Most FBR Officers Fail Surprise Competency Test

KARACHI BUREAU —The Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR) surprise competency tests for Inland Revenue officers have come under fire after a report circulated on social media claimed that only 15 out of 150 officers assessed in sales tax and 14 out of 143 in income tax were found capable of independently adjudicating cases.

That is roughly one in ten officers in each tax. The tests for officers of Grade-17 and above have been held in Islamabad and Karachi, and the next round is set for Lahore on Tuesday, November 17. Legality and Methodology Questioned The Karachi capability assessment report has raised concerns over the legality, transparency and methodology of the exercise.

Critics question whether a single test based on artificially prepared case studies can judge the competence of officers recruited through the CSS examination. Questions have also been raised about the legal authority under the Civil Servants Act, 1973, and service rules for holding such tests and recommending restrictions on officers' statutory functions and postings.

Notably, the assessment itself admits its findings are based on a single test of three cases in each tax and should be treated as indicative. AI Use and Leaked Scores The reported use of artificial intelligence, particularly Claude AI, to prepare case studies and evaluate answer scripts has also drawn scrutiny, though the extent of AI involvement remains unverified and needs official clarification.

The public circulation of individual officers' names, scores and classifications has raised confidentiality and morale concerns. Some fear the results may be used to build a narrative of incompetence to justify sweeping reforms under the FBR's transformation plan , possibly benefiting outside consultants.

There are now growing calls for an independent review of the test framework, disclosure of its legal basis, AI use and marking criteria, and a fair review mechanism for affected officers. The post Most FBR Officers Fail Surprise Competency Test appeared first on ProPakistani .