ISLAMABAD: In a major reshuffle, the government on Monday appointed Member Customs Nisar Khan as the new chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The government also made some key changes in the top tier of the Ministry of Finance in a bid to gear up revenue collection.

It is after a gap of seven years that an official of the tax service has been given the responsibility to lead the FBR.

Also read: FBR’s capacity issues

Earlier the position was occupied by non-technical officers of the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS), formerly called the District Management Group.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar rolled back his earlier decision of appointing PAS official Tariq Bajwa two years ago as chairman FBR and appointed Khan in his place.

Bajwa has been transferred and posted as Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD).

Khan, who belongs to the Customs Group, has also been elevated to the post of Secretary Revenue Division.

He held an additional post of Member Research at the FBR and participated in parleys with the IMF team over the past few years.

The current EAD Secretary Saleem Sethi has been posted as the chairman of National Commission for Governmental Reforms. He will also act as alternate governor to the finance minister on the World Bank Board of Governors.

Other changes at the FBR include the posting of Reh­matullah Khan Wazir as new Member Inland Revenue Policy. He replaced Shahid Husain Asad, who has now been posted as DG National Centre for Rural Develop­ment.

The government has also appointed Nasir Masroor Ahmed as new Member Customs. The post fell vacant after elevation of Nisar Khan as the FBR chairman.

Dr Muhammad Irshad was posted as Member IR Operations and has replaced Ashraf Khan who now has the charge of MD Wapda.

The incumbent Member Administration Shahid Jatoi was transferred and posted as Member In-charge Federal Ombudsman, Karachi.

Waqar Ahmed was posted as new Member Admini­stration at the FBR.

An official statement issued by the Ministry of Finance lauded the performance and contribution of the outgoing Chairman FBR Tariq Bajwa and members of his team.

Finance Minister Dar said that Bajwa was a key member of his economic team and that he wished to be transferred. The minister was presiding over a meeting of the outgoing and newly appointed senior officials of the FBR.

The minister hoped that the new FBR chairman and his team would further consolidate achievements and build on the gains to achieve collection targets for 2015-16.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2015