Chambers unanimously approve retaining FTO for second term

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Chambers of Commerce has unanimously approved a resolution in favor of retaining Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah as FTO for a second term for his outstanding role in resolving the problems of taxpayers.

The Patron-in-Chief of Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce Sohail Altaf presented a motion, supported by the presidents of all chambers of the country. According to Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, out of 16,000 complaints of taxpayers against the FBR, the FTO has given decisions on 99 percent. The target is to take the number of complainants to 40,000 next year. We are committed to resolving the complaints of taxpayers. The procedure for filing complaints has been simplified and now the complaints can be filed online, he said.

He said if the taxpayer is facilitated and his problems are timely addressed, the tax net along with the tax revenue will also increase. Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah said when he assumed the office of FTO, the number of taxpayer complaints were up to 2,000. Emergency measures were taken and cases pending against the FBR were quickly addressed. The FTO also used suo motu powers to take decisions which led to a rapid increase in the registration of taxpayer complaints and this number increased to 16,000 this year, while its target is to take them to 40,000 next year. Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah said the taxpayers are confronted with several issues including unfair taxes, double taxation, smuggling and the FTO forum is playing a full role in resolving them.

He said only the President has the right to appeal against the decisions of the FTO. The president upheld majority decisions taken by the FTO. Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, who is also an MBBS doctor and a certified ‘Hakeem’, was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Hilal-e-Imtiaz. He had retired as the Chief Customs and has been performing his duties as Federal Tax Ombudsman for the last three years.