Tag: FIA

  • Imran vows to go after profiteers as he delivers on promise of probing sugar, wheat crises

    Imran vows to go after profiteers as he delivers on promise of probing sugar, wheat crises

    Fulfilling his promise of ensuring transparency and accountability in governance, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has not only made the inquiry reports into the sugar and wheat shortage public but also ordered the formation of a commission to conduct a forensic audit of the sugar mills, including JDW that is owned by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jahangir Tareen.

    As per the details, a report by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday claimed that top PTI members were among those who gained from the recent sugar crisis in the country. An investigation into the crisis had been ordered by Prime Minister Imran Khan in February.

    Among the people named in the FIA report are Tareen and Makhdum Omer Shehryar, a relative of Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtiar, Geo reported.

    According to the report, sugar price was increased from Rs 55 per kg in December 2018 to Rs 71.44 per kg in June 2019, despite the fact that the General Sales Tax (GST) increase was implemented from July 1, 2019. After the export of sugar in January 2019, its price started increasing immediately in the local market.

    The major beneficiaries of the subsidy offered by the government on export of sugar include RYK Group, owned and controlled by Shehryar, which availed 15.83 per cent of the total export subsidy amounting to Rs3.944 billion. Chaudhry Munir and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) senior leader Moonis Elahi are also partners in this group.

    JDW Group owned and controlled by Tareen availed 12.28 per cent of the total export subsidy amounting to Rs3.058bn, while Hunza Sugar Mills availed 11.56 per cent of the total subsidy amounting to Rs 2.879bn. Hunza Sugar Mills is owned by Muhammad Waheed chaudry, Idrees Chaudhry and Saeed Chaudhry.

    Sugar mills owned by the Sharif family availed 5.91 per cent of the total export subsidy amounting to Rs1.472bn.

    The document does not mention under whose influence the Punjab government issued subsidies to sugar mills or why the Economic Coordination Council (ECC) approved the decision to export sugar.

    Reacting to the report, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said he has faith that whatever the situation, PM Imran “will ensure justice”.

    Tareen, PTI’s former general secretary, said that out of the Rs3 billion subsidy to the sugar mills, Rs2.5 billion were given when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was in power.

    Meanwhile, it has been reported that the commission due to submit its report on April 25 has started working and nine teams are already on the ground for carrying out forensic analysis of 10 sugar mills, including Alliance Sugar mills Ghotki, Al-Arabia Sugar Mills Sargodha, Al-Moiz 1 Sugar Mills DI Khan, Al-Moiz 2 Sugar Mills Mianwali, Hamza Sugar Mills RY Khan, Hunza 1 and Hunza 2 Sugar Mills Faisalabad and Jhang, and JDW 1,2, and 3 Sugar Mills RY Khan and Ghotki.

  • Inflation: PM seeks ISI, other agencies’ help

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has sought the help of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to present monitoring reports regularly, as Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan directs for a large-scale crackdown on smuggling of edibles and other commodities, The News reported.

    According to reports, the premier has asked the Interior Ministry, law enforcement agencies of the federal and provincial governments, and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to collectively take action against the menace of smuggling. He has also directed the Interior Ministry to present a report on related measures and a comprehensive strategy on the matter within 48 hours.

    He emphasised that keeping in view the recommendations of the task force formed to combat smuggling, short-term, medium-term and long-term measures should be initiated.

    The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, presided over by PM Imran and attended by Minister for National Food Security Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Adviser to the PM on Commerce and Trade Abdul Razak Dawood, interior and national food security secretaries, and acting FBR chairman among other senior officials.

    The meeting took stock of the demand and supply of essential commodities and their prices with particular reference to their smuggling. The report on progress so far made on the establishment of markets at the western border was also presented at the meeting. The PM directed accelerating the pace of establishment of markets and observed that because of smuggling of food items, common man was facing difficulties.

    “The menace of smuggling is causing losses worth billions to the national economy. Combating this menace is in national interests,” he contended, adding that prices of food items must be brought down by up to 20 per cent.

    The premier also made it clear that no negligence would be tolerated with regard to smuggling.

  • Here’s what you need to know about wheat smuggling investigation

    According to the report, the committee formed to investigate on exports of wheat and wheat flour during the ban period failed to produce results.

    According to the statistics of Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shows 3,947 and 26,206 metric tonnes (Unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms) were exported between Aug-Oct 31, 2019.

    READ: Pakistan witnesses increase in remittances inflow: Moody’s

    The committee failed to produce the desired results and was also unable to identify the Customs officers involved in the scam. The only action that was taken is transferring of seven Collectorate officers of Peshawar and Quetta.

    When a senior customs officer was asked to comment on the matter, he said “I don’t want any media reporting on the issue as a lot of damage has already been done to the department”,

    READ: Freelancers payment limit raised to Rs. $25,000: State Bank of Pakistan

    Instead of revising the investigation processes or tracing the culprits behind the scam, the issue was turned into integrity matter of the Customs Department.

    Furthermore, according to the Custom Intelligence Department, they have conveyed to the government that 505 containers were cleared at Torkhan Border without the filing of goods declaration and payment of duty and taxes.

    READ: Reporter, who ‘exposed’ Bilawal’s train march, ‘murdered’

    The figures on clearance of containers without duty and taxes were challenged by Chief Collector North Dr Asif Jah. “I am still doing my investigation,” adding that “he has already reconciled 300 containers.”

    To investigate the matter, a number of committees were formed and Prime Minister’s Secretariat is not happy with the outcome of these reports and has now directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct a probe.

    READ: PTI’s new social media laws: Are you in some sort of danger?

    The FIA has already compiled one report but it was returned with further directions to probe the issue thoroughly. “We will take action against the Customs officers if found involved,” the officer said.

  • Blacklisted American woman lies on floor in Islamabad Airport to protest deportation

    An 80-year-old woman, Murray Maude, flew in from Manchester via Pakistan International Airlines to Islamabad on Sunday and was intercepted by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) immigration officers.

    She was told that she was on the blacklist and had to be deported back to the United States. After being told of her deportation she refused to fly back and started screaming. Lying down on the floor of the airport, she insisted that she be allowed to remain in Pakistan.

    Reported by ARY News

    US Embassy officials were called and they tried to convince Murray to go back but she refused to listen.

    ARY News reports that their sources say she she had visited in Pakistan in 2001 on a six month visa but remained in the country after her visa expired. She lived in Pakistan for 12 years, till 2013, after which she was put on the blacklist by the FIA.

    PIA Spokesperson said that Murray will be sent back on Monday. Until then she’s being taken care of by airport officials.