KARACHI, Oct 24: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) and Institute of Business Administration (IBA) signed here on Friday an agreement to start an MBA programme in tax management.

A two-year course has been designed to equip all grade-17 officers of the CBR (income-tax and customs group) with modern business practices. It will culminate in an MBA degree in tax management.

The agreement was signed by IBA director Danishmand and CBR member Zafar Osmani in the presence of the CBR chairman Riaz A. Malik who specially flew to Karachi for this ceremony.

Each year, about 40-50 officers will undergo training under this mandatory programme, initially agreed for three years and adjustable on mutually agreed terms.

Split into three segments, the programme envisages a six to nine months course at the Civil Services Academy, Lahore with the proviso that its present curriculum will be adjusted in consultation with the IBA. IBA would conduct the examinations and treat the tenure of the first segment as one semester.

The second segment will be conducted at the directorate of Income Tax and Customs, whose curriculum will be adjusted as deemed appropriate jointly by CBR and IBA. This will be treated by IBA as one semester.

After completion of the first two segments, the CBR officials will join the IBA for one year. The IBA standards of studies and exams will be applied.

Speaking on the occasion IBA director Danishmand said that both CBR and IBA have agreed that there would be no compromise on IBA standards, rules and system. He said the IBA nurtured values which teaches students to so no, not to follow blindly but to use their brains.