CJ highlights impact of tax litigation on economy, calls for improved coordination to resolve tax disputes
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi. Photo: Supreme Court of Pakistan/ File
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has called for better coordination between tax authorities and the judiciary and stressed the need to prioritise and fast-track high-value, long-pending tax cases. He also emphasised establishing a permanent institutional framework to resolve such disputes, according to an official Supreme Court statement.
The chief justice made these remarks on Saturday while chairing a high-level meeting focusing on developing a sustained and institutional mechanism to address long-pending and high-value tax disputes.
The meeting was attended by Supreme Court Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the FBR’s legal member and other senior officials. Participants held detailed discussions on developing a sustained institutional mechanism to deal with complex tax litigation, with an emphasis on reducing case backlogs, enhancing legal certainty and safeguarding public revenue.
Read: CJP Afridi calls for institutional harmony, upholding rule of law
“Prolonged tax litigation not only constrains fiscal space but also undermines investor confidence and economic stability,” the statement quoted the CJP as saying. He underscored the judiciary’s commitment to supporting reforms that promote timely justice, efficiency and predictability, particularly in cases with a direct bearing on the national economy.
According to the statement, discussions centred on strategies including the prioritisation and fast-tracking of high-stake tax cases, improved coordination between tax authorities and the justice system, strengthened legal preparedness and case management, and the exploration of procedural and institutional measures to ensure consistency and speed in adjudication.
The meeting was described as part of a broader justice sector reform agenda aimed at improving governance, reducing systemic delays and aligning judicial processes with Pakistan’s economic and development priorities.
