TDS Desk:

Punishments, imposed on 21 officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for their involvement in a protest against the board’s proposed reforms during the interim government, have been withdrawn.

The Internal Resources Division (IRD) issued a gazette notification on Sunday formally in this regard.

Earlier, the government had initiated a process to waive the punishments of 24 officials involved in the protest. Of them, 14 belonged to the Income Tax cadre and 10 to the Customs, Excise and VAT cadre. The officials had applied to the President seeking remission of their punishments.

According to NBR sources, disciplinary action against 21, out of the 24 officials, has so far been withdrawn. As of Sunday morning, gazette notifications had been issued for 10 officials.

The officials launched the protest in May 2025 against a government initiative to split the NBR into two separate divisions. Several officials were suspended during the movement and were later handed minor disciplinary penalties.

The latest decision effectively reverses the disciplinary measures imposed on the officials over their participation in the anti-reform movement.