The federal government on Wednesday appointed Asim Ahmad, appointed Inland Revenue Service (IRS) officer Asim Ahmad as the new chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The Establishment Division issued a notification in this regard after the cabinet approved the summary to remove Ashfaq Ahmed Khan from the post appointing Asim as the new chairman of the tax collection authority.

“With the approval of the Federal Government, Mr. Asim Ahmad, a BS-21 officer of Inland Revenue Service (IRS), is appointed as Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, with immediate effect and until further orders,” read the notification.

Meanwhile, ex-FBR chairman Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmad has been transferred and reverted to FBR, with immediate effect. Ahmad has also been relieved of the additional charge of the post of Secretary, Revenue Division.

The government was initially considering names of three IRS officers — Asim Ahmad, Nadeem Rizvi and Tariq Pasha — and one from Customs, Tariq Huda, for the FBR’s top slot.

Asim Ahmed previously held the charge as FBR Chairman from April 2021 to August 2021. He has also served as an FBR Member in information technology (IT).

Dr Ashfaq was elevated to the post of FBR chairman on August 24, 2021, by the previous government and replaced Asim Ahmad.