Tax-Payers Data At Stake! FBR Asked To Increase Cyber-Security

Web Desk — In an alarming development, Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah has found systematic flaws in the security of confidential/classified data of taxpayers.

The FTO, thereby, has passed directions to the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) to develop security policies/infrastructure and implement international standards to secure the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) website from cyber attacks in the future.

In a landmark investigation, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) found that due to incompetence, and ineptitude in the discharge of duties by FBR & PRAL, confidential/classified data of the FBR Web portal was hacked.

According to details, tax lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt has filed a public interest complaint against the FBR/PRAL key position holders. FTO Dr. Jah, after a comprehensive investigation, concluded that FBR/ PRAL is not using any software to manage its Network Security policies and that FBR filed a false/wrong statement regarding the system disrupted period which is also contrary to the Finance Minister’s stance and using expired certification.

FTO order: “The above analysis clearly reflects maladministration oozing out of neglect, inattention, delay, incompetence and ineptitude of FBR & PRAL’s functionaries, in the administration and discharge of assigned duties and responsibilities. PRAL data center is not equipped with any Instruction Prevention/ Intrusion Detection system, a material systematic flaw exposing the security of its database. PRAL data center is not compliant with some credible International Standard and its certification was also expired in December 2020.