Rs220b embezzlement unearthed in NATO containers transport

Dunya News unearthed countrys biggest custom embezzlement on Monday. According to the documents received by Dunya News, a Rs 220billion irregularities have been unearthed in the transportation of legal and illegal stuff to Afghanistan for ISAF forces. Record said that in the last two and a half years of the containers arrived for NATO forces, 10,000 got vanished in Pakistan well before being transported to Afghanistan. According to FBR, the containers have been imported to supply goods to the ISAF forces in Afghanistan. The goods included arms, alcohol, uniforms and other legal and illegal things. As many as 11,727 containers have been imported but the goods got consumed in Pakistan incurring a loss of Rs 220 billion in revenue. It was learnt during the investigation that the stuff was deported in Karachi; however a fake registration has been made of those containers at Torkham border. FBR filed cases against many Fleet lines services companies. Custom dept could be involved: Moeed PirzadaSenior analyst Moeed Pirzada, while talking to Dunya News, said that being an ally of ISAF, Pakistan would be held accountable for the irregularities. He also expressed fear that the loss could tune more than Rs 220 billion. He said that since alcohol is an illegal good, no duty could be levy on it, but the containers could have carried uniforms and top of all arms. He said media would pressure the government to take action and as a corollary of that the FBR would have to clear its position too. He said that FBR is accountable before finance and interior ministries. He said a big scandal could hit Pakistan, if the revealings are confirmed. He said that the fake registration, violation of the specific route to Afghanistan showed that the Custom department is somehow involved in the scam. Smuggling incurred heavy loss on Pakistan: SethiSenior analyst Najam Sethi, while talking to Dunya News, said that the misplaced containers make only 5 to 6 percent of the containers imported in the country for ISAF forces. He said the whole matter showed the involvement of Custom officials in the scam. NATO tankers used for smuggling: ShamiSenior analyst Mujeebur Rehman Shami, while talking to Dunya News, said that smuggling is being carried out in the pretext of Afghan transit trade. He said the report showed that NATO containers are also being misused, which showed custom officials culpability. He said Pakistan suffered hugely owing to corruption.