In a landmark initiative, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) of Pakistan has launched the first-ever “Diplomatic Grievance Redressal Cell” 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.
The 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
Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, Hon’ble 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:
Austrian Embassy: Michael Hofbauer, Muhammad Ashraf Khan
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Adnan Hayat, Petra de Koster
Australian High Commission: Akemi Inoue
Embassy of Greece: Eleni Papakonstantinou
Embassy of Switzerland: Ali Jaffari, Younes Khan, Ajwat Arslan Khan
Embassy of Germany: Christian Becker, Asif Iqbal
EU Delegation: Imran Haider, Raja Naseem Ur Rehman, Andre Koenigs
Embassy of Poland: Artur Wachowiak
Mr. Almas Ali Jovindah gave an insightful presentation on the evolution of the Ombudsman institution-tracing 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:
Promote trust and confidence within the diplomatic community
Enhance transparency in grievance redressal
Provide dedicated liaison officers, ensure prioritized resolutions, and offer transparent updates
Dr. Arslan Subuctageen, Advisor Customs, outlined provisions under the Customs Act allowing diplomats to import up to two duty-free vehicles, with conditions:
First vehicle is duty-free for personal use
Second vehicle is permitted if the spouse holds a diplomatic card in Pakistan
Disposal of either vehicle requires Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval
Vehicles sold within two years attract full duties; beyond two years, 1% monthly depreciation (up to 50%) applies
Mr. Muhammad Khalid Javed, FTO Registrar with extensive tax experience, explained:
Diplomats may avail zero-rated sales tax on goods/services via STR-12 authorization
Minimum purchase of Rs. 10,000 and an exemption certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are required
In cases of mistaken tax payment, refund claims can be routed through the Ministry
Under the Federal Excise Act, 2005, diplomats are conditionally exempt from FED on imports, subject to relevant compliance
The event concluded with a Q&A session. Diplomats were invited to submit queries in writing. Participants were also provided with FTO’s newly published “Manual on Taxpayers’ Rights.”
Mr. Jovindah expressed gratitude to all attendees and reaffirmed FTO’s commitment to resolving diplomatic grievances efficiently. Participation certificates were distributed among attendees.
Dr. Jah, Hon’ble FTO closed the session with a call to action:
“We 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.”
