Islamabad, President Dr. Arif Alvi emphasized the need for increased coordination between the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to enhance Pakistan’s tax system. This call was made during a briefing he received in Islamabad today about the FTO’s performance in the last year.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Federal Tax Ombudsman has resolved a significant number of complaints against the maladministration of tax and customs authorities in 2023, amounting to 8,128 cases, compared to 6,106 in 2022. The FTO has also provided relief of 17.74 billion rupees to taxpayers in 2023, a substantial increase from the seven billion rupees in the previous year.

During the briefing, President Alvi commended the efforts of the FTO and urged further acceleration in the registration and disposal of complaints. He also emphasized the importance of expanding the FTO’s reach to more taxpayers. The President highlighted the critical role of effective collaboration between the FTO and FBR in the timely execution of decisions and in introducing improvements to the tax regime.

President Alvi noted that an improved tax system is vital for increasing tax and revenue generation, which would not only bolster Pakistan’s economy but also reduce the nation’s reliance on loans.