IMF mission briefed on civil servants' asset disclosure in Pakistan

Pakistan's mission talks with the International Monetary Fund opened with a briefing on the declaration of government employees' assets, according to sources cited by a private television channel. The discussions marked the first day of formal talks in the fourth review of the country's $7 billion IMF loan programme, and were held with the Federal Board of Revenue, the Establishment Division and the Finance Division.

The Federal Board of Revenue briefed the mission on customs and income tax matters through its policy wings. The Secretary of the Establishment Division and the Secretary of the Finance Division took part in the talks.

On asset disclosure, the mission was informed that Pakistan had passed legislation concerning the assets of civil servants, the briefing stated. A new Section 15-A has been added to the Civil Servants Act, the briefing said, enabling the government to regulate and monitor the financial conduct of government employees. Details of government officers' assets will also be made available on a website, and officers from Grade 17 to Grade 22 will be required to make their assets public.

The briefings form part of the opening exchanges of the fourth review, which covers Pakistan's progress against the terms of the $7 billion programme. The source material did not indicate how the mission responded to the briefing, or what further items remain on the agenda for the talks.