The Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, has instructed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to suspend its controversial procurement of 1,010 vehicles, a project valued at over Rs6 billion. Committee members criticized the plan as excessive and potentially corrupt.
During the committee meeting, the rationale for acquiring such a large number of vehicles for FBR field officers was questioned. “Why does the FBR need over a thousand vehicles? Were taxes previously collected on bicycles?” Mandviwalla remarked.
Senator Faisal Vawda called the purchase a “shady contract,” accusing the FBR of favoring specific companies. He warned that the procurement could turn into a significant corruption scandal if not stopped immediately. Vawda emphasized the need for transparency through competitive procurement processes and urged the FBR to address its revenue shortfalls before committing to such expenditures.
In response, FBR officials defended the acquisition, claiming that the vehicles would improve field officers’ operational efficiency. They disclosed that the purchase order had already been placed, with delivery planned in two phases between January and May 2025. An advance payment of Rs3 billion has been made for the first batch of 500 vehicles.
According to documents, the delivery schedule includes 75 vehicles in January, 200 in February, and 225 in March. The second phase will supply 250 vehicles in April and 260 in May. Each vehicle will feature an FBR logo and a tracking system with the first year’s service charges included.
Senator Mandviwalla and other committee members expressed frustration over the rushed nature of the procurement process. Vawda criticized the haste, calling it “insolent.”
The committee reiterated its demand to halt the procurement and urged the FBR to prioritize transparency and fiscal responsibility in future acquisitions.
