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ISLAMABAD: Customs officials on Monday briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on security challenges affecting LPG transportation along the Balochistan border, particularly attacks on tankers on the Taftan-Quetta route.
The committee, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, held a detailed meeting to review issues relating to LPG supplies and security, customs warehouses and rewards, petroleum products, electricity transmission and tariffs, the longstanding Fesco-related case involving industrialists and senior officers, and the performance of distribution companies (Discos). The customs officials informed the committee that trade was now also being conducted through Gabd and that LPG tankers were being provided with security escorts. According to the officials, around 40 tankers had been set on fire near Nushki. Tankers were now being moved from Taftan to Nokundi and onward to Nushki in convoys. The convoy system had been operational for the past month, although some attacks on convoys had also occurred. The officials said the security situation was now improving.
The committee inquired whether LPG transported through these routes was entering the country through legal channels. The customs officials maintained that the LPG was arriving through legal procedures and that no smuggling was taking place. They informed the committee that the value of a single LPG tanker was approximately Rs50 million. Based on the number of tankers affected, the losses had reached approximately Rs2 billion.
The additional inspector general informed the committee that the security situation in the province would remain highly sensitive during August and that only one convoy would be able to operate during this period. He added that the overall security situation was expected to improve over the next five to six months.
Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman observed that unrest, previously concentrated in Baloch areas, had now spread to Pashtun areas as well. The committee was informed that audits of customs warehouses were currently underway. The officials said there were allegations of theft from warehouses, but no concrete evidence had so far emerged.
The chairman questioned reports that customs collectors were being given rewards of Rs100 million. Senator Abdul Qadir observed that such a large amount appeared difficult to believe. The customs officials confirmed that officers did receive rewards but said the amounts were not as high as Rs100 million. They informed the committee that officers could receive a share of up to 40 per cent from the auction of confiscated smuggled goods. The chairman directed customs authorities to submit complete details of all rewards paid during the last three years, including the top 10 officers rewarded in each year, at the next meeting.
Expressing concern over reports regarding customs warehouses, the chairman observed that there were complaints that goods worth billions of rupees had gone missing. The additional inspector general informed the committee that police were investigating the matter. The chairman directed that the investigation report be shared with the committee immediately upon completion.
Senator Abdul Qadir informed the committee that two customs inspectors posted in Gadani had reportedly not been removed despite efforts by the FBR chairman. The chairman directed the relevant authorities to provide complete details on the matter at the next meeting.
The committee was also briefed on cases involving Go Company in Multan. The customs officials stated that two cases were pending, one of which had been registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
