ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has evolved a comprehensive reforms strategy to facilitate the taxpayers, enhance revenue collection and expand the tax net for the economic growth of the country.

This was stated by Vakil Ahmed Khan, Spokesman and Member Direct Taxes of CBR while briefing newsmen here on Saturday about the reform process initiated to enhance the efficiency of the revenue institution.

“It has been decided to prepare and publish a quarterly detailed report mentioning CBR collection at the end of every quarter”, he added.

He said CBR Quarterly Review is an effort to provide an indepth analysis of the revenue collection for the government to monitor its fiscal strength and it is designed to serve as an authentic piece of information for the end-user and the public.

Giving the details of provisional tax revenue at the end of August 2002, he said, Rs29 billion has been received through different taxes which included Direct tax (Rs6.5 billion), sales tax (Rs14.5 billion), central excise (Rs3.5 billion) and customs (Rs4.5 billion).

This revenue collection, Vakil said, is 8.1 per cent higher than the corresponding period of the previous year’s figure of Rs26.85 billion.

Ather Maqsood Ahmed, Member Fiscal Research and Statics said “necessary reforms have been made in tax structure to facilitate the taxpayers”.

He said new policy reforms have helped a lot to improve economic conditions in the wake of Afghan situation emerged after September 11 incident, drought and military build-up on borders.

He said tax effort has resulted in gross collection of Rs483.2 billion of which Rs79.3 billion have been paid back as refund and rebates.

Thus the collection, he said, has been Rs403.9 billion showing an annual in gross collection to the tune of 6.7 per cent but the net collection was increased by 3 per cent due to hefty growth in refunds by 30.6 per cent.

M.S. Lal, Member Policy and reform speaking on the occasion said new tax laws ordinance has been promulgated for the benefit of the taxpayers.

He said a large tax payer unit has been set up at Karachi where all types of taxes can be deposited at one place. A model tax centre will also be set up at Karachi where taxpayers would have direct access to the revenue collectors.

Besides, he said a small and medium tax payer unit will also be set up at Lahore to facilitate the tax payers by October 31, 2002.

He said organizational restructuring has been completed in the head office and now it would be implemented in other related departments.

The government has approved a comprehensive reform strategy to be fully implemented by the year 2004, he said adding, it would greatly help to cope with the growing needs of the modern age.

Maxwell Stamp, a UK-based consultant firm has prepared a detail reforms strategy for bringing about improvement in structural and operational function of the CBR, adding he said, about 80 months are required for the complete implementation of strategy.

Zafar Usmani, Member Human Resource Management said major changes in the administrative set up are under way for the improvement of Human Management efficiency of the institution.

The procedures relating to recruitment and promotion and training are being laid down to enhance capabilities of the workforce.

He said all appointments from grade 11 and above would be made through FPSC and proper professional training would be made mandatory for the CBR staff.—APP