Islamabad
\nIn a landmark initiative, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) of Pakistan has launched the first-ever \u201cDiplomatic Grievance Redressal Cell\u201d at the FTO Secretariat in Islamabad. This historic step follows the successful establishment of the Overseas Pakistanis Grievance Redressal Cell (OPGRC) and aims to provide a dedicated platform for diplomats to address issues related to tax maladministration by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials.
\nThe formal inauguration of the Diplomatic Grievance Redressal Cell took place on April 11, 2025, at the FTO Secretariat. The event was hosted by Mr. Almas Ali Jovindah, Head of Overseas and Diplomatic Grievance cell , Legal & Media Advisor to the Federal Tax Ombudsman and Executive Secretary of the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman and OIC Ombudsman Association. The session was headed by panelists Including Dr. Jah Federal Tax Ombudsman, Advisor Customs Dr. Arslan Subuctageen and Registrar ,Mr. Muhammad Khalid Javed
\nDr. Asif Mahmood Jah, Hon\u2019ble Federal Tax Ombudsman, was the chief guest and keynote speaker. In his welcome address, Dr. Jah emphasized his longstanding commitment to facilitating diplomats and overseas Pakistanis, both during his tenure in customs and now as the Federal Tax Ombudsman. He highlighted the increasing number of complaints from embassies and stressed that the new cell would provide a transparent and efficient platform to address these issues.The event witnessed participation from various embassies and international missions, including:
\n\u2022\tAustrian Embassy: Michael Hofbauer, Muhammad Ashraf Khan
\n\u2022\tEmbassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Adnan Hayat, Petra de Koster
\n\u2022\tAustralian High Commission: Akemi Inoue
\n\u2022\tEmbassy of Greece: Eleni Papakonstantinou
\n\u2022\tEmbassy of Switzerland: Ali Jaffari, Younes Khan, Ajwat Arslan Khan
\n\u2022\tEmbassy of Germany: Christian Becker, Asif Iqbal
\n\u2022\tEU Delegation: Imran Haider, Raja Naseem Ur Rehman, Andre Koenigs
\n\u2022\tEmbassy of Poland: Artur Wachowiak
\nMr. Almas Ali Jovindah gave an insightful presentation on the evolution of the Ombudsman institution\u2014tracing its roots to Caliph Omar (R.A.), institutionalization by King Charles XII of Sweden in 1713, and its modern form established in 1809. Today, ombudsman institutions operate in over 140 countries.He elaborated that the Diplomatic Grievance Redressal Cell is a dedicated mechanism to resolve tax-related grievances of diplomatic missions and international organizations. The initiative aims to:
\n\u2022\tPromote trust and confidence within the diplomatic community
\n\u2022\tEnhance transparency in grievance redressal
\n\u2022\tProvide dedicated liaison officers, ensure prioritized resolutions, and offer transparent updates
\nDr. Arslan Subuctageen, Advisor Customs, outlined provisions under the Customs Act allowing diplomats to import up to two duty-free vehicles, with conditions:
\n\u2022\tFirst vehicle is duty-free for personal use
\n\u2022\tSecond vehicle is permitted if the spouse holds a diplomatic card in Pakistan
\n\u2022\tDisposal of either vehicle requires Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval
\n\u2022\tVehicles sold within two years attract full duties; beyond two years, 1% monthly depreciation (up to 50%) applies
\nMr. Muhammad Khalid Javed, FTO Registrar with extensive tax experience, explained:
\n\u2022\tDiplomats may avail zero-rated sales tax on goods\/services via STR-12 authorization
\n\u2022\tMinimum purchase of Rs. 10,000 and an exemption certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are required
\n\u2022\tIn cases of mistaken tax payment, refund claims can be routed through the Ministry
\n\u2022\tUnder the Federal Excise Act, 2005, diplomats are conditionally exempt from FED on imports, subject to relevant compliance
\nThe event concluded with a Q&A session. Diplomats were invited to submit queries in writing. Participants were also provided with FTO\u2019s newly published \u201cManual on Taxpayers\u2019 Rights.\u201d
\nMr. Jovindah expressed gratitude to all attendees and reaffirmed FTO\u2019s commitment to resolving diplomatic grievances efficiently. Participation certificates were distributed among attendees.
\nDr. Jah, Hon\u2019ble FTO closed the session with a call to action:
\n\u201cWe encourage all diplomats to approach us with their grievances. We are committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that no harassment by tax authorities goes unresolved.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad In a landmark initiative, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) of Pakistan has launched the first-ever \u201cDiplomatic Grievance Redressal Cell\u201d at the FTO Secretariat in Islamabad. This historic step follows the successful establishment of the Overseas Pakistanis Grievance Redressal Cell (OPGRC) and aims to provide a dedicated platform for diplomats to address issues related to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-471941","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n