19000 Nato containers still unaccounted for: NA body

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ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce on Thursday noted with concern that during entire period of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) 305,000 containers crossed the border out of which 52,000 containers were of US.

The meeting of the Committee was held here today, under the chairmanship of Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA/ Chairman of Standing Committee on Commerce.

The details of 19,000 containers are yet to be ascertained, says a press release issued by the National Assembly Secretariat today.

The Committee discussed the agenda regarding Auditor General ofPakistan's report on Pakistan Re-Insurance Corporation Limited (PRCL), andReport on missing Afghan transit Trade Commercial during Containers andNATO/ISAF Containers form Karachi Port and inland transit.

Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, MNA, Ch. Iftikhar Nazir, MNA, Nauman IslamSheikh, MNA, Mrs. Tahira Aurangzeb, MNA, Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari, MNA,Hamid Yar Hiraj, MNA, Mrs. Kashmala Tariq, MNA, Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan, MNA, Mrs. Jamila Gilani, MNA, Ch. Asghar Ali Jatt, MNA, Ms. Qudsia Arshad, MNA, and Ms. Shahnaz Saleem, MNA attended the meeting.

The Committee expressed displeasure on continuing absence of Minister of Commerce in Meetings of Standing Committee on Commerce.

The Committee noted with concern FBR in their first briefing informed that from January 01, 2007 to October 15, 2010 as many as 7922 containers had never crossed Pak-Afghan border and were instead pilfered/dropped within Pakistan.

Revenue loss on these 7922 containers was estimated at Rs. 19 billion,Based on benchmark of ten (10) days, the number of missing containers wasworked out as 15314 containers and revenue loss was estimated at Rs 37billion.

The Committee further noted that later on the chairman FBR constituted a Probe Committee which has now found that 3,689 containers did not cross over to Afghanistan and were pilfered en-route and consumed inside Pakistan.

Based on various inquiries and confirmations made so far, as may as28900 commercial Afghan transit Trade containers have been identified.

Estimated revenue loss on these containers comes to around Rs. 55billion.

Show Cause Notices to the Importers, Clearing Agents, Border Agents and the National Logistics Cell (NLC) in over 10,000 of these containers have been issued and the remaining are being issued.

An initial list of about 19,000 containers has been complied and sent to border customs Collectorates of Peshawar and Quetta for further verification from the record.

As against 25,309 commercial Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) containers imported during the period 01.02.2010 to 20.06.2010, the quantum of such imports in the corresponding period of this year has fallen to 11,632containers, signifying a massive fall by 54%, the Committee noted with concern, Similarly, non-commercial (ATT) imports have also fallen by 32% from 2365 containers imported during 01-02-2010 to 20.06.2010 to 1604 containers imported in the corresponding period of this year.

The most notable aspect is that it has not yet been ascertained about the goods, items and their price in the containers, the Committee noted.

The Committee also noted with concern that during entire period of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) 30,5000 containers crossed the border out of which 52,000 containers of US crossed the borders.

The details of 19,000 containers is yet to be ascertained.

The Committee apprehended that Americans are involved in missing ofcontainers and smuggling.

The situation will be more worsened after more probe. The whole fraud is in connivance with US.

Due to latest computer technology the exact position can be revealed. The Committee reiterated to find out details regarding transit and missing of US and NATO containers including nature of order etc.

A separate meeting be held on Pakistan Automatic Clearing System (PACS), Semi automated environment system and automated system Chairman FBR, NLC and concerned quarters should send the detailed information to the members of the Committee.

The Committee unanimously decided to call Minister of Commerce in the Meeting.

"The Committee dubbed that quantum of smuggling under umbrella of Government is worst in the entire history of Pakistan", the National Assembly Secretariat press release said.

The Committee noted that charge sheet has been issued to 600 (Bs-16 &below), 60 (BS-17 and above) employees of FBR. Six FIRs have been registered.

Hamid Farooqi, Principal Appraisal remained on duty for the entire period.

The Committee reiterated to give punishment to all persons involved in this scandal. The Chairpersons Pakistan Insurance Corporation briefed about different audit paras and outstanding amount of the corporation.

The Committee advised to make all receivables and payable transparent.