RAWALPINDI, Jan 23:
Hon’ble Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) and President, Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq Hijazi on Friday assured the business community of prompt redressal of their concerns, saying that taxpayers deserve respect and full protection of their rights, particularly in the prevailing economic challenges faced by Pakistan.
Mr. Hijazi expressed these views while addressing traders during his visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). He emphasized that taxpayers are the real benefactors of the country and said that every possible step would be taken to safeguard their rights through relief-oriented measures.
He informed participants that the time for registering complaints against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and filing appeals has been reduced to just one day.
“Now complaints will be reviewed and appeals fixed within a single day,” he said, adding that his priority is to provide maximum relief to businessmen and to ensure an end to unnecessary harassment of tax filers, including through upcoming budget proposals.
RCCI President Usman Shauka appreciated the role of the Federal Tax Ombudsman as a key institution for administrative accountability and acknowledged its effective and timely resolution of traders’ complaints.
Group Leader RCCI Sohail Altaf said that the confidence of the business community in the FTO office has significantly increased. He clarified that traders have no objection to paying taxes, but their concerns relate to the procedures adopted by FBR. He pointed out that businessmen act as withholding agents by collecting and depositing taxes free of cost, yet receive no recognition, and demanded that they be treated as partners of FBR in tax collection.
On the occasion, Almas Sahib, Executive Secretary, Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman, was also present and acknowledged for his role in facilitating coordination and engagement between the Ombudsman institution and the business community.
Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Vice President Fahad Barlas, former RCCI presidents, Vice President FPCCI Tariq Jadoon, Executive Committee members, and a large number of chamber members attended the event. Traders expressed satisfaction and confidence that the office of the Federal Tax Ombudsman would continue to address their issues effectively and without delay.
