FBR stonewalls Senate panel on tobacco tax data; FIA to probe Badshah Wazir case

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) failed to provide the required data to a Senate sub-committee on Monday, prompting the panel to seek a comprehensive 20-year record of tobacco tax collection, factories and pending dues worth billions of rupees. The meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics was held with Senator Saifullah Abro in the chair. Senators Mohammad Talha Mahmood, Dilawar Khan and Hidayat Ullah Khan also attended the meeting. Chief of Sales Tax at the FBR Javed Iqbal Tarar was asked to leave the meeting after he failed to submit data earlier sought by the committee, hampering the proceedings. The panel expressed concern over the lack of information on tax collection from tobacco manufacturers. It noted that while customs had earlier reported tobacco-related taxes of Rs75 billion, subsequent deliberations suggested about Rs40 billion remained outstanding. The committee directed the FBR to submit documentary evidence of pending taxes, a complete list of tobacco companies and their brands, details of imported raw materials, and revenue and tax collection data for the past two decades. It also sought records of all registered tobacco factories over the last 20 years. Officials told the panel that Pakistan Tobacco Company and Philip Morris Pakistan were among the major tax-paying tobacco companies. The committee was further informed that Rangers had been deployed to assist the FBR in curbing tax evasion in the sector. The Press Information Department (PID) also briefed the committee on media awareness campaigns run for various ministries. It said campaigns were aired on 92 television channels, with costs borne by the sponsoring ministry. Campaigns on illegal cigarette sales were carried out on behalf of FBR. The convener directed PID to submit complete details of all media contracts, campaign expenditures and agreements with TV channels. He added that the department continued to operate without a centrali