CJ highlights the impact of tax cases on the 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 the tax authorities and the judiciary, stressing the need to prioritize and expedite high-value, long-pending tax cases. He also laid emphasis on establishing a permanent institutional framework to resolve such disputes, according to an official statement from the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court made these remarks on Saturday while chairing a high-level meeting focused on developing a sustainable and institutional mechanism to resolve long-standing high-value tax disputes.
The meeting was attended by Supreme Court Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Legal Member of FBR and other senior officials. Participants held detailed discussions on developing a sustainable institutional mechanism to handle complex tax cases with an emphasis on reducing case backlogs, increasing legal certainty and securing public revenues.
Read: CJP Afridi calls for institutional harmony, maintenance of rule of law
“Protracted tax cases not only limit fiscal discretion but also undermine investor confidence and economic stability,” the CJP was quoted as saying. He emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to support reforms that promote fairness, efficiency and timely predictability, especially in cases of direct impact on the national economy.
According to the statement, discussions centered on strategies including prioritization and fast-tracking of high-stakes tax cases, improved coordination between tax authorities and the judicial system, strengthened legal preparedness and case management, and exploration of procedural and institutional measures to ensure consistency and speed in adjudication.
The meeting was described as part of a broader judicial sector reform agenda aimed at improving governance, reducing systemic delays and aligning judicial processes with Pakistan’s economic and development priorities.
