MULTAN: Dr. Khalil Ahmad, In-charge of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Multan Secretariat, has slammed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for allegedly harassing taxpayers in a bid to meet unrealistic revenue targets. Speaking at a press conference, he called it “unfortunate” that FBR officials continue to exploit taxpayers instead of fostering trust.
Dr. Ahmad unveiled the FTO’s 2024 performance report, showcasing its no-nonsense approach to accountability. The office slashed its complaint resolution timeline from 60 days to an impressive 37 days. Nationwide, over 13,000 complaints were lodged in 2024, with 12,914 resolved and Rs. 20 billion in refunds returned to taxpayers.
He took pride in the fact that 98% of appeals filed by the FBR against FTO rulings were rejected outright by the President of Pakistan, further exposing the FBR’s flawed approach to governance.
The Multan office also delivered results, receiving 1,440 complaints in 2024 and resolving 1,347, a sharp rise from 2023’s 828 complaints, of which 815 were addressed.
Dr. Ahmad didn’t hold back, stating that the FTO is expanding its footprint into smaller cities to ensure taxpayers are not left at the mercy of FBR officials. Complaints can now be filed via WhatsApp, email, or mobile apps, cutting through bureaucratic red tape.
“The FBR must clean up its act,” he declared. “Taxpayers deserve respect, not exploitation.”
