ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has appointed Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad as the chairman of its top revenue authority, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), it said in a notification on Tuesday.
Ahmad’s appointment comes just four months after the government installed Asim Ahmed as the FBR chief. He is the sixth FBR chairman appointed by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government in three years.
An officer of Grade-21, the second-highest grade in Pakistan’s bureaucracy, Ahmad was until now serving as a member of FBR’s Inland Revenue wing.
He has been appointed the FBR chairman “with immediate effect and until further orders,” the notification issued by the Establishment Division said.
The development comes as Pakistan continues to struggle with its dwindling economy that has seen a historic depreciation of the rupee against dollar (USD1=PKR165.41).
In its efforts to revive the economy and the country’s depleting foreign reserves, PM Khan’s government has replaced five FBR chairpersons since it took over the reins of the country after July 2018 general elections. These former FBR chairpersons include Jehanzeb Khan, Shabbar Zaidi, Nausheen Javaid, Javed Ghani and Asim Ahmad.
Among them, the case of Shabbar Zaidi is the most interesting one. Appointed in May 2019, Zaidi was touted by government functionaries and PM Khan himself as someone who could put the country’s economy back on track. But before Zaidi could work wonders, he resigned in January 2020 on account of “deteriorating health conditions,” only to later publicly criticize the government for its policies and decisions.
PM Khan's government appoints sixth chairman of revenue collection authority in three years
https://arab.news/wkwgy
PM Khan's government appoints sixth chairman of revenue collection authority in three years
- The development comes four months after the appointment of outgoing Federal Board of Revenue chief
- New FBR chairman faces dwindling economy and historic depreciation of rupee against the dollar
Afghan interior minister welcomes Pakistani scholars’ ‘positive’ remarks about Kabul
- Pakistani religious scholars on Dec. 23 called for easing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, resumption of trade
- Sirajuddin Haqqani says Afghanistan is committed to regional peace, Afghans have “no intentions to threaten anyone”
PESHAWAR: Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani recently thanked Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and religious scholars from the country for expressing positive statements for Kabul despite tensions between the two countries.
A meeting of religious scholars in Pakistan on Dec. 23, attended by Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan political party head Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, called for easing tensions between the two states. The scholars also called for allowing resumption of trade and movement of people between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistani news media outlets reported on Saturday that Dar, who is also Pakistan’s foreign minister, praised Haqqani’s earlier statement in which the Afghan minister stressed resolving tensions between Islamabad and Kabul through dialogue.
In a video statement on Sunday, Haqqani said Afghanistan is committed to peace and stability in the country and the region, adding that Afghans have “no intentions to threaten anyone.” He appreciated Rehman and religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani for speaking in a “positive” manner about Afghanistan in the Dec. 23 meeting.
“We are thankful and grateful for their approach and views,” Haqqani said.
“Similarly, we really appreciate the positive remarks by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who spoke in a positive way about Afghanistan.”
The Afghan minister’s statement comes in the backdrop of increased tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan amid a surge in militant attacks in the latter’s territory.
Pakistan blames Afghanistan’s government for facilitating attacks by the Pakistani Taliban or TTP group. Islamabad accuses Kabul of allowing TTP militants to take shelter in sanctuaries in Afghanistan from where they carry out attacks targeting Pakistan.
Kabul denies the charges and says it cannot be held responsible for security lapses and challenges in Pakistan.
The two countries engaged in fierce border clashes in October that led to the killings of dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides. Pakistan and Afghanistan subsequently agreed to a temporary ceasefire and have held three rounds of peace talks that remained inconclusive.
Tensions persist as Pakistan has vowed to go after militants even in Afghanistan that threaten the lives of its citizens. Afghan officials have warned Pakistan of retaliation if it attacks Afghanistan.
