CBR evolves new procedure for cash rewards

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has evolved a new procedure for cash rewards to the tax officials for "meritorious services" to check misuse of reward rules. Sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the tax authorities have approved a criterion for submission of proposals for grant of cash award under the Unified Reward Rules, 2006.
The decision has been taken to ensure that the cases for cash reward on "meritorious services" are properly examined/scrutinised based on the performance of the staff of the board.
Under the new rules, the CBR staff or its subordinate offices under its control who render meritorious services or show extraordinary performance in their duties are awarded certificates of gallantry.
Under the criterion, the officials (BS-1 to 16) recommended for reward should not exceed 40 percent of the total working strength of the concerned section or wing and approved by the concerned CBR Member. The recommended 40 percent officials may further be bifurcated into two categories at the ratio of 50:50 for grant of reward equal to two and one month's pay, respectively.
In case of officers (BS-17 to 20), the concerned members may submit recommendations to the Chairman through Member (Admn), highlighting performance of the officer concerned showing the proposed amount of reward ie one or two months pay.
On submission of new proposals, the competent authority should also see the previous record of the concerned officer/official about eligibility of cash reward during the same financial year. The recommending officers would ensure that in no case reward exceeds two month's pay during the whole financial year. For this purpose, feed back can also be obtained from the Administrative Wing, if so required.
The recommendations should be made purely on merit ie selection of best employees commensurate with their actual contribution to the work encouraging them in its true perspective. It is important to mention that the board had withdrawn reward to customs officials on seizure/confiscation of cars, commercial merchandise, art silk cloth, antiques, detection of mis-declaration and other violations of the Import Policy Order under "Unified Reward Rules 2006".