According to newspaper reports, an Integrity and Performance Management Unit has been set up in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to evaluate integrity and performance of all the board employees and identify corrupt elements within the ranks of the junior and senior officials. The unit will be bound to present its report to the FBR chairman while the heads of the field formations will conduct the performance evaluation of the officials up to grade 19.
The appraisal will cover various aspects of the employees’ performance, including their ability to carry out day to day functions, their capacity and compliance to work within the rules and regulations of the board, and how much they are efficient and transparent in their work. The FBR has also set up integrity management and performance evaluation cells under the supervision of grade 20 officials. However, the FBR chairman and the board in council will evaluate the performance of the officials of grade 21 and 22. A code of conduct will also be devised for the FBR officials to take action against those involved in misconduct, corruption, and negligence.
The initiative to set up the Integrity and Performance Management Unit has been taken by FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa to bring the corrupt elements to book. The unit has been established in the HRM Wing of FBR Headquarters due to the fact that HRM already deals with performance allowance of the employees.
It is a good omen that the FBR itself has started a move topurge the department of the corrupt elements and keep up the values of its staff by holding internal control and accountability system. The FBR are is a prime institution of the country and a major source of internal revenue,therefore, it should be a role model for other departments which are sinking in corruption and mismanagement. The unit will not only prod its staff to work efficiently, but also improve the overall image of the department. The FBR chairman will have a mandate to order inquiry against any official allegedly involved in corruption.