A comprehensive media briefing on the performance and achievements of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) was held on Thursday, 27th November at the FTO Regional Office Lahore, highlighting the historic reforms, unprecedented taxpayer relief, and nationwide outreach accomplished under the leadership of Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
The session was conducted by Abdul Basit Khan, Advisor Media, FTO Lahore, who presented key aspects of institutional progress during the past four years.
Prominent members of the media and business community attended the briefing.
Founding member of the Sheikhupura Chamber of Commerce and leading business personality, Mr. Manzoor-ul-Haq, praised the vision of Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah and stated that the Federal Tax Ombudsman stands as “the most effective and accessible ombudsman institution in Pakistan.”
He commended the FTO model for providing swift, transparent, and inexpensive justice to traders and taxpayers.
Renowned cartoonist Javed Iqbal from Daily Jang also lauded the achievements of Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, noting that the unprecedented volume of public relief and refunds issued in recent years had set new standards for accountability and taxpayer facilitation.
Senior journalist Ashraf Sohail expressed appreciation for Dr. Jah’s service-oriented approach, stating that his tenure “revived taxpayers’ confidence in the state’s grievance-redressal machinery” and delivered genuine relief to those historically deprived of timely justice.
Key Performance Highlights (January–September 2025)
According to the FTO 2025 Newsletter:
Regular complaints: 22,990
Informal complaints: 5,609
Review cases: 123
Cases disposed: 25,506 (including 1,840 carry-forward cases)
Total complaints received: 28,602
Average disposal time: 39.30 working days
Refunds issued: Rs. 14.696 billion in the first nine months of 2025
Despite a rise in workload, the FTO sustained efficient disposal timelines—41.06 days (2021) → 34.39 days (2022) → 34.11 days (2023–24) → 39.30 days in 2025.
Record-Breaking Refunds and Taxpayer Relief
Refund figures under Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah reflect unprecedented public facilitation:
2021: Rs. 8.499 billion
2022: Rs. 7.081 billion
2023: Rs. 17.742 billion
2024: Rs. 22.793 billion
2025 (first nine months): Rs. 14.696 billion
These refunds helped thousands of traders, SMEs, exporters, and manufacturers overcome liquidity challenges and regain financial stability.
Institutional Growth and Credibility
During the last four years:
57,552 complaints were registered
52,985 cases were disposed
This exceeds the cases handled during the previous two decades of the institution.
Review cases requiring correction at the Presidency decreased sharply from 10.95% in 2022 to just 5.88% in 2025, reflecting the legal strength and quality of FTO decisions.
National Outreach and Awareness
The briefing highlighted major reforms and nationwide engagement led by Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, including:
655+ seminars conducted across Pakistan Strong partnerships with chambers of commerce
Appointment of honorary business-community advisors
Media campaigns promoting tax awareness and public accessibility
These initiatives ensured that knowledge, guidance, and relief reached even the most marginalized taxpayers.
Conclusion
The media briefing at the FTO Regional Office Lahore underscored the institution’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and timely grievance redressal.
Speakers reaffirmed that under Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, the FTO has emerged as the most trusted and high-performing ombudsman institution in the country, delivering historic relief to traders, business owners, and ordinary taxpayers alike.
