FBR going through fundamental changes to make organization more vibrant: Hammad

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Revenue, Hammad Azhar Wednesday said fundamental changes were being made in Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to make the organization more vibrant.

“We are making fundamental changes in FBR and have separated tax policy from operations," he said while addressing a group of 55 senior civil servants undergoing the 110th National Management Course (NMC).

The civil servants along with rector and dean of the National Management College (NMC), Lahore visited FBR House here Wednesday. FBR Chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan was also present on the occasion.

The minister said efforts were also underway for optimization of revenues, promotion of information tecnology driven processes, introducing investment-friendly tax system besides making improvement and bringing about innovation.

He informed the participants that the government was trying to put economy of the country on the right track, adding FBR’s role was of utmost importance in this regard.

On this occasion, FBR Member (Inland Revenue Policy) Hamid Ateeq Sarwar gave a detailed briefing on various policy and operational challenges faced by FBR and highlighted the strategies adopted by the board to address these issues.

He also informed the participants about the major initiatives taken by FBR to enhance revenue generation through ICT based tax system with minimal interface between taxpayers and tax collectors.

He also informed about the automated risk system for identification of tax fraud and tax evasion and real-time linkages between FBR database with third party data holders.

Lahore NMC Rector Ali Azmat Ranjha thanked FBR chairman for providing the participants of the NMC with an opportunity to interact with FBR’s top management and to understand the grass-root issues facing the country’s economy and the revenue collection system.

Appreciating the performance of the FBR, he said it was the need of the hour to adopt and promote tax culture.