Massive Corruption Scandal Uncovered at Customs State Warehous
By: IMRAN KHAN
Islamabad:A major corruption and nepotism scandal has surfaced within Pakistan Customs, uncovering serious irregularities at the State Warehouse situated on Canal Bank Road, Lahore. Official documents obtained by Ummat indicate that a significant quantity of confiscated Iranian powdered milk, held in government custody, was fraudulently misappropriated with the collusion of customs officers and warehouse personnel.
The scandal broke when, on the night between March 28 and 29, 2025, the Customs Anti-Smuggling Enforcement team, acting on directives from the Collector Customs Enforcement Lahore, conducted surprise raids on two warehouses in Sheikhupura. Large quantities of smuggled Iranian powdered milk were seized and transferred to the State Warehouse in Lahore for safekeeping.
Initially, Customs Inspector Faisal Liaqat, along with Superintendent Asghar Puriwal and Deputy Custodian Lady Inspector Rida Hasan, conducted an inspection and reported a total of 6,917 bags. However, a subsequent inspection carried out by a special board comprising Superintendent Fazal Abbas, Inspector Kamran, and Appraising Officer Ali Junaid revealed a discrepancy, counting a total of 7,294 bags.
The audit further uncovered that 1,632 of these bags, instead of containing genuine powdered milk, had been filled with substandard materials such as flour, sawdust, and chalk powder. Investigators believe that this deliberate substitution was part of a planned operation to replace high-value goods with worthless content and embezzle the original items.
To make matters worse, 377 additional bags were discovered during the inspection that had not been accounted for in the original report. This deliberate omission strongly suggested an attempt to hide inventory and manipulate records. Sources revealed that in order to destroy potential evidence, CCTV cameras installed inside the warehouse had been intentionally switched off during the period of tampering.
The financial impact of the scandal is substantial. The market value of the 1,632 counterfeit bags was estimated at Rs. 46.47 million, while the customs duties and taxes payable on them were approximately Rs. 23.86 million. The concealed 377 bags had a value of Rs. 10.73 million, with an estimated duty of Rs. 5.51 million. In total, the loss to the national exchequer is estimated to be around Rs. 57.2 million.
Those implicated in the case include Customs Inspector Faisal Liaqat, Superintendent Asghar Puriwal, Deputy Custodian Rida Hasan, Constable Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Shoaib, Waqas Ahmad, and several private warehouse owners from Sheikhupura, including Sajid Manzoor. The investigation has recommended that charges be filed under multiple sections of the Customs Act, 1969, including fraud, forgery, misappropriation of government property, and criminal conspiracy.
Adding further gravity to the situation are allegations of widespread nepotism and irregularities in the recent customs promotion process. On March 4, 2024, promotions were granted to several underqualified individuals, including clerks and stenographers, who were elevated to the posts of inspectors and superintendents. Meanwhile, experienced and deserving customs inspectors were deliberately sidelined. This move has sparked outrage and frustration among customs personnel across the country.
Currently, more than 70 superintendent-level positions remain vacant nationwide, significantly affecting the operational efficiency of the department. Senior officers warn that unless swift disciplinary actions are taken against those involved and the promotion process is reviewed with transparency, morale within the organization will continue to deteriorate, further emboldening corrupt practices.
As public scrutiny intensifies, attention now turns to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and senior Customs leadership, who must decide whether to deliver meaningful accountability or allow the erosion of institutional integrity to continue unchecked.
