Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain Thursday revealed that complaints have been received that Former chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi allegedly gave illegal refunds to the tune of Rs. 16 billion to a fertiliser company.

During a PAC meeting on Thursday, the chairman said that Zaidi allegedly gave illegal refunds of Rs. 16 billion to reward his friend of a fertiliser company. He said this is an important matter and lamented the absence of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Ashfaq Ahmed from the meeting.

Tanveer expressed annoyance that the FBR Chairman, instead of attending the PAC meeting, preferred to attend a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office. The absence of the FBR Chairman also incensed Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Syed Naveed Qamar who walked out from the meeting in protest.

PAC chairman said that he has written a letter to the prime minister pointing out that meetings of the departmental accounts committees (DACs) are not being conducted. He said that he has requested the prime minister to intervene and ensure that the meetings are conducted at least once a month.

Tanveer also convened a meeting of the conveners of PAC’s sub-committees. He said that three sub-committees chaired by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Riaz Fatiana and Munaza Hassan have performed well. He informed that the PAC has cleared 5000 audit objections out of 38000.

Update:

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has categorically declared that the former FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi has not committed any violation of rules and procedures in issuance of refunds of Rs. 12 billion.

A special report submitted to the Public Accounts Committee Secretariat on Thursday in this regard revealed that the refunds were issued to the Engro Corporation, DG Khan Cement Factory Ltd, Maple Leaf Cement Factory, Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd, Habib Bank Ltd, Standard Chartered Bank under the normal process by the field formations and not by Shabbar Zaidi. The amount issued was Rs 12 billion and not Rs. 16 billion as specified in the complaint submitted to the PAC, the FBR report added.

Source: Pro Pakistani