RAWALPINDI – Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Mr. Zafar Hijazi has reaffirmed that the business community remains his foremost priority, stating that the core mission of the Federal Tax Ombudsman institution is to restore taxpayer confidence and ensure timely and effective relief.
He was addressing a seminar at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCC&I), where the President and Group Leader of RCC&I congratulated Mr. Hijazi on assuming office as Federal Tax Ombudsman. They expressed confidence that his extensive and diversified experience would enhance the institution’s performance and effectiveness.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hijazi highlighted major reforms introduced to improve complaint resolution. He noted that in the past, complaint files circulated among various offices for weeks, causing unnecessary delays. However, a new and streamlined mechanism has now been implemented under which complaints will be directly assigned to the relevant Advisor and resolved in the shortest possible time. He further announced that small-amount tax refunds would be processed and disbursed within 8 to 10 days.
Briefing the participants, the Advisor (Legal) to the Federal Tax Ombudsman said that the institution has earned significant credibility at the international level. As a result, the Tax Ombudsman of Tanzania is scheduled to visit Pakistan in the second week of February to study the working, mechanisms, and best practices of the Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan and to exchange experiences related to taxpayer grievance redressal.
At the conclusion of the seminar, President of RCC&I expressed appreciation for the Federal Tax Ombudsman’s engagement with the business community. He stated that the reforms and relief initiatives introduced by the FTO would help strengthen trust in the tax system and contribute positively to Pakistan’s economic growth.
