ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) managed to get all times record high allocation at Rs.2558.950 million for 32 development projects in Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of the budget allocations for the fiscal year 2018-19. Some ten years back, for the fiscal year 2007-08, FBR’s PSDP allocations were the highest Rs 2526.774 million for 69 development projects.
A compression comparison for last five years shows that in the in the next fiscal year2014-15, FBR’s PSDP allocations were Rs 152.495 million for 25 development projects. In the next fiscal year 2015-16, FBR’s PSDP tuned to RS 353.091 million for 12 projects.
Likewise in the fiscal year 2016-17, FBR’s PSDP was of Rs 687.304 million for 09 development projects and for the current fiscal year 2017-18, FBR was granted Rs 790.100 million for 10 development projects.
A official source at Federal Board of Revenue, Wednesday, told Customs Today that at the forum of Annul Plan Coordination Committee (APCC), Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms was initially only willing to give only Rs.800 million as per last five year allocation.
However, in result of hectic efforts of FBR Chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha, Member Administration Tasneem Rehman and the Project Wing led by Chief (Projects) Waseem Hayat Bajwa, FBR managed to convince the APCC for the record high allocations.
“For the next financial year 24 new schemes are added, which includes construction of zonal offices for IRS at Kohat, Mansehra, Jhang, D.I. Khan and Gwadar” the source said adding that also includes mega projects like construction of Regional Tax Offices at Islamabad and Sargodha.
Further owing to the importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), some important projects including construction of Customs Collectorates at Gwadar and Gilgit Baltistan, Customs House at Sost, Customs Check posts along CPEC route etc also included in the PSDP 2018-19.
Furthermore, the source said that to enhance Pak – Iran trade through another viable border crossing point at GUBT BP 250 which was a center point of Gwadar and Chahbahar, a project of Customs in collaboration with NLC and other departments planned and got funded for next year.