The Federal Board of Revenue has ordered a special audit of customs warehouses across the country amid concerns over the handling of seized goods and reports of theft and illegal sales.
According to sources, the first phase of the audit will focus on warehouses operating under Customs Enforcement Quetta. Facilities in Dalbandin, Lak Pass, Mangi Khwah, Rakhni, and the Customs Enforcement Headquarters are set to undergo detailed scrutiny after allegations emerged that confiscated goods worth millions of rupees had been stolen and sold.
Officials have also been directed to identify individuals and groups involved in the alleged theft and unlawful disposal of seized items, including those accused of directly carrying out the activity and those suspected of facilitating it. Authorities are expected to take strict action against anyone found responsible.
The audit is expected to expand to customs warehouses in other cities once the initial phase in Quetta is completed, as authorities seek to determine whether similar irregularities exist elsewhere in the country.
The move follows an earlier controversy involving the alleged replacement of 400 kilograms of silver, a case that led to the suspension of eight Customs Enforcement Quetta officials. That incident has increased pressure on authorities to tighten oversight, restore credibility to the system and prevent further losses to the national exchequer.
