The Federal Directorate of Education has declared a winter break for all schools and educational institutions under its jurisdiction. The break is scheduled from December 25 to December 29.
Notably, schools will start closing on Friday, December 22, providing a few extra days of relaxation before the official break commences. The break spans until Monday, January 1, 2024.
This decision aligns with similar announcements made by the Punjab and Sindh governments earlier in the month. In Punjab, students will enjoy a break from December 18 to January 1, 2024, while in Sindh, schools will be closed from December 22 to 31.
Following the break, all schools are set to reopen on Monday, January 1, 2024, heralding a fresh start to the new year.
In Sindh, the commencement of the new school year is scheduled for April 15, 2024, for schools and August 1, 2024, for colleges.
Over 10000 FBR officials fail to file tax returns
Meanwhile, it has been reported that more than 10,000 officers from the Federal Board of Revenue have not filed their tax returns for the current year. Sources indicate that a significant portion of these officers falling behind in filing are below grade 17, although the list includes some senior officers as well.
Despite the extension granted for the deadline to file returns, the Board has not taken any action against these officers who have not fulfilled this obligation.
It’s noteworthy that these officers have failed to meet the tax return filing requirement even with the extended deadline. The Federal Board of Revenue has a total of 25,000 officers, with 1,700 in grades 17 and above. Among the senior officers, 300 did not file their returns in 2023, a slight improvement from the previous year’s figure of 500.
In contrast, other departments such as Inland Revenue have seen a more favorable situation, with 88% of officers filing their returns, and Customs reporting that 80% have complied.
One contributing factor to the high ratios of non-compliance is attributed to the extension of the filing deadline, which now extends until December 31.
