Pakistan Ombudsman grants tax relief to identity‑theft victim

The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) in Pakistan ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to complete lawful tax registration for a woman whose national ID card (CNIC) was fraudulently used to obtain a National Tax Number (NTN) in her name. Ombudsman Zafar Hijazi instructed the FBR to remove procedural and system‑related obstacles that had prevented the woman from filing income‑tax returns, despite the fraudulent NTN having been cancelled. The ruling acknowledges the ongoing maladministration that left the victim unable to secure a valid tax registration and mandates that the correction be completed within 30 days.

The decision is presented as a corrective measure to ensure administrative justice for the affected citizen and to address the broader issue of identity‑theft misuse in the tax system.