PM directs hiring of foreign consultant for FBR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Tuesday, directed the hiring of a foreign consultant to modernise the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), indicating a departure from the previously approved restructuring plan. This decision emerged during the PM’s first comprehensive meeting on the administrative affairs of the FBR. The PM stressed the urgent need to engage international consultants and suggested securing a waiver of international competitive bidding from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, if necessary, according to officials. This move suggests that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government may not implement the FBR restructuring plan approved by the previous caretaker government. Former Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar virtually attended the meeting and presented her plan. Dr Akhtar may again give a presentation to the PM on Wednesday (today) regarding her restructuring plan.