Written by Hamza Shahnawaz in Taxation Senate Sub-Committee orders complete import, consumption certificate and payment records as it investigates an alleged Rs730.797 billion reconciliation gap and demands recovery of taxes. ISLAMABAD, November 10, 2026: A Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other relevant authorities to accelerate investigations into the alleged misuse of tax exemptions granted to businesses operating in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA). Chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, the committee expressed serious concern over the alleged revenue losses, discrepancies in import records and delays in identifying companies and individuals involved in the suspected misuse of the exemption scheme. The committee directed that its next meeting, scheduled for November 16, 2026, be held in-camera to examine sensitive financial and investigative records. During the meeting at Parliament Lodges in Islamabad, officials from the FBR and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) briefed members on the ongoing investigation. Rs730.797 billion discrepancy identified The committee was informed that imports recorded between 2018 and June 2026 totalled Rs1,120.662 billion, while consumption certificates covered imports worth Rs389.865 billion. This left an apparent unreconciled difference of Rs730.797 billion, requiring detailed transaction-wise verification to establish the actual tax liability and potential revenue losses. Sector-wise discrepancies included: • Steel: Rs148.248 billion • Textile and fabric: Rs146.955 billion • Food: Rs100.884 billion • Ghee and oil: Rs76.487 billion Senator Abro called for a comprehensive reconciliation of import records and consumption certificates, stressing that all legally recoverable taxes must be collected. FIA issues 512 notices to companies The FIA informed the committee that 512 notices had been issued to companies in connection with the investigation. Of these, 19 companies joined the proceedings with partial records, while more than 100 notices were returned or…