The Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Act, 2013 [Act XIV of 2013] has introduced reform measures for standardizing and harmonizing the laws relating to the Federal Ombudsman in Pakistan >> Read More

As tax evasion by the lawmakers has been in the headlines in the past three weeks, Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Shoaib Suddle has handed down a landmark decision directing the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to publicize the taxes of all public office holders >> Read More

The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Dr Shoaib Suddle, has convicted an additional commissioner for committing contempt of court and has sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment with a fine of Rs50,000. An apology he submitted was also rejected >> Read More

Mr. Muhammad Saleem, Respondent, was served with a show cause notice of contempt issued on 13-8-2012 >> Read More

The Hon'ble FTO finds the Income Tax Slabs under Finance Act 2012 to be unreasonable, unjust and discriminatory >> Read More

The Hon'ble Federal Tax Ombudsman speaks on the Role of the FTO in shaping Fiscal Statutes in Seminar organized by Lahore Tax Bar Association on 14-06-2012 >> Read More

A number of recommendations of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Report on the ISAF Container Scam have been made part of the Finance Bill (2012-13) including change in the definition of smuggling under Customs Act 1969 to punish those persons involved in pilferage of transit goods which would be treated as offence of 'smuggling'. >> Read More

2011 has been an historic year in several respects for the Office of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Pakistan. The exceptional achievements of the FTO have added new milestones to its history.... >> Read More

The 3^rd meeting of the Sub-Committee No.2 of the FTO Advisory Committee was held in the Conference Room of FTO Secretariat, Islamabad, on 26.12.2011 at 11:00 am. >> Read More

Sub-Committee No. 4 of the FTO Advisory Committee met on 21-12-11 in the FTO Secretariat. The Sub-Committee has been tasked to draft... >> Read More

Corruption Perceptions Index-2011 released by Transparency International on 1st December, 2011 registers reduction of corruption in Pakistan by 8 points. >> Read More

The Hon'ble Federal Tax Ombudsman attended the 4th Asia-Pesific INTACT Community of Practice Meeting held at Kathmandu, Nepal on 12-14 October 2011. Hon'ble FTO chaired the first session held on 12-10-2011 and addressed the session on Pakistan's National Anti-Corruption Strategy:Status and Challenges. 

Mian Muhammad Farhan Latif, President, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Members of the Executive Committee, Members of the Chamber, Officers of Regional Tax Office, Faisalabad, Ladies & Gentlemen!

Let me at the outset offer my heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of life of 32 young students and 3 adults from Faisalabad, in the horrific accident the ill-fated bus returning from Kalarkahar on September 25th. One cannot find words to describe this tragedy. May Allah grant strength to the mourners to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude, and may the more than 50 students and others injured in the accident get well soon.

After this somber note, Let me say how pleased I am to be in the midst of businesspeople of Faisalabad, who are playing such an important role in promoting the economic interests of Pakistan, and facilitating the development of Faisalabad as a business center of excellence. Needless to say, where there is business, there is also the taxman to contend with, and where there is the taxman, the Tax Ombudsman is not far behind, especially when roughly 40% of complaints handled by FTO's Regional Office, Lahore, emanate from Faisalabad. >> Read More

Responding to an invitation, Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, the Hon’ble Federal Tax Ombudsman, paid a visit to the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry on 20-07-11.

In the opening address, Mr Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, President, SCC&I, welcomed the Hon’ble FEDERAL TAX OMBUDSMAN paid tribute to the excellent work done by the Hon’ble FEDERAL TAX OMBUDSMAN and thanked him for his help in resolving the problems faced by the members of the SCC&I with FBR relating to various Customs and Sales Tax issues.. He explained that the exporters form Sialkot earned $ 1.25 Bill foreign exchange in 2010-11 and their tax performance was exemplary with hardly any case of default. He however said that taxpayers faced many problems especially problems posed by the multiplicity of taxes. There were also serious infrastructure problems like shortcomings in the supply of energy that had an extremely detrimental effect on production. He further said that >> Read More

Hon’ble Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics & Planning and Development;

The Citizen Report Card Study (CRCS) on the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Pakistan conducted by Lahore-based independent research firm, Islamic Countries Society of Statistical Sciences (ICSSS), has found the FTO Office as the cleanest and the most helpful public sector organization in Pakistan. >> Read More

Hon'ble Federal Tax Ombudsman's visit to Regional Tax Office (RTO) and Chamber of Commerce & Industries (GCCI), Gujranwala

