RAWALPINDI, SEPT 28 /DNA/ – Usman Shaukat, President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) hosted a commemorative dinner in honor of Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), and Mr. Sohail Altaf, Chief Business Advisor to the FTO & Former President RCCI, in Islamabad.
The event was graced by President RCCI Usman Shaukat, Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Executive Committee Members, Former Presidents, and a large number of dignitaries, including Additional Foreign Secretary (Africa) Hamid Asghar Khan, H.E. Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines to Pakistan, Chairman Pakistan Sweet Homes Zamurrad Khan, trade association representatives, and advisors from the FTO office.
In his keynote address, President RCCI Usman Shaukat commended the outstanding performance of the Federal Tax Ombudsman under the leadership of Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah. He termed the achievements of the FTO office “historic,” noting that in just four years, 44,370 complaints were resolved out of 50,903 filed — setting a new national record. This remarkable progress surpassed the combined performance of the previous two decades, during which 37,118 complaints were addressed. He further highlighted that the FTO had reduced the average resolution time to just 34 days, making the process faster, more effective, and business-friendly.
Speakers emphasized the pivotal role of the FTO in addressing the grievances of the business community, serving as a strong deterrent and monitor on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Both Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah and Mr. Sohail Altaf were acknowledged for bridging the gap between the FTO and the business sector.
The appointment of Mr. Sohail Altaf as Business Advisor to the FTO was hailed as a highly welcome initiative, facilitating the swift resolution of tax-related issues, promoting collaboration, and fostering a fair and favorable tax culture in the country.
