The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has postponed the acquisition of more than 1,000 new vehicles for its officers, following instructions from the Senate Standing Committee on Finance.
FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial announced that the vehicle purchases are suspended pending further review by the finance committee, which has called on the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to elucidate the procurement regulations involved.
Initially, the FBR planned to buy 1200cc vehicles for its officers on January 13, 2025, despite a notable revenue shortfall. This decision, which would have involved an upfront payment of Rs. 3 billion with the balance paid in instalments, faced substantial criticism. The intended delivery schedule spread from January to May, totalling 1,010 vehicles—75 in January, escalating monthly to 260 by May. However, this procurement has now been indefinitely deferred.
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The purchase came under fire, particularly from Senator Faisal Vawda, who highlighted evidence of officials’ misuse of cars, such as removing official stickers for personal use. Speaking on the Senate floor, Vawda criticized the FBR’s decision to proceed with such a large purchase despite failing to meet a Rs384 billion revenue target, suggesting a misalignment of priorities within the agency.
Despite financial shortcomings, Vawda sarcastically questioned the logic behind rewarding new vehicles and proposed considering more economical 600cc cars instead of the planned 1,300cc models. He also alluded to a controversial case involving the cabinet’s £190 million decision that resulted in imprisonment, hinting at potential similar repercussions from the vehicle purchase scandal.
