PM urged to define mandates of SAPM, FBR chief

Haroon Akhtar says SAPM on revenue should be asked to submit plan for FBR reforms

ISLAMABAD:

Haroon Akhtar, former special assistant to prime minister (SAPM) on revenue, said on Saturday that the Prime Minister Imran Khan had to draw a line between the responsibilities of his successor – the newly-appointed SAPM on revenue – and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman.

Speaking in the Express News’ talk show, The Review, Akhtar said that the prime minister should clearly define the mandates of the newly-appointed SAPM on revenue Dr Waqar Masood Khan and the FBR chairman as tremendous efforts were required to bring change in the FBR system.

Commenting on reports of frictions between the FBR and the new appointee, Akhtar said that the SAPM didn’t have any executive powers and he drew all his powers from the prime minister. To make things smooth between the two, he said that the prime minister Imran should clearly define if the SAPM was appointed for bringing reforms or increasing revenue, adding that if the target was to bring reforms then the SAPM should be asked to submit a plan and the PM should empower him to implement it.

Reportedly, Dr Masood is said to be not happy with the current top tier of the FBR and there have been few incidents, when there were serious differences of opinion. On the other hand, FBR’s members have taken up the issue with the Finance Adviser Dr Hafeez Shaikh, seeking his directions over the role and responsibilities of Dr Masood. The FBR members also met with the Finance secretary and conveyed him their grievances in this regard.

In the programme, the hosts and the guest, also discussed the finance ministry’s October Economic Outlook Report, which does not carry good news for Pakistan’s economy.

The report forecasts a low economic growth rate and high inflation environment, suggesting that the scenario will further increase unemployment and poverty in Pakistan. “There are downside risks to the outlook, with resurgence of the Covid-19 infection as being the major risk”, the report read.

Commenting on Covid-19’s impact on economy, Akhtar said that the government couldn’t take several sustainable measures during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. He said that painting a rosy picture by showing improvement in a few indicators would not solve the real issues.

Emphasising that there should be a paradigm shift in the FBR system, Akhtar said that there were no “fantasy reforms” as it’s a slow and steady process and that the changes would not come overnight.

Strategic issues amid political volatility

Meanwhile, the hosts drew attention towards two key developments happened in India in the last week amidst the political wrangling over Ayaz Sadiq and Fawad Chaudhry’s controversial statement and uproar in parliament.

It was highlighted that On October 27, when Pakistan was observing Kashmiris black day, Indian home ministry abolished a law that barred non-Kashmiris from buying property in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Under the new law, now any Indian can buy non-agricultural land in IIOJK.

The second development is the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) between the US and India. The agreement is part of ever-growing strategic and defence cooperation between the two countries.

The objective is clear that the US is deepening ties with India to counter China, something that has huge implications for Pakistan. Because of the increased political divisions and no working relationship between government and opposition, there is no proper debate on these issues in parliament; which has become a fighting club. The hosts said that it is time that at least domestic political issues are separated from key national and foreign policy issues.