BY: ANI Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD — The Senate Sub-Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, convened by Senator Saifullah Abro, held a meeting at Parliament House to review border security, tax evasion and regulatory violations in the tobacco industry.
The Committee expressed displeasure over the absence of concerned officials and raised serious concerns over alleged negligence by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in monitoring tobacco companies’ consumption certificates and tax compliance.
The Committee sought complete documentation of 223 consumption certificates issued by the FBR. According to the Committee, the certificates had a combined valuation of around Rs87 billion, while 20 major certificates alone accounted for nearly Rs64 billion. FBR Inland Revenue officials from RTO Peshawar failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the discrepancies.
The Committee directed authorities to issue legal notices to tax-evading tobacco companies and media outlets publishing unauthorized tobacco advertisements. The FIA was also directed to obtain complete records from media organisations, including Behtreen Pakistan, regarding tobacco advertisements.
All 123 tobacco companies were directed to submit date-wise consumption records along with details of their owners, importers, manufacturers, distributors and dealers.
Senator Hidayatullah Khan, special invitee Senator Dilawar Khan, senior FBR and FIA officials, Chief Collector FATA/PATA, Commissioner LTO Islamabad and other concerned officials attended the meeting.
