FBR explains Rs3b purchase of 1,010 Honda City cars to parliamentary panel

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has written an explanatory letter to the parliamentary committee regarding the purchase of 1,010 Honda City cars worth Rs 3 billion for the field officers, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel on Monday.

According to the report, in the letter, the FBR clarified that the vehicles will be allocated only to grade 17 and 18 officers stationed at field offices, while officers of grade 19 and above will not receive these cars. To prevent misuse, all vehicles will carry FBR stickers.

The letter also assured that the cars are not being provided to individual officers but will be officially assigned to their respective offices. Additionally, the FBR highlighted a legal provision allowing the purchase of vehicles from local manufacturers or their agents.

FBR Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial, while addressing media personnel yesterday, defended the vehicle purchase, emphasising its necessity to improve the performance of officials.

He stated that field visits are crucial for sales tax collection and assured that the concerns raised by the parliamentary committee had been addressed.

Langrial further announced that all vehicles would be equipped with trackers within two to three months, ensuring transparency and accountability.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the new Honda City cars will be used by Inland Revenue (IR) and Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) officers for operations against tax evaders. The distribution process is expected to be completed by May 2025.

These state-of-the-art vehicles will feature advanced navigation and tracking systems to support efficient tax enforcement efforts.

Reporter: Waqas Azeem