PID asks FBR for 10 confiscated vehicles at throw-away prices

ISLAMABAD: The Press Information Department (PID) has sought the allocation of at least 10 tampered, cut and welded confiscated vehicles from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) at throwaway token prices.

The PID claims that these vehicles are needed for official duties.

Dozens of such tampered vehicles have been provided by the FBR to various public sector departments and certain influential individuals, including former FBR bosses. However, concerns about such allocations have been raised.

According to the official request received by the FBR’s Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Customs Wing from the PID in Islamabad, it was stated that the Press Information Department is the principal projection and publicity organisation of the federal government. It caters to the publicity requirements of various prime ministers, presidents, federal ministers, ministries, divisions, and attached departments and keeps them informed about the public’s reaction as articulated in the press to their policies and programmes.

In the process, PID projects all welfare-oriented measures, relays important policy announcements and acts as a bridge between the general public and the government. The functions assigned to the PID involve media relations, media facilitation and support, protocol of VVIPs, dissemination of government policies and organising press conferences, seminars, symposia, etc.

These functions cannot be managed appropriately without sufficient logistics, communication and technical infrastructure, the request further stated.

As part of its assigned task, the PID arranges press conferences and interviews for the president, prime minister, federal ministers, foreign dignitaries visiting Pakistan and other high-level officials on important national issues. Moreover, it also arranges appropriate publicity for other national events to which electronic and print media personnel are invited.

The PID takes stock of the security situation at home and the challenges faced by the country internationally.

The department provides pick-up and drop-off facilities to senior media personnel for timely coverage of events. This facility not only facilitates media personnel but also ensures the security of the venue, journalists, and the host. Officers of the department frequently visit offices of print and electronic media for timely dissemination of information.

It is pertinent to mention that the Press Information Department urgently needs at least 10 vehicles for official and operational duties. The austerity measures adopted by the federal government prohibit the purchase of new vehicles for this secretariat.

It has been learnt that tampered, cut, and welded confiscated vehicles are available with the Directorate General of I&I-Customs, Islamabad, for disposal under Section 182 of the Customs Act, 1969.

The request is for the Directorate General/FBR to kindly allocate at least 10 vehicles to this department for utilization in the performance of its official duties at a minimum token price, as determined by the Directorate General of I&I-Custom, Islamabad.