Executive Summary
Pakistan’s FBR mandated weekly open-door meetings at all field offices to institutionalize taxpayer grievance redressal, while clarifying that Faceless Customs Assessment operates as a fully digital, port-agnostic system via the Pakistan Single Window to eliminate discretionary port-level interference.
Secondary Regulatory & Regional Updates
- FBR Mandates Weekly Open-Door Grievance Meetings at Field Offices: Effective immediately, all RTOs, CTOs, and LTOs must hold weekly open-door meetings, publish schedules by October 21, 2026, designate focal persons for complaints categorized by theme (refunds, assessments, audits, procedural delays), escalate unresolved issues to headquarters within 15 working days, and submit monthly consolidated reports by the 5th of the following month. Ad-hoc summoning of taxpayers is prohibited without a written risk-based audit plan approved by the Commissioner. Taxpayers may escalate unresolved matters to the reactivated FBR Grievance Redressal Cell for adjudication within 30 days. FBR Press Release 174697
- FBR Confirms Faceless Customs Assessment as Fully Digital, Port-Agnostic Function: The FBR clarified that Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) is a centralized digital function where assessment officers are assigned cases electronically via an automated allocation algorithm on the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and Customs Automation System (CAS), irrespective of the port of filing. All communications, queries, and orders are routed through the PSW/CAS platform with no requirement for physical presence at the port. This reinforces Section 79 of the Customs Act, 1969, and the Finance Act, 2024 amendments. Stakeholders must ensure complete and accurate electronic submission of goods declarations via PSW; attempts to influence assessment through physical visits to port offices will be treated as Code of Conduct violations attracting penalties under Section 156 of the Customs Act. Trade associations are advised to update SOPs to align with the port-agnostic model. FBR Press Release 174702
Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.