The government of Pakistan has issued draft amendments to the Sharing of Assets of Civil Servants Rules, 2023, as part of ongoing efforts to fulfill governance reform requirements stipulated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Under the proposed changes, all public servants in Grade 17 and above, working in federal, provincial, and local government bodies, along with employees of state-owned enterprises, will be required to electronically declare their assets and income. The declarations will be submitted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and made available for public review, ensuring greater transparency in asset management within government institutions.
The draft amendments specifically exempt serving officers of the armed forces from the electronic declaration requirements. However, any military personnel holding or who have previously held positions in public corporations or financial institutions controlled by federal or provincial governments will fall under the scope of the new rules. Banks participating in the asset declaration process have been instructed to transmit data through secure, pre-designated email addresses under the oversight of compliance heads. Additionally, banks are required to provide contact details of designated focal persons to ensure the confidentiality and proper management of sensitive information. This structured reporting aims to safeguard the privacy of individuals while maintaining compliance with IMF mandates.
Public servants from autonomous bodies, corporations, and government-owned companies will submit their asset declarations in formats specified jointly by FBR and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Although these declarations will not be publicly accessible, they will be shared securely with FBR for regulatory oversight and monitoring purposes. The data shared will be summarised to maintain confidentiality, allowing authorities to verify compliance while protecting individual privacy. This approach reflects Pakistan’s focus on integrating digital solutions into governance processes, enabling more efficient tracking and evaluation of civil servant assets in alignment with international standards.
The FBR has opened the draft amendments for public comments over a seven-day period, highlighting the urgency of meeting IMF timelines for the implementation of governance reforms. The amendments build upon previous regulations under the Sharing of Assets Rules, 2023, and aim to address gaps in accountability and monitoring mechanisms across government institutions. By standardising electronic asset declarations and requiring secure data transmission, the government seeks to ensure that transparency measures are enforced without compromising the privacy of civil servants. Experts note that the move will also enhance the overall digital infrastructure of government reporting systems, paving the way for improved governance and compliance practices in Pakistan.
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