Islamabad: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, serving as the Chairman of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee, convened a high-level meeting at the Supreme Court to discuss strategies for improving tax litigation processes. The meeting focused on enhancing efficiency, coordination, and timely resolution of tax disputes, which are crucial for fiscal governance and economic stability.

According to the Press Information Department, the meeting included participation from Supreme Court Judge Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tax Litigation Framework, the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and other senior officials. High Court judges from Lahore, Sindh, Peshawar, Balochistan, and Islamabad joined via video link, accompanied by their respective registrars and IT directors.

The Chief Justice emphasized that resolving tax disputes efficiently is vital for public confidence and legal predictability. He highlighted the NJPMC’s role in facilitating coordinated reforms involving the judiciary, executive agencies, and other stakeholders. Justice Aurangzeb presented a judgment addressing procedural issues in tax litigation, urging government departments to avoid repetitive appeals on settled issues, which strain judicial resources and delay genuine cases.

Participants discussed key reform areas, including addressing legislative and procedural gaps, improving litigation management, and leveraging technology for better coordination. High Court judges outlined issues needing improvement and suggested remedial measures. The meeting reviewed ongoing initiatives to enhance tax matter handling and institutional efficiency in fiscal adjudication.

The forum agreed to share the Sindh High Court’s database of judgments with the Supreme Court, all High Courts, and the FBR to improve case management. The FBR Chairman welcomed the recommendations and assured their incorporation into the tax litigation framework. He outlined steps to enhance legal representation and data management, including designating director-level officers for court representation and establishing scrutiny committees in each province.

This consultative meeting is part of broader reforms by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan to ensure efficient and responsive justice delivery, aligning legal processes with governance and economic needs.