Online Report
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s decision to implement the bifurcation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two separate entities—Tax and Customs—clearing up prior confusion and signaling no reversal of the move.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with cadre officials at the Secretariat, Dr Salehuddin said the separation, already notified on May 12, is rooted in national, public, and business interests and will proceed as planned.
“There were some misconceptions, which have now been addressed. Officials have been clearly informed that the split will go ahead,” he said.
While officials’ concerns about the reorganization were acknowledged, the Adviser noted that future decisions on their demands will be considered during the drafting of operational regulations for the new departments.
“We will try to accommodate their concerns as much as possible in the upcoming rules,” he said. “However, there will be no further formal meetings on this matter. An advisory committee is already functioning, and officials should route their concerns through it.”
When asked whether the meeting had resolved the ongoing unrest among NBR officials, Dr Salehuddin replied, “We’ve asked them to withdraw their movement. What they choose to do next is their decision.”
He confirmed that a gazette notification is pending and emphasized that substantial preparatory work must be completed before the new departments can begin functioning. “We’re trying to move quickly,” he added, but clarified that the implementation would not precede the upcoming national budget on June 2.
NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan, who also attended the meeting, stated, “The Finance Adviser and other advisers listened attentively to the concerns raised by officials. The ministry will now proceed accordingly.”
The high-level meeting was attended by Energy Adviser Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Environment and Forest Adviser Syeda Rezwan Hasan, and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and NBR.
The division of the NBR was formalized earlier this month through a government notification under the proposed Revenue Policy and Revenue Administration Ordinance, 2025. However, it triggered significant resistance among NBR officials, who argue that officers from the Tax and Customs cadres are being marginalized under the new arrangement.
Many officials have since engaged in a pen-down strike in protest.
In a press release following the meeting, the Finance Ministry said members of the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee, along with representatives from the BCS (Tax) and BCS (Customs and Excise) cadres, presented their feedback on the draft ordinance. Their suggestions and grievances were given due importance, the statement added.
The government maintains that the restructuring is necessary to streamline revenue administration and enhance efficiency, despite internal resistance from within the civil service.