FBR certificates: Panel directs FIA to issue notices to 108 firms

According to Business Recorder, a Senate sub-committee has told the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to serve notices on 108 firms that obtained consumption certificates valued at Rs1,120 billion through the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The panel, led by Senator Saifullah Abro as convener, wants each firm to resubmit to the FIA the documents it had already filed with the FBR. The directive follows an earlier meeting that had asked the FIA to probe these certificates and finish the inquiry within two months.

According to the convener, the certificates relate to imported raw materials exempted from tax, which reached the erstwhile FATA and PATA regions during 2018 to 2026. Abro noted that Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) and Philip Morris (PMI) Pakistan rank highest among cigarette input importers, and he said investigations of both should follow if 94 percent of tax was evaded. A member of the FBR told the panel it could not share records on these two companies, as the law does not allow such disclosure.

The committee also ordered a show-cause notice for LTU Karachi, which skipped the meeting, and asked the FBR for production details of all cigarette manufacturers, including brand names. It additionally requested the tax paid by these makers and their advertising in print and electronic media.