Latest news with #IdrisKhattak
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PAC quizzes Excise over missing records
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has expressed strong displeasure over the Excise and Taxation Department's failure to submit details regarding vehicles under its ownership and those seized in legal cases. The committee has ordered a formal inquiry and directed that responsibility be fixed. Additionally, it instructed the recovery of Rs187 million from a contractor under the head of tobacco cess. The PAC meeting, chaired by Idris Khattak, was held Tuesday and attended by committee members and officials from various government departments. During the session, the audit officer reported that in the fiscal year 2017-18, the Excise Department was asked to provide information on the number of vehicles in its possession, how many were auctioned, and how many were allocated to other departments. However, the department failed to submit the required records. Secretary Excise Khalid Ilyas stated that under the law, seized vehicles are considered case property and not public assets. At the time, there was ambiguity regarding the status of these vehicles. He added that records were eventually shared in July 2021, based on advice from the Finance Department. Chairman Idris Khattak questioned the legality of providing the records four years later and only after consulting the Finance Department. The law officer commented that once the audit demanded the records, the department was obligated to comply and should have at least presented the matter before the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC). MPA Mushtaq Ghani suggested that the delay indicated potential issues with the records. In response, the Secretary Excise explained that part of the problem was the lack of clear tracking for seized vehiclessome are reclaimed by courts, while cases for others are closed.
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Mining test samples illegally sent abroad
A mining company granted access to mineral samples in Chitral for testing purposes by the Minerals Development Department has allegedly exported the materials abroad for commercial gain. The matter was brought to light during a recent meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), prompting directives for stricter regulations on sample quantities permitted for testing across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The PAC meeting, chaired by Idris Khattak, was attended by committee members, officials from the Audit Department, Finance Department, and Law Office. Several audit objections related to the Minerals Development Department and the Information Department were presented during the session. A key audit objection raised during the meeting revealed that in 2023, a company named Toni Pak had carried out mining under the pretext of testing in Chitral. However, it was later discovered that the minerals were used for commercial purposes. According to the Director Audit, the company exported 413 tons of material abroad. Questions were raised about the department's inaction in response to the unauthorized activity. Committee member MPA Ikramullah Ghazi noted that the same company had extracted 82,567 tons of minerals over the past two years in Mansehra, of which 7,000 tons were reportedly sold internationally. Secretary Minerals Mutahir Zaib stated that the company had requested 500 tons of base metal for a pilot project. Although the company deposited Rs10 million, further dues remain pending. Chairman Khattak expressed concern over the department's silence despite active mining operations, calling it "deeply troubling." He directed the department to establish clear quantity limits for mineral testing in the future. The audit objection was deferred for the time being. The committee also reviewed an audit objection concerning Rs162.3 million in unpaid taxes by cement factories in Haripur. The Secretary of Mines admitted that it was difficult to determine the exact volume of excavation conducted by the five cement plants in the area, as they do not disclose their extraction data. He added that this issue dates back to 201314 and proposed a negotiated resolution. Chairman Khattak criticized the department for its inaction, stating that directives had been issued three years prior. In response, Secretary Zaib assured the committee that an internal inquiry would be launched to investigate the delay. The Audit Director suggested levying taxes based on the number of cement bags produced rather than by tonnage. The Chairman ordered that notices be issued to the factories and deferred the audit objection. Another audit objection involving over Rs20 million worth of illegally mined minerals in Chitral was also discussed. The Mines Secretary informed the committee that six companies had engaged in unauthorized mining and had been fined Rs20 million. However, most companies have taken the matter to court, and only M/S Sambo Sarco has deposited Rs17.868 million so far.
