PM Shehbaz orders two-year increment freeze for BS-20 IRS officer over Inefficiency

PM Shehbaz at FBR

Islamabad, November 27, 2025 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a disciplinary penalty against a senior BS-20 Inland Revenue Service (IRS) officer after charges of inefficiency were proven during an official inquiry. The Prime Minister ordered that the officer’s annual increment be withheld for two years.

According to an office order issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Muhammad Abid, a BS-20 IRS officer currently serving as Chief (Admin Pool), FBR Headquarters, Islamabad, and stationed in Sargodha. The proceedings began following an Inquiry Order, Charge Sheet, and Statement of Allegations issued on July 10, 2023, accusing the officer of “inefficiency.”

The inquiry was led by Mir Badshah Khan Wazir (IRS/BS-21), who submitted his report on December 9, 2024. The report confirmed that the allegation of inefficiency was established and recommended a minor penalty—withholding the annual increment for two years—under the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020.

Following the inquiry findings, a Show Cause Notice was issued to the officer on February 10, 2025, directing him to explain within 14 days why one or more penalties, including major penalties such as dismissal from service, should not be imposed. Muhammad Abid submitted his written response on August 13, 2025.

The Prime Minister, as the competent authority, appointed Ms. Saadia Sadaf Gilani (IRS/BS-22), Chief Commissioner-IR, Corporate Tax Office Lahore, as the Hearing Officer. She provided the accused officer with a personal hearing on September 2, 2025.

After reviewing the case file, inquiry findings, and hearing report, the Prime Minister endorsed the recommendation and ordered the withholding of increment for two years under Rule 4(2)(b) of the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020.

In addition, the FBR has stated that the officer’s performance allowance will be suspended for six months, after which he will be required to undergo a fresh evaluation to restore the allowance.

The notification further states that Muhammad Abid retains the right to appeal before the Appellate Authority under the Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977 within 30 days of receiving the order.