The government has formed a high-powered committee to resume the long-pending process of bifurcating the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two separate divisions.

The Cabinet Division has constituted the committee, headed by Md Ismail Zabiullah, adviser for the Ministry of Public Administration.

Other members include finance ministry adviser Dr Rashed Al Titumir, the cabinet secretary, senior secretary of the public administration ministry, and secretaries of the Finance Division, Financial Institutions Division, Economic Relations Division, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, and Internal Resources Division (IRD).

Officials said the committee was formed following guidance from the finance minister to recommend separating the NBR into two distinct entities-Tax Policy and Tax Administration.

"The bifurcation ordinance could not be placed before Parliament like the other 133 ordinances. However, the reform remains essential for strengthening revenue administration," a senior official said.

He said the government is now keen to implement the bifurcation more decisively.

The issue has long been debated, particularly among tax, customs and administrative cadre officials.

The administrative cadre will now revise two ordinances framed by the interim government -- the Revenue Policy Ordinance, 2025, and the Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025 -- along with their amended versions.

The Internal Resources Division (IRD) will provide secretarial support to the committee.

doulotakter11@gmail.com