In a landmark judgment, Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle has barred the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) from illegal deduction of 5 percent withholding tax on power consumed by around 200 industrial units and manufacturers cum exporters within the jurisdiction of Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) Karachi. >> Read More

The Ombudsmen of Pakistan (Dr. Shoaib Suddle, Federal Tax Ombudsman; Mr. Azhar Farooqi, Insurance Ombudsman; Mr. Mansur-ur-Rehman Khan, Banking Ombudsman; Mr. Khalid Mahmood, Punjab Ombudsman, Mr. Asad Ashraf Malik, Sindh Ombudsman; Mr. Badshah Gul Wazir, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Ombudsman; Mr. Ali Akbar Baloch, Balochistan Ombudsman; and Mr. Muhammad Rashid Khan, AJ&K Ombudsman) got together in Islamabad on 15th April, 2011, and, after discussing at length the dire need for establishing a professional and independent platform of Pakistan Ombudsman, on the analogy of Asian Ombudsman Association, International Ombudsman Association, US Ombudsman Association, European Ombudsman Association, decided unanimously to set up the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO), with the objective >> Read More

Mr. Dawood Usman Jakhura, Acting President FPCCI, is presenting FPCCI crest to Hon’ble Dr. Muhammad Shoiab Suddle, Federal Tax Ombudsman on his visit to FPCCI Head Office Karachi on 22^nd February, 2011. >> Read More

In a Petition before the Hon’ble Federal Tax Ombudsman, it was contended on behalf of the employees of the Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) that whereas organizations such as Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were allowing tax exemption ...>> Read More

In 2010, the Office of Federal Tax Ombudsman received 1446 individual complaints of which 955 (66%) pertained to income tax, 276 (19%) to sales tax, 205 (14%) to customs and 10 (less than 1%) complaints involved the Federal Excise Duty >> Read More

ISAF Container Scam report is placed before Hon'ble Supreme Court on 10-1-2011 by Federal Tax Ombudsman >> Read More

 Address by the Hon’ble Federal Tax Ombudsman, Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, to Lahore Tax Bar Association on 20^th October 2010 >> Read More

The Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan, Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, participated in the conference. He was accompanied by his Adviser, Mr Haji Ahmad.

A three member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed the Federal Tax Ombudsman to file a comprehensive report regarding alleged supply of contraband items under the garb of food supplies to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan under Afghan Transit Trade Agreement(ATTA). >> Read More

The Federal Tax Ombudsman, Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, taking suo moto notice on a news item that the Regional Tax Office, Karachi had stopped payment of Sales Tax refund claims amounting to milions of rupees creating serious problems for the business community, has directed the FBR to submit report within 15 days so that the grievances of the taxpayers could be addressed as per law.

Proactive intervention by the Federal Tax Ombudsman has resulted in settlement of 123,957 refund claims involving Rs 2572.506 million in the last four months. The Export Collectorate of Customs House, Karachi, has settled 55,524 Duty Drawback Claims involving Rs 1007.325 million between April to August 2010 while the PaCCS Collectorate of Customs House, Karachi, has settled 68,433 Duty Drawback Claims involving refund of Rs 1565.181 million in the same period.

On a suo moto notice, the Hon'ble FEDERAL TAX OMBUDSMAN, Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle,has got settled 400 Sales tax refund claim cases that were pending decision since 2006. >> Read More

The Asian Ombudsman Association, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Philippines Ombudsman jointly held a two-day regional conference at Manila on August 24 – 25, 2010.  The theme of the conference was “Strengthening the Ombudsman Institution in Asia” .This conference presented the highlights of 5 cross country studies and a Pakistan specific study on various aspects of Ombudsmanship in Asia. Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, FEDERAL TAX OMBUDSMAN, Pakistan and >> Read More

Dr Mohammad Shoaib Suddle, Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) on Thursday stressed the need for promulgating "taxpayer's bill".  He was speaking at a seminar "Measures to Enhance Transparency in Tax Collection and Role of FTO" organized by Transparency International Pakistan at a local hotel here. He said that the core purpose of the FTO is to diagnose >> Read More

Federal Tax Ombudsman’s Speech at the Summer School of Pakistan Tax Bar Association >> Read More

• All pending complaints of taxpayers, pertaining to 2009, decided by 31st March 2010.

• 805 complaints of systemic nature pending for four years decided under a suo moto notice.

