Foreign nationality declaration: FBR decides to take action against defaulting customs officials
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has expressed serious concern over the delay by a number of its officers in submitting mandatory declarations regarding foreign nationality and foreign travel documents, despite expiry of the prescribed 90-day period under the Civil Servants (Disclosure and Regulation of Foreign Nationality) Rules, 2026.
The FBR will initiate disciplinary proceedings against tax officials, who would fail to submit their declarations by the deadline of October 9, 2026.
According to an FBR circular issued on Monday, all officers of the Pakistan Customs Service (PCS), including ex-cadre officers, who have not yet submitted the requisite declaration have been directed to furnish the prescribed proforma to their respective Secretaries of Management Wing by October 9, 2026, positively.
The FBR recalled that following Establishment Division’s SRO 893(I)/2026 dated June 1, 2026 and Office Memorandum dated June 4, 2026, the Board had directed its officers through a circular issued on June 9, 2026 to submit declarations regarding foreign nationality and foreign travel documents on the prescribed proforma by July 8, 2026.
However, the Board noted that a number of officers had still not submitted the required declarations.
Under Rule 3(3) of the Civil Servants (Disclosure and Regulation of Foreign Nationality) Rules, 2026, the declaration was required to be submitted within 90 days of notification of the rules, with the statutory deadline falling on August 30, 2026.
The FBR had also issued a reminder on September 1, 2026 to officers who had failed to furnish the requisite information, directing them to submit the prescribed proforma without further delay.
The board has now made it clear that failure to meet the October 9 deadline would expose the concerned officers to disciplinary action. The circular states that officers who fail to furnish their declarations under the rules by the prescribed deadline are liable to be proceeded against under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
The FBR has also reminded its field formations that failure to submit the declaration, or submission of a false declaration, constitutes misconduct under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
The underlying Civil Servants (Disclosure and Regulation of Foreign Nationality) Rules, 2026 require every civil servant to disclose the foreign nationality status of himself or herself and dependents, possession of foreign travel documents and marriage with a foreign national.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026