Finance adviser not in 5-member advisory committee to review trade, revenue activities
The committee will be headed by Energy and Power Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has not been included in the five-member advisory committee formed by the government to review and assess the country's trade, industrial activities, port operations, and revenue collection, and to provide recommendations for enhancing their efficiency.
According to a gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division today (30 June), the committee will be headed by Energy and Power Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan.
The other members of the committee are Industry Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, and Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin.
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The committee will receive secretarial support from the Internal Resources Division and will convene meetings as necessary.
The committee has also been granted the authority to co-opt additional members if required, the notification said.
The decision to form the advisory committee follows a meeting between government advisers and business representatives last evening (29 June) amid the NBR officials' "complete shutdown".
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said the committee was formed under the Advisory Council to explore solutions to ongoing concerns over the proposed separation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) through discussions with all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan told The Business Standard last night that the committee would begin work immediately after the official notification was issued by the Cabinet Division.
Yesterday, Adviser Salehuddin was also set to meet with the NBR officials protesting under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Parishad.
However, finance ministry officials later confirmed that the meeting between the finance adviser and the protesting officials would not happen.
Later in the day, the two-day stalemate at the NBR ended as protesting officials withdrew their complete strike hours after the interim government announced revenue and customs jobs as "essential services" and warned of stern action if officials do not return to work.
