The revenue collecting machinery has defied the austerity measures drive of the government by spending recklessly 86 percent of total annual fund allocated to travel and dearness allowances (TA/DA) in just first five months of current fiscal year.

The officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have consumed Rs8.3 million under the head of TA/DA during July-November 2012, from the total allocation of Rs9.6 million for the current fiscal year.

“The utilisation of funds under this head is about 86 percent, leaving about 14 percent for the remaining seven months of FY13,” said a letter sent to all members and chiefs of FBR.

The reasons identified for high utilisation of funds included upward revision of rates of TA/DA, transfer grant, frequent visits of the officers to FBR headquarters and relatively higher number of transfer/posting from FBR headquarters to field officers and vice versa, stated the letter. “Furthermore, finance division imposed 20 percent cut on the allocation and re-appropriation of funds has also been banned under the head of TA/DA,” it added.

Considering the acute shortage of funds, the FBR chairman has approved measures to control the expenditures, such as all members/officers of FBR headquarters shall exercise due diligence and control while undertaking visits involving TA/DA; management wing will keep cost element in view, while undertaking postings and transfers of officers to and from FBR headquarters.