Press Release Title: Senator Saifullah Abro, Convener Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House, Islamabad.

Press Release Date: 6th April, 2026

Senate Sub-Committee Intensifies Probe into Cigarette Theft from FBR Godowns; FIA Directed to Expand Investigation ‎ ‎A meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control was held at Parliament House, Islamabad, under the convenorship of Senator Saifullah Abro to further investigate the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) godowns in Swabi and Mardan and to determine responsibility for the incident. Senator Umer Farooq also attended the meeting. ‎ ‎The Sub-Committee received a detailed briefing from the FIA investigation team regarding the current status of the inquiry. The committee was informed that statements of 20 relevant officers and officials have so far been recorded. It was further apprised that 1,262 cartons out of the total missing stock belong to the Kissan Tobacco brand of Paramount Tobacco Company, while efforts are underway to determine the ownership of the remaining cartons. ‎ ‎Members of the Sub-Committee expressed concern over the seriousness of the FBR in addressing the matter. The convenor directed the FIA investigation team to record statements of the RTO, Chief Commissioner, and Member (Tobacco) who were in office at the time of the incident. ‎ ‎The Sub-Committee also referred to earlier inquiries conducted against the Member (Tobacco) during his posting in Lahore and urged the FIA to include all relevant FBR officers and officials in the investigation. It further recommended scrutiny of the assets of the concerned officers. ‎ ‎During the meeting, a Member of the FBR requested that the investigation should also examine the possibility of involvement of a tobacco cartel or any other nexus, noting that the tobacco company’s factory along with high-value machinery had been attached and the confiscated cartons were evidence in a tax evasion case. The convenor directed the FIA to investigate this aspect as well. ‎ ‎Emphasizing the importance of parliamentary oversight, Senator Saifullah Abro stated that Senate Standing Committees serve as the eyes and ears of Parliament, ensuring thorough scrutiny of matters of national importance. ‎ ‎The Sub-Committee also urged the FIA to examine the recent petroleum price increases to identify potential beneficiaries who may have gained from higher prices on existing stocks. The FIA team was further directed to visit the godowns where the theft occurred. ‎ ‎During the briefing, the FIA also presented the bank transaction history of the alleged tobacco company. Members of the committee questioned how financial transactions were recorded during 2024–25 if the factory had been sealed since 2024. The convenor directed the FIA to re-verify the transaction details. ‎ ‎The Sub-Committee was informed that the FBR has devised and implemented SOPs and protocols to ensure the safety and security of its godowns. However, the convenor directed the FIA to expedite completion of the inquiry into the cigarette theft case. ‎ ‎The meeting also discussed several related issues including the use of non-custom-paid vehicles, import of raw materials into tax-exempt areas of FATA and PATA, and the smuggling of Iranian oil in Balochistan. The Sub-Committee urged the FBR to strengthen monitoring mechanisms in these regions, observing that such areas have increasingly become hubs of smuggling, negatively impacting the national economy. ‎ ‎The Sub-Committee directed the FBR to submit detailed data regarding imports of raw materials into tax-exempt areas, while the FIA was asked to obtain relevant data from the Petroleum Division concerning Iranian oil entering Balochistan.