Islamabad, January 24, 2025 – Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday reaffirmed the transparency and integrity of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) procurement of 1,010 vehicles.
Addressing concerns raised by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Aurangzeb emphasized the necessity of the purchase to enhance the operational efficiency of FBR officials.
Aurangzeb was responding to a letter from Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee, who had expressed apprehensions regarding the procurement process. “Procuring vehicles for the FBR officials is an important requirement. They cannot just sit in offices and continue their work,” Aurangzeb asserted, justifying the acquisition in light of the FBR’s field responsibilities.
The letter, dated January 22, highlighted concerns about the timing and scale of the Rs6 billion procurement, questioning whether the process upheld the principles of transparency and fairness. The tax authority had issued a letter of intent on January 13, and the first phase of the procurement involves the delivery of 500 vehicles, with an advance payment of Rs3 billion already disbursed. Delivery is scheduled in phases, starting with 75 vehicles in January, followed by 200 in February and 225 in March. The second phase will see 250 vehicles delivered in April and the remaining 260 in May.
Mandviwalla’s letter further alleged that competitors had been deliberately excluded from the bidding process, raising suspicions of mismanagement and potential malpractice. It requested the cancellation of the purchase order issued to the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) and a halt to payments until a thorough review of the process was conducted.
In his response, Aurangzeb reiterated the importance of equipping FBR officials with the necessary resources to improve tax collection. He assured that all companies supplying vehicles were based in Pakistan and guaranteed that no supplier would face discrimination in the procurement process. “This procurement is essential to enable the FBR to perform its duties effectively, and we are committed to ensuring absolute transparency,” Aurangzeb stated.
Aurangzeb’s intervention reflects the government’s focus on balancing operational needs with adherence to procurement policies. He emphasized that the acquisition aligns with the principles of transparency and accountability, addressing the reservations raised by the Senate Standing Committee.
With Aurangzeb’s assurances, the government aims to dispel concerns and proceed with the phased delivery of vehicles, ensuring FBR’s capacity to meet its objectives while maintaining public trust.