ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: Lower cadre workers of the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) are on strike to express their resentment against the discriminatory treatment of the board in payment of double salaries to a small portion of employees.

A spokesperson for the agitating group, who were on strike for the last few weeks, requesting not to be named told Dawn that the CBR’s policies on the pretext of reforms had created two special cadres, one elite and other ordinary, which was against the spirit of reforms.

“The ordinary cadre was gradually falling into inferiority complex as the elite cadre was receiving better remuneration with less work load and ordinary cadre though doing the same jobs with more competence was receiving less remuneration with comparatively more work level,” he added.

When contacted, CBR Member Human Resources Management Mohammad Talha said double salaries would be given to all employees of the CBR and field formation in phases.

However, he said the employees would have to go through a computer test. Those who qualify the test would be entitled to double salaries while those who do not qualify would not be eligible for double salary.

He admitted that earlier a circular was issued to give double salary to all employees of the CBR and some attached department without any test. He said the circular was now withdrawn making it compulsory to qualify the test.

The spokesperson, however, said monetary discrimination of special allowance to CBR headquarters and certain other subordinate offices by ignoring regional and zonal offices of income tax department.

“This discrimination is in violation of article 25 of the constitution of Pakistan,” he said, adding that “we appeal to prime minister to personally intervene in the matter and take suo motu action about violation of the Constitution and direct the CBR chairman to immediately sanction the special allowance to all employees”.

According to a document provided by the spokesperson to Dawn, no mechanism for the promotion of officials of the income tax department has been evolved so far.