Islamabad, April 6, 2026: A Senate sub-committee on Interior and Narcotics Control has intensified its probe into the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from godowns of the Federal Board of Revenue in Swabi and Mardan, directing the Federal Investigation Agency to broaden the scope of its investigation.
The meeting, held at Parliament House under the convenorship of Senator Saifullah Abro, was also attended by Senator Umer Farooq.
The sub-committee received a detailed briefing from the FIA investigation team, which informed members that statements of 20 officials have been recorded so far. Of the missing stock, 1,262 cartons were identified as belonging to the Kissan Tobacco brand of Paramount Tobacco Company, while efforts are ongoing to determine the ownership of the remaining cartons.
Expressing concern over the handling of the case, the committee directed the FIA to record statements of key officials, including the RTO, Chief Commissioner, and Member (Tobacco) who were in office at the time of the incident. It also called for the inclusion of all relevant FBR officials in the investigation and recommended scrutiny of their assets.
During the meeting, an FBR representative suggested probing the possible involvement of a tobacco cartel or nexus, noting that the seized cartons were linked to a tax evasion case and that the company’s factory, along with high-value machinery, had been sealed. The convenor instructed the FIA to examine this angle as well.
Highlighting the role of parliamentary oversight, Senator Saifullah Abro stated that Senate committees act as the “eyes and ears” of Parliament, ensuring accountability in matters of national importance.
The sub-committee further directed the FIA to inspect the godowns where the theft occurred and to re-verify bank transaction records presented during the briefing. Members questioned how financial transactions were recorded during 2024–25 if the factory had been sealed since 2024.
In addition to the theft case, the meeting also discussed broader issues including the use of non-custom-paid vehicles, imports into tax-exempt areas of FATA and PATA, and the smuggling of Iranian oil in Balochistan. The committee urged the FBR to strengthen monitoring mechanisms in these regions, warning that such practices are adversely affecting the national economy.
The FIA was also tasked with obtaining data from the Petroleum Division regarding the inflow of Iranian oil into Balochistan, while the FBR was directed to submit detailed data on raw material imports into tax-exempt areas.
The convenor emphasized the need to expedite the inquiry into the cigarette theft case, ensuring accountability and preventing similar incidents in the future.
