Islamabad, August 1, 2025 — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has constituted two high-level committees to ensure accountability, fairness, and transparency in actions taken by tax officials under Section 37A and Section 40B of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
These committees have been formed specifically for the redressal of grievances and to regularly review the conduct of field formations involved in enforcement actions.
In its first notification, the FBR announced the formation of a committee for the redressal of grievance concerning arrests made under sub-sections (8) and (9) of Section 37A. The committee will consist of:
• Member Inland Revenue (IR) Operations, FBR
• Member Legal IR, FBR
• President or nominee from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)
• President or nominee from the relevant local chamber of commerce where the arrested individuals belong
The Secretary (Sales Tax – Operations) IR will serve as the committee secretary without voting rights. The committee is empowered to co-opt other business community representatives as needed. It will meet bi-weekly to examine complaints and grievances submitted by registered taxpayers. If any case of maladministration is identified, the committee will report its findings to the FBR chairman, who may initiate action against the involved officials.
In a separate notification, the FBR also formed another committee for the redressal of grievance and periodic evaluation of field operations under Section 40B of the Sales Tax Act. This second committee includes:
• Member IR Operations, FBR
• Member Legal IR, FBR
• Nominees from FPCCI, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Chief (ST-Operations) IR will act as the secretary of this committee. Like the first, it can also include sectoral representatives and will meet fortnightly. The committee’s focus is to ensure fair application of the law in monitoring and enforcement activities. Stakeholder input will be solicited during meetings, particularly from the relevant sector associations.
These initiatives by the FBR reflect a commitment to taxpayer facilitation and institutional accountability. Through structured redressal mechanisms, the FBR aims to build confidence among businesses while improving oversight of tax enforcement.