The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday amended the Sharing of Declaration of Assets of Civil Servants Rules, 2023, broadening the definition of “public servant” to include a wider range of government employees require to disclose their assets.
The regulatory step aims to increase transparency. It is reportedly also a condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) amidst the ongoing 37-month $7 billion Extended Fund Facility.
The new regulation makes the asset declarations of public servants accessible to the general public, allowing citizens to review a complete trail of an officer’s holdings from the point they join government service. It expands the definition of public servant to include officers of BPS-17 rank and above working for either the federal or provincial governments, as well as personnel in autonomous bodies, state-owned corporations and firms.
Prior to the amended rules, the disclosure requirement was limited to officials serving under the Civil Servants Act, 1973, leaving a large number of government employees outside the reporting structure.