Zafar-ul-Haq Hijazi, the Federal Tax Ombudsman, visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and addressed a large gathering of traders and chamber officials, assuring them of concrete Tax Relief and protection of taxpayers’ rights. The visit marked his first engagement with a chamber since taking charge, and he presented a relief-oriented agenda aimed at reducing taxpayer harassment.
Mr. Hijazi said every possible step will be taken to safeguard taxpayers and that upcoming budget proposals will prioritise an end to unnecessary scrutiny of compliant filers. He announced a major administrative change: the time for registering complaints against the Federal Board of Revenue and filing appeals has been shortened to a single day, with complaints to be reviewed and appeals scheduled within that timeframe. Emphasising his focus on business community concerns, he said his priority is to provide maximum relief to businessmen.
Almas Ali Jovindah, Advisor (Legal) to the FTO, reported that the FTO office received more than 38,000 complaints against the Federal Board of Revenue during 2025 and that 98 percent of the FTO’s recommendations were implemented by the FBR. The figures were presented to underline the office’s active role in delivering Tax Relief and resolving long-standing disputes.
Usman Shaukat, President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised the FTO as a key institution and a deterrent to unfair practices, noting its timely resolution of traders’ complaints. Chamber representatives said the FTO’s intervention has strengthened confidence among businessmen and provided noticeable relief in dispute resolution.
Sohail Altaf, Group Leader at RCCI, said traders have no objection to paying taxes but are concerned about the procedures adopted by the FBR. He highlighted that as withholding agents, businesses collect and deposit taxes for the FBR at their own expense yet receive little credit or recognition. He urged that the business community be recognised as partners in tax collection and granted formal acknowledgement for their role.
Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Vice President Fahad Barlas, Vice President FPCCI Tariq Jadoon, former RCCI presidents, executive committee members and a large number of chamber members attended the session and participated in the discussions on practical measures to ensure Tax Relief, smoother procedures and better coordination between traders and the FBR.
The meeting underlined a shared commitment to reduce procedural burdens on traders, speed up redressal of grievances and implement relief-oriented policies that protect taxpayers while strengthening voluntary compliance.
