The 2025–26 fiscal year has already begun, but the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has yet to publish its annual report for the 2023–24 fiscal year. NBR’s last published annual report is for FY 2022-23. The agency also routinely delays the release of monthly revenue collection data. For instance, the figures for June, the final month of FY 2024–25, were only published on July 31. According to NBR sources, the delays are largely due to a severe manpower shortage in its statistics wing.

As per the approved structure, the Research and Statistics Wing is supposed to have one Director General, one Deputy Director, four Assistant Directors, 12 Statistical Investigators, three Research Officers, and three Statistical Officers.

However, according to the NBR’s website, the wing currently has only three officials—two Research Officers and one Statistical Officer. The post of director general remains vacant.

Concerns over the lack of manpower in the Research and Statistics Wing were also raised during a seminar held at the NBR headquarters on Monday (August 4). Speakers pointed out that the agency does not conduct adequate research on revenue collection, nor does it publish enough statistical data. As a result, journalists and research organizations often face significant information gaps.

Speaking to Bonik Barta on the issue, NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan said, “Although 12 investigator posts have been created, we haven’t been able to appoint anyone yet because the recruitment rules don’t include the procedure for these posts. We plan to revise the NBR organogram and recruitment policy. It’s a lengthy process, but we’re trying to begin and complete it as soon as possible. For now, a Commissioner is handling the responsibilities of the Director General. Once the manpower shortage is addressed, we’ll move to appoint a full-time Director General.”