Government to consider NBR officials’ demands as best possible, says Advisor Salehuddin

The advisor emphasised that the government has asked for the protest to be called off

As discontent simmers among National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials over its split, Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed has said the interim government will move quickly to issue a gazette notification, incorporating “as many of the demands as possible”.

Speaking after a meeting at his office in the Secretariat on Tuesday, he said: “The bifurcation of the NBR is now in the implementation stage. There’s a lot of work involved.

“During that process, we’ll consider how much of their demands can be accommodated.”

The meeting brought together members of the advisory committee on NBR reforms, along with representatives from the BCS (Tax) and BCS (Customs and Excise) cadres, to discuss the draft “Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025”.

According to a media statement from the finance ministry, members of the advisory committee and representatives from the relevant NBR cadres presented their views and suggestions on the ordinance.

Officials’ reservations and suggestions were listened to “with importance”, the advisor said, adding that all issues raised in the discussion would be considered “properly”.

When asked when the two new NBR divisions will begin functioning, he said: “The gazette has to come first.

“Even before the gazette, there is a lot of work to do.”

When asked if the NBR officials were satisfied with the progress, Salehuddin said: "We have told them

[NBR officials] to end the protests. What they say now is irrelevant to me."