The Federal Board of Revenue has launched an investigation into two oil marketing companies and ordered an audit after customs officials told a Senate committee that several firms may have evaded taxes during the Iran-United States conflict by delaying duty payments on petroleum products.

The matter came up during a meeting of the Senate committee chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, where officials said sharp fluctuations in the petroleum levy during the conflict created an opportunity for some companies to postpone tax payments.

Customs officials told lawmakers that several oil companies allegedly lifted petroleum products and sold them through dealers before paying the required duties. According to the officials, the taxes that should have been deposited at the time the products were lifted were instead paid later, after the petroleum levy had declined.

They said transporting and selling petroleum products without first paying the applicable duties is a violation of the law. Officials alleged that some companies took advantage of falling levy rates by delaying payments, thereby reducing the amount eventually paid into the national exchequer.

According to customs authorities, the suspected irregularities surfaced after the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority received subsidy claims from oil companies, prompting a closer review of their payment records.

The committee was informed that the FBR has now initiated an investigation into two oil marketing companies, while an audit has also been ordered to assess the scale of the alleged tax evasion and determine whether additional companies were involved.

During the same meeting, the Senate committee approved the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2026. A separate proposal concerning officers serving on deputation was referred to the federal cabinet for further consideration.