PTBP Web Desk

Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Finance has strongly criticized officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over the controversial auction of seized dry milk allegedly valued at Rs. 54.4 million but sold for only Rs. 20 million.

During a recent committee meeting, lawmakers raised serious concerns regarding transparency, valuation procedures, and possible irregularities in the auction process conducted by Customs Enforcement authorities.

Senator Jan Muhammad questioned how the seized dry milk consignment, officially valued by Customs Enforcement at Rs. 54.4 million, was auctioned at a significantly lower price. He said supporting documents regarding the seized goods were already available, making the low auction value even more suspicious.

The Senate panel also discussed discrepancies linked to the storage and handling of the seized consignment. Senator Talha Mahmood asked whether some of the reported 2,000 dry milk bags had disappeared from FBR warehouses before the auction took place.

He further questioned the number of fire incidents reported at FBR warehouses over the years. According to the senator, such incidents often raise concerns about attempts to hide evidence or administrative irregularities.

Committee members stressed the need for stronger accountability in the management of confiscated goods and government auction procedures. Lawmakers directed FBR officials to submit a complete report within one week explaining the valuation method, warehouse records, auction process, and any inconsistencies related to the seized dry milk stock.

The controversy has once again highlighted concerns over governance, transparency, and revenue management within Pakistan’s tax administration system.