Senate panel summons FBR chairman over Rs250 million cigarette theft case

A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior has directed Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial to appear at its next meeting to discuss the reported theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes valued at Rs 250 million from FBR warehouses.

The panel, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, expressed dissatisfaction over the chairman’s absence and instructed him to attend the upcoming session to facilitate timely resolution of the matter. Members also raised concerns over the FBR’s failure to provide required documents to the Federal Investigation Agency.

During the meeting, committee members asked FBR officials present to contact the chairman and request his participation. Officials informed the panel that attempts had been made but his mobile phone was switched off.

The sub-committee has been tasked by the main committee to investigate the disappearance of the cartons from FBR godowns located in Swabi and Mardan.

FBR officials informed the panel that six trucks carrying 1,262 cartons of cigarettes had been seized in Swabi on January 14, 2024, as part of enforcement operations.