FBR issues TORs for probing complaints against IR, Customs officials

FBR issues TORs for probing complaints against IR, Customs officials

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday issued Terms of Reference (TORs) for processing of complaints and launch probe against officials of Inland Revenue and Pakistan Customs.

The TORs have been issued following the establishment of Integrity Management Cell (IMC) at the FBR headquarters and Regional Integrity Committee (RICs) at the field formations under the FBR.

The FBR said that a complaint against an employee of FBR would be submitted in person either directly to the IMC at FBR headquarters or to any of the designated RIC through email or in writing, along with credentials of the complainants including name, CNIC, cell number, mailing address and an affidavit in writing, certifying the genuineness of the contents of the complaints and the facts given.

The FBR provided following modes for lodging of complaint:

a. By email at complaints@fbr.gov.pk

b. FBR’s online complaint portal

c. By submitting a hard copy of the complaint through post, addressed either to chairman FBR, in charge IMC or chairperson of the RIC

d. Meeting in person with Secretary/Chief (IMC) or chairperson of an RIC

c. Complaints forwarded from Prime Minister Portal.

On receipt of the complaint, a probe committee at the board level, after satisfying as the genuineness of a complaint, shall submit its recommendation to the in charge IMC. In case the complaint is required to be further probed and inquired, the same shall be forwarded to the concerned RIC for report.

In case the complaint is not genuine or lacking in any necessary clarification, the same shall be communicated to the complainant in writing.

The probe committee shall hold its meetings on weekly basis or as and when required and shall maintain complete record of its proceedings.

The FBR issued mechanism for probe in case of complaints against officials BS-01 to 16 and BS-17 and above.

The FBR said that in order to save time and ensure prompt disposal of complaints, the scope of probe by IMC and RICs shall be strictly restricted/limited to the allegations leveled / facts provided and substantiated in the complaint.

The FBR further said: “No pseudonymous or anonymous complaint shall be entertained by the IMC or by the RIC in the light of instructions to this effect by the government.”

The time limit for disposal of a complaint by the IMC and RICs shall be 30 days, which may be further extended by a period of 30 days by in-charge IMC.