SATURDAY JULY 23: 'Figure fudging' allegations: National Assembly speaker urged to form probe body

ISLAMABAD: Former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday requested the Speaker of the National Assembly to constitute All Parties Parliamentary Committee (APPC) to investigate what he said annual revenue target figures fudging by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
"The committee should invite former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Shahid Kardar, former Auditor General Syed Tanvir Ali Agha and former Chief Economist Dr Jaffer Qamar to find the reasons and truth behind annual revenue target figures fudging. The resignation of the State Bank Governor is creating doubts. Perhaps, the governor did not agree with the revised figures," Qureshi said on the floor of the House. He said the figures of Rs 1.952 trillion revenue collection target were exaggerated. He said the FBR had managed to secure collection of about Rs 43 billion from major banks and oil companies to show that the target of 2010-11 was met. He said the amount was collected just before the presentation of Budget 2011-12 and afterwards disbursed in the first week of July.
"It is a cruel joke with the nation and the House. It has tarnished the image of Pakistan at international level. International economic institutions are raising questions over these figures. It is very serious issue and the government and opposition should take up this matter seriously," he said.
Qureshi claimed that the volume of the PSDP has been increased. It is not true as it is also fudging of figures, he added. "This is the issue of national importance and I request you... Mr Speaker as well as the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, all parties and their leaders to perform their collective responsibility and constitute All Parties Parliamentary Committee to probe the matter," he said.