Islamabad, August 20, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued fresh instructions for the submission of Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) for all employees of the Inland Revenue Service and Pakistan Customs Service.
The new directives, released on Tuesday, emphasize the strict adherence to specific deadlines and underscore the importance of timely submissions for the smooth functioning of promotion processes and other administrative matters.
In an official communication, the FBR mandated that all employees, including those in field formations, must submit their PERs according to the following timelines:
• Reporting Officer: By July 20.
• Countersigning Officer: By July 31.
The FBR highlighted that, despite repeated reminders and instructions issued over time, these deadlines have not been consistently followed. The failure to meet these deadlines has led to significant delays in the evaluation of officers due for promotion, mandatory training for promotion, or postings abroad, as their performance cannot be assessed judiciously without up-to-date PERs.
Serious Notice of Non-Compliance
Taking serious notice of the situation, the FBR has instructed all officers and officials under various administrative controls to strictly adhere to the aforementioned deadlines. The competent authority has issued further guidance for officers expected to reach superannuation. In such cases, the officers must submit their PERs within the following timeframes:
• Reporting Officer: Within 20 days after the date of superannuation.
• Countersigning Officer: Within 15 days after the period specified for the Reporting Officer.
For these cases, the Countersigning Officer is required to submit the PERs to the Employee Relations Management (ERM) section of the FBR within 15 days of receiving them.
Ensuring Compliance and Accountability
To ensure compliance with these directives, the FBR has introduced a new requirement: all officers must submit a “Certificate of Initiation of PER” to the ERM section on the same day they submit their PERs to their respective Reporting Officers. This certificate will serve as a record for future reference and will help ensure that the deadlines are being met without fail.
The FBR has also warned that any undesirable consequences arising from non-compliance with the timelines will be the responsibility of the respective officer. Unless there is an emergency beyond control, failure to meet the deadlines will be construed as “Inefficiency” under the Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) Rules 2020. In such cases, the inefficiency will be recorded in the personal dossier of the concerned officer and will be dealt with according to the relevant rules.
Certification Requirement for Retiring Officers
Furthermore, the FBR has directed that officers reaching their superannuation from now onwards must submit a certificate along with their pension papers. This certificate must confirm that no PER, in the capacity of either Reporting or Countersigning Officer, is pending with them.
The new instructions by the FBR reflect its commitment to maintaining a rigorous evaluation process for its employees. By enforcing these deadlines, the FBR aims to streamline its operations and ensure that all administrative procedures, including promotions and postings, are conducted efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
