Islamabad: The Senate Sub-Committee, led by Senator Saifullah Abro, convened at the Parliament House to address concerns over press freedom, examine smuggling networks, and assess substantial tax evasion and duty exemption irregularities within the tobacco sector. The meeting focused on illegal activities and regulatory lapses affecting the national economy.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the session began with Afzal Butt, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), expressing concerns about remarks made regarding a private channel reporter in a previous meeting. Senator Abro emphasized the committee’s commitment to treating all citizens with respect and acknowledged the media as a crucial partner in governance. The committee reiterated its resolve to combat illegal tobacco smuggling and related economic issues.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) briefed the committee on cigarette theft cases in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and ongoing investigations involving senior officers. A tax charge-sheet against Deputy Commissioner Inland Revenue Fahim Rashid, linked to Paramount Tobacco Company, was also discussed. The committee examined a case involving the theft of 2,828 cigarette cartons valued at 25 crore rupees from a Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) warehouse and instructed the FBR to develop clear procedures for managing seized goods.
The committee scrutinized tax exemption mechanisms in the former FATA and PATA regions, focusing on the issuance of consumption certificates for tax-exempt imported raw materials. Concerns were raised about manual tracking systems and the absence of automated verification, increasing the risk of illegal diversion into taxable markets. The committee directed the FBR to provide data on consumption certificates and tax data of major companies in the tobacco sector.
Additionally, the committee reviewed advertising and media expenditure data from the Press Information Department (PID) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), urging transparency in government advertisement disbursements and tobacco industry media campaigns. The committee reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with key agencies to enhance accountability and streamline regulatory frameworks.
The meeting was attended by Senators Umer Farooq, Muhammad Talha Mehmood, and Dilawar Khan, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, PID, FBR Inland Revenue, Customs, FIA, and NCCIA.