News
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Afghan trade goods pilferage caused Rs 37bn loss to national kitty, SC told
* FTO’s report recommends action against officials of Customs Department
* Court directs FBR chairman to provide list of officials involved in corruption
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday that a large number of containers containing Afghan trade goods have been pilfered inside the country without crossing the border, causing a loss to the national exchequer of approximately Rs 19 billions to Rs 37 billion during the last four years.
A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday heard the suo moto case taken on a report by a private TV channel about smuggling of liquor in containers meant for carrying ammunition, food and other necessities for NATO forces in Afghanistan.
On September 30, 2010, the court had directed the federal tax ombudsman to file a comprehensive report over the permission of contraband items under the garb of food supplies to the ISAF in Afghanistan under the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA).
The FTO has submitted a comprehensive report in the apex court testifying that a huge number of containers containing Afghan trade goods had been pilfered inside the country without crossing the border, causing enormous a loss to the exchequer of approximately Rs 19 billion to Rs 37 billion.
The FTO, in his report, pointed out that the loss caused at the hands of the Customs Department during the last four years was the “tip of the iceberg” and if a detailed inquiry was conducted, the volume of the loss could be much more.
The report recommended to the apex court that action was required against all the officials concerned of the Customs Department.
The court observed in its order, “We have gone through the report, which is comprehensive to the point with the reference mentioned in the complaint of smuggling of foreign goods in the name of the ATTA.”
The court said that for the sake of justice, it would be appropriate to provide the Customs Department an opportunity to be heard so they may also forward their comments in view of the report prepared by the federal tax ombudsman.
The court directed Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Salman Siddique to assist the court and provide a list of all officials concerned with the crime to the court by January 20 so that notices could be issued to them for their parawise comments.
The court also asked the FBR chairman to identify any other officer, prima facie involved in the alleged corruption.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk