NBR staff protest to resume Saturday despite pledge to amend split ordinance

The interim government’s pledge to amend the ordinance splitting the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has “failed to satisfy” protesting officials, who insist on a full repeal and plan to resume demonstrations from Saturday.

In a statement issued late Thursday, the NBR Reform Unity Council said no “clear assurances” had been given on the four demands it placed before the government.

Earlier in the evening, the finance ministry had said in a press note that “necessary amendments” would be made to the ordinance.

But the protesting officials say that does not go far enough.

The programme includes:

>> A full-scale work stoppage in all tax, customs, and value-added tax (VAT) offices on Saturday and Sunday, except at customs houses and LC stations. These two will observe work stoppage from 9am to 5pm. Export and international passenger services will remain out of the strike's purview.

>> From Monday, a full work stoppage will begin in all tax, customs, and VAT offices, excluding international passenger services.

The council has listed four key demands:

1. Immediate scrapping of the ordinance

2. Sacking the current NBR chairman

3. Publishing the advisory committee’s reform recommendations online

4. Inclusive and sustainable revenue reform through consultation with stakeholders, including civil society, political leaders, and business groups.

Referring to the ministry's press note, the council said: “We welcome [Friday’s] decision. It acknowledges through the statement that the demands of the two cadres were legitimate. For that, we extend our thanks.”