FBR Chairman Says Young Officers Need Over 1,000 Cars Worth Rs. 6 Billion to Work Properly

Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Rashid Langrial on Sunday defended the Revenue Division’s controversial procurement of over 1,000 vehicles worth Rs. 6 billion for young field officers. He told reporters in Islamabad that these cars are essential for their daily operations. Langrial argued that field officers require vehicles to conduct critical tasks like sales tax inspections. He said earlier this week, the regulator had already given a satisfactory explanation for buying these cars to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue. Despite the procurement of 1,010 1300cc vehicles, the chairman was confident that FBR would achieve its tax collection targets. However, Langrial’s statements don’t support the massive vehicle purchase order. During the Senate Finance Committee’s session on Wednesday, the FBR (Chief Admin) representative failed to satisfy the panel on the purchase of these vehicles. Committee chairman Salim Mandivivala argued at the time that FBR should not do this kind of thing and should be transparent while granting contracts. This is very disturbing to hear that FBR has committed such kind of thing, he argued. Senator Faisal Vawda said there was no specific competition while granting contact of vehicles to a specific manufacturer. The FBR is purchasing expensive vehicles without competition. “This is a scam and scandal that needs to be stopped”, he added. According to earlier documents seen by ProPakistani, the purchase will be made in two phases. FBR said it will pay Rs. 3 billion upfront for the purchase (as full payment for 500 units and partial payment of the balance amount for the remaining 510 units) and the balance payment will be made as and when delivery of the first batch is completed i.e. 500 vehicles. FBR will first receive 75 vehicles in the current month, then 200 in February, 225 in March, 250 in April, and finally the remaining 260 vehicles in May 2025.