News Desk |
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Political Affairs put the rumors to rest on Thursday when he revealed that Shabbar Zaidi will remain as the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Taking to Twitter, the special assistant said that the news regarding the removal of the FBR chairman was not true and he will retain his position.
“Shabbar Zaidi not being changed. He will remain in his position,” he tweeted.
Shabbar Zaidi not being changed. He will remain in his position.
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) July 18, 2019
Prime Minister Imran Khan had appointed Zaidi as the FBR chairman on May 10. Recently, several publications had speculated that Zaidi was being removed from his post.
Zaidi is a sharp accountant but he is not equally good as an administrator or public dealer, adding that the FBR chairman’s position involves a lot of public dealing.
On July 17, The News reported that “the incumbent FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi has declined to become Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on Revenues mainly because the position of Chairman FBR is more powerful than the slot of any Special Adviser.”
#ShabbarZaidi declines to become #SAPM?
Read more: https://t.co/6i49hzP9sb#TheNewshttps://t.co/SRkdnWxORx
— The News (@thenews_intl) July 17, 2019
However, the paper reported, the final decision to the effect will be made by Prime Minister Imran Khan but the premier himself had made up his mind against FBR considering them their high and mighty ranks officers were responsible for the mess created on the fiscal front of the economy.
Read more: Shabbar Zaidi: Experienced taxman facing a formidable challenge
In addition, the paper reported that the Zaidi had declined to discuss the issue and replied that it would be discussed at any other time. Zaidi told the paper He stated that there were several measures being taken that had never been taken by anyone in the past. He further told the scribe that the FBR has decided to enforce the law as commercial and industrial non-filers would not be able to get electricity and gas connections.
What led to Rumors?
Political experts said that there were discussions over Zaidi’s elevation to the special assistant and bringing in a civil servant as the FBR chairman at the Prime Minister Office for the past several days.
Sources familiar with the developments said that there were two reasons for the change: sooner or later there will be a constitutional challenge because the post of chairman FBR is a constitutional position and a private person can’t hold it for a longer period; Zaidi is a capable accountant, who has worked with several reputed institutions and has a very good relationship with corporate leadership, has represented several economic and financial stakeholders in front of FBR in the past.
Moreover, they said, Zaidi is a sharp accountant but he is not equally good as an administrator or public dealer, adding that the FBR chairman’s position involves a lot of public dealing.
Zaidi is a trustee of Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation (SIUT) and member of Boards of Governors of Liaquat National Hospital and Karachi School of Business and Leadership.
Keeping his public appearances in view, an expert said, he has emerged as a hot-tempered personality. While giving another reason, he said, Zaidi might have shown less interest in becoming a special assistant as there is no dearth of special assistant or advisors to PM.
It is pertinent to mention here that the chambers and the industry were alarmed by traders’ strike a few days ago. Almost all agreed that documentation of the economy is a meaningful objective, some felt that the government should adopt a softer approach towards the concerns of the trader community.
In the coming days, it would be interesting to see how Zaidi and FBR would be successful in dealing with various trading communities.
Shabbar Zaidi Profile
Syed Mohammad Shabbar Zaidi is a Pakistani Chartered Accountant, serving as the 26th and current chairman FBR. Previously, he served as a provincial minister in Sindh government during the 2013 caretaker setup.
Also, he has worked with A.F. Ferguson & Co., one of the leading public accounting, business advisory and corporate services firms in Pakistan, which is a member firm of PwC since 1969.
Read more: Shabbar Zaidi’s replacement: FBR Chairman declines promotion to Special Adviser to PM
Zaidi is a trustee of Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation (SIUT) and member of Boards of Governors of Liaquat National Hospital and Karachi School of Business and Leadership.