Islamabad (Commerce Desk): An alleged large-scale tax evasion by oil marketing companies during the Iran-US tensions has been revealed in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat.
During the meeting, customs officials briefed that an investigation and audit into the matter have been ordered, while the Federal Board of Revenue has decided to investigate the sale of petroleum products by two oil marketing companies without payment of duties.
The Senate Standing Committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan at the Establishment Division’s committee room. The committee also approved the Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2026, while a proposal was presented to send the matter related to officers appointed on deputation to the federal cabinet.
Regarding the issue of tax and duty payments by oil companies, customs officials stated that during the war situation, there were significant changes in the levy rates imposed on petroleum products, while reports of delayed payments by some companies also emerged.
According to officials, most oil companies sell their products through dealers and have been paying duties later, due to which the amount received by the government was deposited into the national treasury with delays.
Customs officials said that transferring goods without paying duties is a violation of the law. Some companies first obtained petroleum products and made payments later when the levy rates were reduced.
According to officials, the matter came to light when subsidy claims were submitted to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), following which the relevant oil companies were investigated.