ISLAMABAD – Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah revealed that the President of Pakistan has upheld 98% of decisions issued by the FTO against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), dismissing nearly all representations filed by the tax department.
He made these remarks at the formal launch ceremony of his book ‘Mohatsib ki Diary’, hosted by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) on Monday. The event was attended by prominent business leaders, senior tax officials, retired bureaucrats, academia, and media representatives.
Dr. Jah highlighted that the FTO office provides taxpayers with free-of-cost grievance redressal and that the FBR is now implementing most FTO orders, regularly submitting compliance reports.
Reviewing his tenure, Dr. Jah noted the transformation of the FTO office, stressing that merit-based team selection, transparency, and persistence were key to overcoming entrenched bureaucratic hurdles and achieving record progress.
Official data shows that between 2021 and January 2025, the FTO received 50,904 complaints, of which 44,370 were disposed of. In contrast, over the previous two decades (2001–2020), only 37,118 complaints were registered and 26,228 disposed of.
Speakers lauded Dr. Jah’s dual contributions as both a public servant and philanthropist. His humanitarian work through the Customs Health Care Society was highlighted, particularly its relief efforts for Pakistan’s flood victims and earthquake survivors in Turkey.
The Managing Director of the National Book Foundation commended Dr. Jah for his integrity and dedication, noting his late father, Muhammad Bashir Ahmad, as a key influence on his values and success.
Other distinguished speakers included Nasir Mansoor Qureshi, President ICCI, who praised the FTO’s role in safeguarding taxpayers’ rights, and Dr. Inam-Ul-Haq Javeid, poet and Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis at the Federal Ombudsman, who shared insights from ‘Mohatsib ki Diary’. Former senior FBR officials Ramzan Bhatti and Salman Nabi also spoke at the event.
