A Senate Standing Committee on Interior meeting on Wednesday saw lawmakers explode over smuggled Iranian oil worth Rs. 222 million entering Pakistan.
The committee was also briefed on irregularities within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and claims involving wealthy tax officials and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Officials told the committee that they had seized Iranian oil worth around Rs. 222 million. They were visibly irked by how smuggled fuel was allowed through certain border districts.
One lawmaker said four districts had reportedly been allowed to deal with petroleum-related activities, but when the Ministry of Interior was contacted to submit an explanation, they denied issuing any such permission.
The committee also discussed cigarette smuggling and tax evasion, with members questioning whether factory owners were directly involved in illegal activities linked to the tobacco sector.
The Committee Chairman asked whether cigarette manufacturers themselves were involved in smuggling operations, while lawmakers criticized weak policy implementation and poor oversight by the FBR.
Senator Saifullah Abro alleged that FBR officials deliberately inflate tax assessments in some cases and claimed that major irregularities existed in warehouses operated by the tax authority across the country.
Senator Talha Mahmood questioned how some officials with comparatively modest salaries had allegedly accumulated assets worth millions of rupees, including luxury vehicles.
He said authorities should investigate officers whose lifestyles and wealth appeared inconsistent with their official income.
The committee also discussed an FIA inquiry involving an FBR official identified as Badshah Khan Wazir.
Senator Saifullah Abro said the committee believed such officials should be suspended immediately if investigations were ongoing.
Senators noted that the official was still serving as Member Legal in the FBR despite the inquiry.
Pakistan has repeatedly launched crackdowns against Iranian diesel and petrol smuggling over the past few years, particularly in Balochistan, where smuggled fuel has historically supplied large portions of the informal market
Lawmakers raised concerns over the growing visibility of alleged smugglers on social media platforms, with Senator Saifullah Abro remarking that many suspected smugglers openly post videos online while presenting themselves as influential figures.