'Talks not fruitful'

Hours after the meeting with the Finance Adviser, protesting official of the of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said the discussion was not 'fruitful.'

In a statement issued tonight, the NBR Reform Unity Council said, "It is to inform all that the meeting was not fruitful.'

The council said it would hold a sit-in from tomorrow morning and the demonstration will continue until the announcement of the next programmes, according to the media statement.

The announcement came after the Ministry of Finance said the government will duly consider demands from protesting officials, who observed a pen-down strike for the five-day after the interim government passed an ordinance on May 12 seeking to dissolve the NBR.

The ordinance keeps provision to form two divisions: the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Administration Division as part of tax reform.

The dialogue took place in the wake of continued protest by NBR officials across the country.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said the separation of functions within the NBR would remain unchanged.

However, he noted that the concerns raised by officials would be taken into account when the government issues the notification under the new ordinance.

He also announced there would be no further formal meetings with NBR officials on this issue.

"NBR officials can raise their concerns through the advisory committee, which has been formed earlier to reform the NBR," he said.

However, the NBR officials were 'unhappy', saying the finance adviser was rigid about not repealing the ordinance.

"Out of 17 participants, only a few officials had the chance to speak. We were almost cornered during the meeting. It was disappointing and unproductive," said one of the protesting officials.

"We haven't finalised our next course of action yet," he added.

The protestors were engaged in a meeting among themselves to plan their next course of action when this report was filed.

Protesting officials and employees issued a three-point demand, including the repeal of a new ordinance on restructuring the revenue administration.

The other demands are the public disclosure of a state advisory committee's report on reforms required for the NBR, which was submitted to the finance ministry, and inclusive, consultative and sustainable reforms for the revenue administration.