Islamabad, March 11, 2025 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has appointed Imran Ali Sheikh, an officer of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) BS-19, as the new Commissioner (Refunds) at the Corporate Tax Office (CTO) Karachi.
This decision aims to address delays in refund processing and improve efficiency in taxpayer services.
The FBR has transferred Imran Ali Sheikh from his previous role as Commissioner, Zone-II, Regional Tax Office (RTO-II), Karachi, to assume his new responsibilities. Additionally, he has been assigned the additional charge of Commissioner-IR, Zone-I, CTO Karachi, as per the department’s regulations.
The appointment of the Refund Commissioner follows persistent requests from the Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA), which had urged the FBR to fill the long-vacant position. In a formal letter to the FBR Chairman, KTBA emphasized the critical need for an appointed Commissioner Inland Revenue at Zone-II, CTO Karachi, to facilitate the timely processing of refunds and ensure smooth tax administration.
KTBA referred to Notification No. 1977-IR-I/2024, dated July 30, 2024, which had temporarily assigned additional responsibilities to a Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (Refunds). However, with the three-month tenure expiring, the position had remained vacant, leading to administrative bottlenecks and an increasing backlog of refund cases.
The absence of a dedicated Refund Commissioner had resulted in substantial delays in taxpayer services, including the issuance of exemption certificates, refund processing, and general compliance-related procedures. These disruptions had created significant challenges for taxpayers and tax professionals alike, impacting the efficiency and transparency of the FBR’s operations.
In addition to this key appointment, the FBR has also announced several other high-level transfers:
• Mrs. Shah Bano G.M Khan (IRS/BS-20) has been transferred to the position of Director General (Special Initiatives), FBR, Islamabad, from her previous role as Member (Admin Pool), FBR Islamabad (Stationed at Karachi).
• Ms. Asma Aftab (IRS/BS-20) has been posted as Commissioner-IR, Zone-II, RTO-II, Karachi, shifting from her previous position as Commissioner, Zone-II, CTO Karachi.
• Rizwan Memon (IRS/BS-20) has been reassigned as Commissioner-IR, Zone-II, CTO Karachi, moving from his previous role as Commissioner (Refunds), CTO Karachi.
• Shiraz Ali (IRS/BS-18) has been appointed as Second Secretary (Management/HR IR), Admin/HR Wing, FBR, transitioning from his previous role as Second Secretary (Admin Pool), FBR Islamabad.
The FBR remains committed to enhancing administrative efficiency by ensuring that key leadership roles, such as the Refund Commissioner, are filled promptly to support taxpayers and uphold transparency in financial operations.