ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday censured Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials who were reportedly not providing record to auditors for verification of tax collection and expenditures occurred in the past few years.
The committee met here under the chairmanship of Nadeem Afzal Gondal. Members of the committee Ms. Asiya Nasir, Yasmeen Rehman, Zahid Hamid, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah and Ch. Saeed Iqbal were also present in the meeting.
The committee also sought action against the FBR officials who were showing neglence in recovery of taxes from tax payers and directed that the officials should be fixed who did not show performance during the last seven years so that they could not get promotion in next grade.
The committee directed FBR to provide record to the Audit within a month time and also sought reason of those special cases which record could not be presented to the Audit.
Chairman FBR Ali Arshad Hakeem told the committee that it was the duty of FBR to maintain tax payers personal privacy and added that the committee would see a major difference in FBR performance in the next meeting.
Discussing the Audit objections, Ali Arshad Hakeed said that out of five scanners to scan the containers four scanners have been installed while the fifth scanner installation is in progress.
He said that the scanners have installed at Port Qasim Karachi, Mughalpura Lahore, Wagah Border Lahore, Thokar Niaz Baig Lahore, Jamrud and sixth scanner would also be installed at Chaman border.
He said that for the sixth scanner NLC has purchased 30 acre land and the construction have been started at the site.
On a query, the FBR Chairman told that PAC should form a sub-committee for resolving the issues with audit deparment.
Director General Federal Audit said that five chairmans have completed their tenures and sixth chairman has took charge but the problem regarding provision of record is same.
The Chairman FBR said that Peshawar High Court has directed FBR, under Salea Tax article (25), that the Audit could no access the record of sales tax registerd persons.
Member PAC Zahid Hamid rejected FBR position on the provision of record and said that it would not be tolerated added that High Court decision was against some special cases and also sought copy of the High Court dicision.
Ali Arshad Hakeem told that all the tax payers data is maintained by the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL). Audit officials told the committee that under constitution FBR is bound to provide record and it is clearly mention in the Sales Tax act that FBR bound to provide record to the audit department.
Chairman FBR said that all the issues were settled with the audit in a meeting with Auditor General except access to the record of tax payers because it is mandatory for us to maintain the privacy.
Eexpressing annoyance over the non-recovery of 2004-05 audit reports the committee directed FBR for the recovery within one time and also sought action against individuals who create hurdle in the recovery.
Nadeem Afzal said that FBR has the capacity of 28000 employees and added that the employees involved in corruption punitive action should be taken against them.
Yasmeen Rehman said that 10,000 cases regarding the recovery of FBR were under prosecution in different courts.
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