Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation Inland Revenue (IR) FBR has issued instructions to all Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) for verification of the tax details of the contesting candidates in the upcoming elections-2013.
According to the instructions of the FBR to the field formations dated March 13, 2013, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is gearing up for conduct of General Elections - 2013. For this purpose, ECP has planned to set up a mechanism where all stakeholders will provide their informed assistance to premier election body in scrutiny of nomination papers filled by candidates of National and Provincial Assemblies. Federal Board of Revenue is one of the four key stakeholders and Chairman FBR in his meetings with Chief Election Commissioner has assured complete organisational support to ECP for the said purpose. Directorate I&I-IR HQs Islamabad has been designated FBR's focal point for the aforesaid exercise.
The action plan revealed that the Election Commission of Pakistan will set-up a Centralised Database at ECP Secretariat Islamabad, deploying necessary software applications, ensuring the network connectivity between ECP HQs and all other stakeholders. The software application will give access to Returning Officers to fill in the forms submitted by candidates on daily basis. ROs will enter candidates' particulars available on nomination forms and will scan and upload complete nomination forms on the ECP database. The data entered by Returning Officers will immediately become available at ECP Secretariat at Islamabad.
The ECP has outlined the following process for establishing scrutiny system of nomination papers. There are three major components planned for this process: The Centralised Set-up at Election Commission of Pakistan Secretariat Islamabad. Secondly, the tentacle set-up at all Returning Officers' offices across the country and thirdly integration with FBR, NADRA, SBP, and NAB through web-portals.
Under the FBR operational strategy, Central Verification Cell (CVC) has been created at I&I-IR HQs, Islamabad with Tauqir Ahmed Dy. Director HQs as its in-charge. The cell shall be electronically connected with ECP HQs Islamabad.
For smooth co-ordination of concerned ACs/DCs HQs all RTOs/LTUs shall act as Field Election Co-ordinators (FECs).
Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) shall ensure quick & flawless electronic communication between ECP and CVC on one hand and between CVC and election co-ordinators on the other. In all such cases wherein data is available electronically, after cross matching, CVC shall verify the declarations on the prescribed format. In cases where online data is either not available or partially available, FECs concerned shall provide the desired data/information to CVC within 24 hours of requisition, for onward transmission to ECP.
In cases of network hiccups, to avoid any disruption in services, FECs shall fax the verifications. The CVC shall verify all declarations on the prescribed format. Keeping in view the importance of the said work and volume the CVC, FECs and PRAL must distribute the work in 3 shifts, ie, round the clock arrangements for timely compliance. Directorate I&I-IR HQs Islamabad assured its fullest co-operation and seeks the same from all RTOs/LTUs in this exercise of prime national importance, the FBR instructions added.