Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revealed a staggering Rs 213 crore loss due to a flaw in their computer system. The Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) sub-committee met in Islamabad, where audit officials revealed that incorrect customs duty rates and unauthorized PC-T1 headings were included, resulting in a loss to the exchequer. The FBR officials stated that an incorrect application of reduced duty on imported goods from China caused the loss.
During the meeting, it was also revealed that the Islamabad Customs Collectorate had incorrectly categorized imported goods. The audit officials attributed the mistake to a joint effort by customs and PRA staff, who fed incorrect data into the system.
The FBR officials revealed that Pakistan and China trade over 5,000 items, with a total trade value of $17-18 billion. The officials acknowledged that a small error in the magnitude of the trade volume led to the significant loss.
PAC member Balal Khan Mandokhail questioned the extent of the mistake, to which FBR Chairman Shahid Asad replied that this was the first time a customs officer had been arrested directly.
Mandokhail criticized the system, saying that inquiries rarely yield results, and that officials often resort to saying that the person who committed the mistake has either retired or died. The FBR officials stated that a total of 12.58 million records and 8.77 million outstanding amounts remain to be recovered.
The PAC directed the FBR to verify the recovered amount and recover the outstanding amount. In other news, a group of unidentified individuals tied up a pump station staff with ropes before setting the facility ablaze, leaving eight injured. Rescue officials stated that 48 bodies have been identified, 86 are still missing, and a rescue operation is underway to recover possible bodies from the rubble.
Raja Nadeem Baig has been elected as a member of the National Assembly four times from Faisalabad and once from Rawalpindi. The son of Dr. Imran Farooq, Alishan, stated that his mother was battling cancer and other diseases, and that no MQM leader came forward to help except Kamran Tessori.
The Meteorological Department has forecasted rain in Karachi from 2 pm to 5 pm, while various regions in Balochistan are experiencing rain and snowfall. The Punjab Safe Cities Authority stated that fake websites were using the E-Challan system to collect money from citizens without authorization. The police said that an eight-year-old girl was injured in a stray dog attack in Bhikewal village while searching for her mother.
A statement mentioned that the meeting was attended by the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Secretary, and other relevant officials. PTI member Muhammad Aslam Ghaman introduced a bill to amend Articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution in the National Assembly. The National Assembly proposed a 10-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 million for driving under the influence of intoxicating substances.
A police shootout in a market in Pakistan Colony resulted in the death of a suspect, who was in possession of a pistol and a motorcycle. In a video, a woman can be seen searching for directions in a plaza, asking vendors about the stairs. In a Geo News program, Capital Talk, Javed Hashmi asked where the authority had been transferred to lower levels.
Dr. Imran Farooq’s son, Alishan, stated that his mother was battling cancer and other diseases, and that no MQM leader came forward to help except Kamran Tessori. The Meteorological Department has forecasted rain in Karachi from 2 pm to 5 pm, while various regions in Balochistan are experiencing rain and snowfall.
Iran is on high alert for a possible US attack, prompting Israel to raise its defense alert level.
