ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, October 29, 2025 (WNP): A high-level Bangladesh delegation visited the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Secretariat in Islamabad on Wednesday to study Pakistan’s Ombudsman system and explore avenues for establishing a similar institution in Bangladesh — marking a significant step toward regional cooperation in governance, accountability, and taxpayer facilitation.

The delegation was led by Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, State Minister for Finance (Special Assistant) to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, and Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan. They were received by Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, Registrar Khalid Javed, and Advisor (Legal) and Executive Secretary of the OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA), Almas Ali Jovindah.

Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah highlighted the FTO’s central role in ensuring transparency, fairness, and administrative justice within Pakistan’s taxation system. He noted that the FTO has helped recover more than Rs 23 billion for taxpayers, with most cases resolved within 34 days, underscoring its credibility and efficiency.

A detailed presentation by Almas Ali Jovindah traced the historical and conceptual evolution of the Ombudsman institution — from its early roots in the era of Hazrat Umar (RA) to its institutionalization in Sweden and eventual endorsement by the United Nations in 2014, which led to its adoption in over 140 countries.

Explaining the FTO Ordinance 2000, Dr. Asif outlined key provisions governing its jurisdiction, complaint procedures, and dispute resolution mechanisms, including Section 33, which allows for Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) through mediation — a tool that saves both time and litigation costs. He emphasized that the FTO is Pakistan’s only Ombudsman institution led by taxation professionals, ensuring subject-specific expertise and efficient adjudication.

Dr. Anisuzzaman lauded Pakistan’s Ombudsman model as a benchmark of transparency and citizen-centered governance, praising Dr. Asif’s leadership in transforming the FTO into a credible and reform-driven institution. He expressed Bangladesh’s keen interest in institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange, recognizing Pakistan’s model as a potential framework for replication in Dhaka.

As a gesture of goodwill, Dr. Anisuzzaman presented a token of appreciation to the Federal Tax Ombudsman, who reciprocated with a souvenir marking the occasion.

The visit concluded with a tree-planting ceremony led by Dr. Anisuzzaman at the FTO Secretariat — a symbolic gesture of friendship, growth, and enduring cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh.