New chairman faces growing opposition from within FBR
FBR employees express reservation over Shabbar Zaidi’s appointment, demand position be given to a Grade 22 officer from within
May 09, 2019
ISLAMABAD: Newly appointed chairman Shabbar Zaidi is facing growing opposition from within the Federal Board of Revenue, as employees express their reservation over the government’s decision to appoint an outsider instead of a senior officer from the institution itself.
Senior officers from the FBR reportedly met with Arbab Shahzad, who is adviser to the prime minister on establishment, and demanded that a Grade 22 officer be appointed to the post, rather than someone from outside the organisation.
The officials told the adviser that Prime Minister Imran Khan was repeatedly disrespecting the FBR and was not ready to listen to their concerns, sources said.
Shahzad, in response, assured the aggrieved officials that their message would be conveyed to the premier.
Meanwhile, Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Naseem said there was no legal hurdle in the way of appointing Shabbar Zaidi as FBR chairman.
In an interview to a channel, he said there were no differences among the cabinet members regarding Zaidi’s appointment to the post, and that those who were opposing the decision were in fact against merit.
Zaidi called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday and discussed with him several affairs, including economic situation of the country.
The meeting also had Adviser to PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh in attendance, according to a press statement issued afterwards.
The prime minister apprised Zaidi of his vision pertaining to reforms in the country's revenue authority.
Zaidi is a senior partner at AF Ferguson and Co, a leading accountancy and advisory company in Pakistan and a Price Waterhouse Coopers member firm. He has previously served as provincial finance minister in the Sindh caretaker cabinet in 2013.
He has also served as president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan and as chairman of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) in the past.
Zaidi has also authored several books, including Panama Leaks – A Blessing in Disguise – Offshore Assets of Pakistani Citizens, A Journey for Clarity and Pakistan: Not a Failed State.
