ISLAMABAD: The Public Interest Litigation Committee (PILC) of the Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) has appreciated the wise and taxpayer-friendly decision of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), ZafarulHaq Hijazi, to conduct proceedings and hearings online.
The LTBA-PILC termed it a progressive and long-overdue reform that reflected the FTO Secretariat’s commitment to accessible, speedy, inexpensive and efficient justice for taxpayers “against the injustices done by FBR tax employees”.
Through a circular issued with the approval of the FTO, the registrar of the FTO said that all proceedings and hearings at the FTO Headquarters and regional offices shall henceforth be conducted online, unless either or both litigant parties opted in writing for a personal/physical hearing.
While seeking para-wise comments and issuing hearing notices, both the complainant and the field formations of the FBR concerned were to be given the option of an online or a personalized hearing.
The registrar further added,“Notwithstanding this, personal hearings shall continue to be held in select complaints involving complicated legal and procedural questions.”
The circular directed the admin/IT wings to ensure seamless and uninterrupted online communication in support of this initiative.
The LTBA-PILC observed that this wise move would not only protect the precious resources of the public exchequer (taxpayer money) by reducing the travel and deputation costs of FBR’s tax employees attending FTO’s hearings, but it would also save the precious time of taxpayers and their representatives, who otherwise had to travel long distances and wait for hours to attend proceedings in person.
The LTBA-PILC noted that after a long time, this was a truly well-considered and welcome step by the FTO office under the command of Zafar ulHaq Hijazi.
The LTBA-PILC hoped that field formations of the FBR would reciprocate this facilitation with an enhanced level of timely response and cooperation so that the objective of smooth, fast-track disposal of complaints was fully realized.
The LTBA-PILC reaffirmed its support for institutional reforms that eased access to justice for the taxpaying community and expressed confidence that such measures under the leadership of FTO Hijazi would further strengthen public trust in the office of the FTO.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026