.
With the approval of the federal government, Mehr Khaliq Dad Lak, a BS-22 officer of PSP presently serving as commandant National Police Academy (NPA) under Interior Division has been transferred and posted as National Coordinator NACTA with immediate effect and until further order, notification reads.
