Karachi, May 7, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued a directive on Tuesday requiring all BS-17 officers in the Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) to submit their asset declarations ahead of pivotal promotion decisions.
The FBR announced that a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) aimed at elevating BS-17 officers to BS-18 will be convened soon. In preparation for this, all pertinent Customs officers are urged to complete and submit their Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) and Declarations of Assets (DAs) for the period ending June 30, 2023, by no later than May 20, 2024.
This requirement underscores the FBR’s commitment to integrity, as stipulated under the Civil Servants Promotion (BS-18 to BS-21) Rules of 2019, which list the completion of PERs and asset declarations as compulsory prerequisites for consideration for promotion.
“The integrity and transparency of our officers are of utmost importance,” stated an FBR spokesperson. “Ensuring these elements are non-negotiable prerequisites reinforces our commitment to uphold the highest standards of governance and accountability within the service.”
The FBR’s directive also emphasized the importance of cooperation from the Customs officers in completing and submitting their required documents on time. The Board warned that any officer failing to provide the necessary documentation by the deadline would be solely responsible for any resulting non-consideration or deferment of their promotion.
Moreover, the FBR has called on all reporting and countersigning officers to expedite the forwarding of pending PERs without delay, indicating the administration’s intent to streamline the promotion process and avoid unnecessary holdups.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the FBR to instill a culture of compliance and accountability among its staff, particularly at a time when the PCS plays a critical role in managing the country’s trade and customs regulations effectively.
As the deadline approaches, the move is expected to prompt a flurry of activity among BS-17 officers, who must now balance their regular duties with ensuring their compliance with this new requirement. The outcome of this directive is likely to influence not only the careers of individual customs officers but also the broader operational efficiency and public perception of the FBR.
