Budget preparations: FBR making security, other arrangements for staff

The Federal Board of Revenue is in the process of making all security and boarding/lodging arrangements for staff engaged in preparations of Finance Bill 2012-13 prior to its presentation before the Parliament. Sources told Business Recorder here on Friday that the FBR has appointed Muhammad Raza Baqir, Member (Administration) as Chief Co-ordinator Budget and Muhammad Asghar Chaudhry Chief (Management) designated as Co-ordinator Budget.
The designated body has appointed Chief (Administration) as Chief Security Officer (Budget) and Mahmood Hussain, Secretary (S&M) has been nominated as Deputy Chief Security Officer (Budget). Mahmood Hussain has vast experience of budget making process for the last many years at the FBR level.
The FBR will ensure that secret material of summary for the Cabinet is not included in any CD to be sold or given to other agency, sources said. Moreover, the FBR will also ban the entry of visitors except Chairman, Members/Chiefs for which draft has already been submitted for approval to the concerned authorities. The board has made it mandatory for the staff engaged in Finance Bill preparation to display official identity cards on entry into the FBR headquarter.
The FBR has issued letters to different agencies such as NTC, FGSH, CDA (Electrical/ Maintenance/Water Supply), Wapda, PCPPI, Pral, dealers of photo-copiers/printers, etc, for logistic support and nomination of concerned technicians/engineers. The board will finalize the list of Urdu & English computer operators (who will type Budget documents in a typing pool) and arrangement of their training at Pral.
Sources said that letter was sent to Collector Customs Rawalpindi for deputation of Inspectors for Budget duty in the FBR. Sources said that an estimate of SROs to be issued by each section will also be brought to the notice of the concerned authorities. Sources added that necessary software and hardware support to be provided by Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (Pral), while budget speech and other documents to be placed on FBR Website by Pral after conclusion of Finance Minister's speech.
Sources said that final number of pages for Finance Bill 2012-13 is to be given by each Deputy Co-ordinator. The FBR will issue instructions to avoid use of internet till announcement of the budget except in rare/important official cases. Sources said that the board made arrangement for purchase of flash drive for use in Budget documents. The FBR has directed Pral to ensure proper arrangement for counter attack on "Virus" and install latest anti-virus program on the PCs.
The board will provide assistance for preparation of Budget speech for which a number of good Urdu-English/ English-Urdu dictionaries to be required. Sources said that respective sections engaged in budget exercise will be requested to requisition the necessary supplies like toner for printers and paper, etc.
The board directed all sections engaged in budget exercise to communicate particulars of PCs and printers to Pral to enable them to scan the machines from any virus. The FBR will arrange binding/stitching staff of PCPP. The board will ensure list of computer, machines to be provided by the Coordinators/Deputy Coordinators to Pral. The FBR directed the authorities concerned to prepare CDs and sale of budget documents after the announcement of the budget.
Sources said that Part-II of the Budget Speech (Tax proposals) both English and Urdu to be prepared by the Revenue Division/FBR will also include the portions to be supplied by the Finance Division. The text of the English speech will be composed in 6" x 8" and the text of Urdu Speech will be composed in 5" x 8". The text of the Urdu Speech will be composed in package "Inpage Version 2.4" and point size will be 18. Similarly, the text of the English speech will be composed in Package MS Word 2002 (XP), FontTimes New Roman in point size 12.
The board has written letters to all the members for submission of lists of officers/staff essentially required to be engaged in the Budget exercise for payment of meal charges and officers/staff who are required to be retained announcement of budget. The board will make the security arrangements. The FBR will assured that generator is to be re-checked before starting budget exercise after due notice to all.
The board will request to Ministry of Law for posting of suitable officers for vetting of budget documents. The board will process case for giving contract to the Caterer for arrangement of meal during the confined Budget days. The FBR will ascertain actual required number of copies of Budget documents. The requirement should be given well in time after due consideration, as enhancement of number of copies at belated stage at the time of announcement of the Budget results great inconvenience in addition to extra expenditure incurred on serving food and other arrangements for printing staff even after announcement of the Budget.
The board will make suitable arrangements for provision of trunks with necessary armed security staff and transport for carrying Budget documents from FBR to Cabinet Block and Parliament House. The FBR will ensure vacation of rooms for budget printing/sorting, etc and demonstration of printers.
The board will ensure maintenance of record of written permission of the Chief Co-ordinator Budget in respect of officers deputed for official assignment(s) outside FBR at the time of announcement of budget. Sources said that FBR Secretary (Admn & Coord) will make adequate arrangements for dispatch and distribution of budget documents in the Cabinet meeting including entry passes for officers/officials who will carry documents.
The board will provide the required number of copies of summary for the Cabinet" and accompanying documents to be delivered to Section Officer Cabinet Division under usual security arrangements, at least one hour before the Cabinet meeting on budget. Sources further revealed that information regarding entry of officers in PM's Secretariat for Cabinet Meeting for delivery of documents etc. to be obtained from SS (Council). The board will also make special transport arrangements for delivery of Budget documents to the Cabinet and Parliament House. The FBR will also dispatch of Budget documents to RTOs/LTUs/MCCs.
The board will locate offices of Coordinators/Deputy Coordinators in close proximity to have better co-ordination. The FBR will provide adequate accommodation for the composing section. The board will prepare covering letters to dispatch Finance Bill to Senate/ National Assembly.
The FBR will approach Ministry of Finance for assigning an official who should (on approval of the Budget by the Cabinet) e-mail the documents "Budget at Glance" and "Part-I Speech". Sources said that Deputy Coordinators will ensure that all Budget documents including ROs/Notifications are made available at the Web Control Room after approval for the Budget by the Cabinet.
The board will ensure that Secretaries In-charge working on Finance Bill in all Wings shall ensure proper proof-reading of the material till the last stage of printing. Only they (or their respective Chiefs) will be authorised to initial the final draft as and when required by National Assembly Secretariat. The Pral composing section will accept documents only signed by the respective Coordinators. The board will make arrangements for uploading of budget document (Tariff).
Sources further disclosed that final printing requires signature of Co-ordinator. The board will ensure sufficient lighting arrangements in the rooms where special budget work will be done. The FBR will introduce folder for placing budget documents in a befitting manner. The board will make arrangement to train English/Urdu computer operating staff of budget dealing sections by Pral.
The board will also finalize the Menu for staff during budget days. The FBR will ensure that secret material of summary for the Cabinet is not included in any CD to be sold or given to other agency. The board will also give time lines to all Coordinators and Deputy Coordinators for handing over the printing material to budget composing section.
The board will then prepare summary for the Cabinet. The board will develop software to restrict information system usage during Federal Budget 2010-11. The FBR will appoint Co-ordinator from Pral to co-ordinate budget matters for which CEO Pral has been requested to nominate budget co-ordinator.
The board will issue grant for implementation of SOP of 'budget honorarium' and "meal charges" will be given according to Boards' Policy Circular dated 24.09.2010, which was implemented last years during budget exercise for the first time and was criticised largely. Sources said that it is being considered as to whether the case may be submitted to Chairman FBR soliciting some amendments or it is to be restricted as per last year.