FBR proposes anti-corruption wings merger

Proposal seeks establishment of anti-corruption agency by merging anti corruption wings of NAB and FIA.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday proposed the establishment of an anti-corruption agency by merging the anti-corruption wings of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The proposal is being prepared by the Director Training and Research (Inlands Revenue) at the FBR.

It  says that the new agency should be tasked with investigating financial crimes, money laundering and forensic auditing.

The proposal also states that political interference must be eliminated in the appointment of top officials at FBR to improve the tax collection system in the country.

A study commissioned by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on accountability of the public sector suggested the merger of anti-corruption functions of FIA with those of NAB to create a specialised and autonomous “Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA)” in July this year.

Two years ago, powers were transferred to NAB to eradicate corruption and hold those accountable who were accused of it.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik this month set an ambitious one-week deadline to banish corruption from public offices by reinstating the powers of FIA to detect and provide effective measures against corruption.

“The government is all set to reinstate the ‘anti corruption cell’ in the Federal Investigation Agency to eliminate corruption from public offices,” he said during a meeting at the FIA headquarters.

The proposal will now come under the consideration of the federal cabinet before a final decision will be taken.