• Taxpayer refunds reached Rs 1 billion during 6 months of 2010, which is more than the total amount refunded from 2005 to 2009.

Ombudsman is a Swedish word, which refers to someone who takes upon himself the responsibility to do something for others >> Read More

Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, FEDERAL TAX OMBUDSMAN, who is also an internationally recognized anti terrorism expert, was invited to deliver a lecture at the Swedish National Defense College, Stockholm on the 17^th May 2010. On the 18^th May he visited the Swedish Tax Agency and noted the high tax to GDP ratio (53%) and the effective use of information technology and automation to enhance efficiency in tax collection. On the 19^th May he met with Mr Mats Melin, Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, Sweden, and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, Federal Tax Ombudsman, disposing of a complaint filed by the Port Qasim Authority, Karachi, against non issuance of refund of income tax amounting to Rs 685 mill, outstanding since 1995-96, by the Inland Revenue Deptt of the Federal Board of Revenue, has Recommended that the amount be refunded forthwith. >> Read More

Responding to an invitation extended by the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, Federal Tax Ombudsman paid a visit to the GCC&I on 28th April 2010.  He said that effective revenue mobilization was essential for the State and this could not be achieved without the cooperation of taxpayers >> Read More

The Federal Tax Ombudsman, Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, accompanied by his Advisers at the Regional Office, Lahore, visited FBR's premier training institution for Inland Revenue officers. The FTO addressed the officers of the 36th Specialized Training Program (STP) undergoing training at DOT , explained the role of the Federal Tax Ombudsman in curbing 'maladministration' in FBR >> Read More

Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, the Federal Tax Ombudsman , on the invitation of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMEA), Karachi, met the members of PHMEA on 17.4.2010, and discussed with them issues relating to maladministration involving tax functionaries of the Federal Board of Revenue. He also explained >> Read More

Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, Federal Tax Ombudsman, addressed the participants in the Commissioner's Conference held at the Federal Board of Revenue, Islamabad on the 27th April 2010. He discussed maladministration issues as they relate to FBR functionaries and discussed ways and means to improve the internal working of FBR field formations especially in the area of tax payments verification and taxpayer facilitation in problem areas like refunds disbursement.

Federal Tax Ombudsman's meeting with members of the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (S.I.T.E) on 19-3-2010 >> Read More

Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, the Federal Tax Ombudsman, accompanied by the Advisors at the Regional Office, FTO Sectt, Lahore and senior officers of the Deptt of Inland Revenue (RTO Lahore), visited the Lahore Chambers of Commerce & Industry on 8-3-2010.

The Hon’ble FTO addressed the LCC&I Members  and explained the role Of the FTO in dealing with maladministration in the offices of the FBR. In his reply, Mr Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, President, LCC&I, lauded the FTO’s contribution in alleviating Maladministration in FBR offices. A Question and answer session followed.

Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, the Federal Tax Ombudsman, accompanied by Mr Yasin Tahir, Senior Advisor, FTO Sectt, Islamabad  the FTO’s Advisors at the Regional Office, Lahore, and senior officers of the Deptt of Inland Revenue (RTO Sialkot), visited the Sialkot Chambers of Commerce & Industry on 15-2-2010.

The Hon’ble FTO addressed the SCC&I Members and explained the role of the FTO in dealing with maladministration in the offices of the FBR. In his reply, Mr Muhammad Ishaq Butt, President SCC&I, lauded the good work being done by the FTO.  A Question & Answer session followed.

Feb 08 - 11, 2010, Bangkok, Thailand. Workshop on Advanced Investigation Techniques, conducted by Mr. Andre Marin, Ombudsman, Ontario, Canada and Mr. Gareth Jones, Director, Special Ombudsman Response Team (SORT),Ontario, Canada. Mr. Yasin Tahir, Senior Advisor, FTO Sectt, Islamabad and Mr. M Munir Qureshi,Advisor in Charge, Regional Office, FTO Sectt, Lahore, participated in the training event that was attended by 41 participants from 17 countries.

Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle has been appointed as FEDERAL TAX OMBUDSMAN on 3rd June 2009 for a four year term and oath of office was administered by the President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, at the Presidency.

Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Suddle holds Masters Degrees in Economics, Physics (MSc, Government College, Lahore) and criminology, a Degree in Law (LLB, Punjab University) and a PhD in white-collar crime from Cardiff University (Wales), His doctoral thesis was on nature, extent and control of income tax evasion in Pakistan. He is the author >> Read More