Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan informed the House on behalf of the Finance Minister that there are 55 companies engaged in production of milk products which are registered with FBR.

He said these companies have deposited in terms of income tax and sales tax to the national kitty during last five years Rs17.3 billion and 8.4 billion respectively.

Similarly total customs duty and regulatory duty, paid by the members of Dairy Associations for the last 5 years is respectively Rs27.43 billion and 2.7 billion, the minister said.

However, he said, it is submitted that as regards names of the owners and amount of tax paid, all particulars contained in any return, account or documents or any record of any assessment proceedings, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is not authorized to disclose it to any authority under section 216 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

This Ordinance, he said, provides that such information shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed. Moreover as per Rule 50 (xvii) (d) of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Senate 2012, in order that a question may be admissible, it shall not seek information about matters which are in their nature secret.

Since, the information requisitioned is confidential under section 216 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, therefore, FBR is not authorized to disclose such information, the minister added.

On this situation, Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani stated that he will have to look into the law that bars the Senate from having this information.