Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle said here on Monday that the major role of the tax ombudsmen across the glob is to provide an informal, inexpensive and quick conflict resolution mechanism particularly in tax-related matters and tax disputes between the tax department and the registered taxpayers.
He stated this at the inaugural session of the two day "Fair Practices Workshop" aimed at exploring various aspects of the art of fairness as practiced internationally to strengthen Ombudsman's office. The workshop has been organised by Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO) with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) which would continue till Tuesday, March 27, 2012.
Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle also shared working of the FTO offices and steps taken in providing immediate justice to the taxpayers on the complaints pertaining to federal taxes. Highlighting role of tax ombudsmen, Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle said the ombudsman offices have been providing an essential oversight role and are integral to the government's efforts in promoting good governance. Primarily, the ombudspersons provide an informal, inexpensive and quick conflict resolution mechanism.
FTO was confident that the skills acquired during various sessions of the workshop will go a long way in improving quality of service in all ombudsman offices. He urged the participants to make best use of the opportunity to know how to apply culturally diverse ideas and practices for providing better and fairer services to the citizens.
He said that Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO) was established in April 2010 for the common good of all ombudsman offices in Pakistan, with the principal objective of standardising the ombudsman's role and enhancing its performance. The forum also strives to maximise ombudsman's usefulness and credibility by sharing ideas, finding innovative learning orientations and best practices, and developing professional standards.
Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle added that the review of decision always depend on the nature of complaints registered by the complainant. Sharing details of the international participants, he informed that Kevin Fenwich, Ombudsman from Saskatchewan, Canada has been specially invited for the workshop to share with the participants the challenges faced by ombudspersons in Canada. Another expert, Jeff Cain, the Lead Facilitator and Assistant Ombudsman at the Office of the Saskatchewan Ombudsman would also join another workshop in Karachi.
Addressing the gathering Kevin Fenwick, Canadian Ombudsman said that the decisions of the complaints should be meaningful and open to review and correction any time. He was of the view that time management is the most important factor in decision making. He said if a complaint was not resolved in given time, the affects of the decision would not be fruitful.
The High Commissioner of Canada, Ross Hynes also spoke on the occasion with the confidence that the workshop would help promote fair practices in Pakistan. He highly appreciated the efforts of FTO for promoting fair practices and providing speedy relief to the taxpayers in cases relating to the maladministration of the tax authorities.
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