The federal government is preparing to amend the Civil Servants Act by the end of February to make asset declarations mandatory for public officials in grades BS-17 to BS-22. The move is part of efforts to meet a critical structural benchmark set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under its$7 billion loan program.

The proposed amendment will require civil servants to file digital asset declarations with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which will be made publicly accessible. These declarations will also include assets beneficially owned by family members of the officials.

In a related development, the IMF’s technical mission on Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment recently held virtual discussions with the FBR. The talks focused on integrity management, recruitment, remuneration, and other related issues. The mission is expected to visit Pakistan in April and publish its findings by July.

The government has also pledged to release a comprehensive review report on compliance with the UN Convention Against Corruption by September. Additionally, authorities are working to ensure that banks have access to asset declarations for anti-money laundering compliance. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is collaborating with financial institutions to finalize procedures, while the FBR plans to launch a digital portal by September to facilitate the timely processing of requests.