ISLAMABAD: The federal government has established a task force to reform the legal divisions of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The purpose of the task force is to reform, revamp, and strengthen the FBR revenue litigation framework at all levels, including initial adjudication by the tax department, Commi­ssioner/Collector appe­als, appellate tribunals, Inland Revenue and Customs, high courts, Supreme Court, and the Federal Constitutional Court.

The high-level task force was constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office and aimed at examining and overhauling FBR’s legal wings.

The task force was set up after the federal government recognised growing concerns over persistent gaps in litigation management that have hindered effective representation and enforcement of tax and customs laws.

Govt aims to strengthen tax dispute framework

The task force will be presided over by Shad Mohammad and includes senior legal and operational officials from Federal Board of Revenue, CEO Pakistan Single Window, technical advisors, a representative of the Attorney General’s Office, and the eminent constitutional and tax lawyer Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, highlighting the seriousness of the government initiative.

The terms of reference give the task force a broad and essential mandate. Members must carry out a thorough assessment of the current legal wings, including workload management, human and logistical resources, and overall operational cap­acity. The review will concentrate on identifying structural weaknesses, procedural bottlenecks, and systemic inefficiencies that contribute to prolonged litigation and delayed resolution of tax and customs disputes.

Additionally, the task force is responsible for proposing a strong framework for the revised legal branches that enhances efficiency, improves inter-departmental coordination, and reduces pendency across all levels of litigation.

A key element of the review will be the Litigation Management System (LMS), which has encountered difficulties in integrating with appellate tribunals and superior courts.

The task force is expected to recommend reforms that ensure a more effective, data-driven, and institutionally coordinated app­roach to litigation. Potential measures incl­ude improved case-tracking systems, strea­mlined communication between legal departments and operational units, and targeted capacity-building for legal staff to bolster FBR’s ability to defend its position in complex tax and customs disputes.

The task force will oversee all stages of litigation, including matters before the Appellate Tribunal and higher courts, with the flexibility to appoint additional members as needed.

The FBR will offer complete secretarial support, and the task force is required to submit its report by April 15.

Legal experts and stakeholders see this initiative as a crucial step in addressing long-standing operational and legal gaps in Federal Board of Revenue litigation, helping Pakistan’s revenue administration better protect public res­ources while upholding transparency, accountability, and legal compliance.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2026