ISLAMABAD:Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Asif Mahmood Jah on Friday inaugurated a “Facilitation Desk” set up by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) at its premises.

A ceremony to this effect was held here at the ICCI premises, which was attended by the ICCI President Mohammad Shakeel Munir, Senior Vice President Jamshed Akhtar, Advisor Customs Dr Arslan Subuctageen, Collector, Collectorate Customs Mohammad Junaid Jalil Khan, and other stakeholders.

With the establishment of FTO Facilitation Desk, the aggrieved members of ICCI would now be able to lodge complaints on any tax issue against the functionaries administering the federal taxes and get their grievances resolved through this facility.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Dr Asif Mahmood Jah said that protecting the interests of taxpayers was the key priority of this organization and FTO is providing relief to taxpayers by carrying out independent investigations about the maladministration by functionaries administering the federal taxes.

He said FTO would work with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for setting timelines for tax cases to ensure their timely disposal. He said criminal cases should be filed against those tax functionaries who were involved in malpractices and corruption.

He said ensuring the self-respect of taxpayers was the responsibility of the state and state should honor this responsibility. He said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were the backbone of economy and they needed more focus of the government for ease of doing business.

He said a fair, just, efficient and simplified tax system was needed to promote tax culture in the country. He appreciated the efforts of ICCI for providing better facilities to its members by setting up facilitation desks of various organizations that would help in resolving their key issues and promoting business activities.

Speaking at the occasion, ICCI President Mohammad Shakeel Munir, said ICCI was striving to provide maximum facilitation to its members in business promotion and the establishment of FTO Facilitation Desk was another right step in that direction.

He said traders and chambers of commerce would appoint a representative in the federal ombudsman so that any grievance would be resolved through them immediately and suggestions would go to the FBR. He said everyone must know that the FTO was people-friendly institution where tax-related issues were solved on priority.