FTO Flags Unimplemented FBR Misconduct Action

Islamabad, August 18, 2025, 07:06 PM PKT — The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has raised a grave alarm, spotlighting an unimplemented key recommendation targeting misconduct by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers allegedly colluding with private tax fraud gangs selling non-customs paid products, as per official findings in Complaint No. 1763/2024. The FTO ordered disciplinary action against officers who failed to respond in a case of revenue-draining sales, implicating FBR, Customs, and IRS employees, urging the Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation in Customs and Inland Revenue to probe deeply, including cyber activities tied to fake supply chains.

The FTO demanded a detailed report from FBR, with support from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other agencies, alongside FIRs against masterminds and referral to FIA, NAB, or the Supreme Court’s HR Cell for disciplinary and criminal proceedings. Ignoring these directives, the FTO warned, risks fueling tax evasion and undermining Pakistan’s taxation system as unchecked non-customs paid goods persist. Web context on tax oversight shows recurrent issues, while posts found on X reflect outrage—some demand accountability, others question enforcement. Critically, the narrative of “reform push” may mask institutional resistance—web data hints at past inaction, and X sentiment suggests distrust in effective action, pointing to persistent challenges.