FBR stonewalls Senate panel on tobacco tax data; FIA to probe Badshah Wazir case
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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 centralised system.
The committee further directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the corruption case involving Badshah Wazir, particularly regarding raw materials allegedly imported for tax-exempt areas that never reached their destinations.
In April 2026, Badshah Wazir was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempting to smuggle 360 kilogrammes of heroin concealed in sanitation pipes in a container destined for export to the United Kingdom.
On narcotics control, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) accounted for about 49 per cent of the country’s total seizures last year, the committee was told.
Officials said drug abuse patterns were shifting from plant-based substances to synthetic and chemical drugs.
The panel discussed the possibility of using confiscated narcotics for pharmaceutical or research purposes, within the legal framework, to generate revenue instead of destroying them.
Karachi Police’s South DIG said over 105,000 narcotics cases were registered and about 127,000 suspects arrested between 2013 and 2026.
The committee also reviewed the high-profile Anmol alias “Pinky” drug trafficking case.
Expressing concern over conflicting accounts of her arrest, the convener questioned her extensive police escort during court appearances and directed agencies to probe alleged links with influential individuals.
Officials said 28 cases were registered against her, 35 delivery riders linked to her network were arrested and certain Nigerian nationals in Lahore’s Nishtar Colony were allegedly part of it.
The convener summoned the Inspectors General of Police of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan for the next meeting and directed all departments to submit the required information beforehand. ...