Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to conduct a detailed investigation into what it described as an organized scam involving the import and clearance of an iPhone 16 Plus. The order, issued by Federal Tax Ombudsman Zafar Hijazi and released on Tuesday, calls for an inquiry into the alleged involvement of FedEx, Customs officials, and private individuals while also determining whether similar incidents have taken place across Pakistan. According to the Ombudsman, the case suggests a coordinated scheme through which the lawful consignee was deprived of a duty paid mobile phone for more than one and a half years despite fulfilling all applicable tax requirements. The directive expands the scope of the investigation beyond a single complaint to determine whether the alleged method has been used in other courier imports handled through international airports.
The complaint was filed by Muhammad Nausherwan Khan, who stated that his sister in Canada sent him an iPhone 16 Plus through FedEx in December 2024. After the device arrived in Karachi, he paid Pakistan Telecommunication Authority tax amounting to Rs138,526 to complete the required import process. Despite paying the applicable taxes, Khan alleged that the mobile phone was never delivered to him. He later discovered that the handset had allegedly been released to another individual through the use of a forged authority letter. During the proceedings, Customs authorities maintained that the mobile phone had been released only after verifying the original detention receipt, invoice, and other documents presented by a clearing agent. However, the Ombudsman questioned why the complainant, whose name remained listed as the consignee on the official import documents, was not given possession of the device despite personally approaching Customs officials to claim it. The order noted that the circumstances surrounding the release of the shipment required closer examination.
According to the findings, the consignee’s name remained unchanged throughout the tracking records and import documentation, but the address and contact information were allegedly replaced with details belonging to another individual on the airway bill and invoice. Federal Tax Ombudsman observed that this apparent manipulation pointed toward an organized scheme and stated that the suspected method of operation could not be overlooked. Although Muhammad Nausherwan Khan later informed the Ombudsman that his personal grievance had been resolved, the office decided to continue examining the broader matter because of its potential impact on other courier imports. The Ombudsman emphasized that a wider investigation was necessary in the public interest to determine whether similar cases had occurred involving imported mobile devices or other goods processed through courier services and Customs authorities.
As part of its recommendations, Federal Tax Ombudsman directed FBR to instruct the Chief Collector of Customs Airports to initiate a targeted inquiry into FedEx and review courier import records covering the period from January 2025 through June 2026 to identify similar incidents. The Ombudsman also recommended investigating the alleged use of forged authority letters, examining the possible involvement of Customs officials who may have facilitated the release of shipments, and initiating legal as well as disciplinary proceedings wherever evidence supports such action. In addition, the order recommends introducing a uniform standard operating procedure for courier clearances at all international airports to strengthen verification procedures and improve transparency during the import clearance process. The broader investigation is intended to determine whether weaknesses in the existing system have been exploited in multiple cases and to identify measures that can help prevent similar incidents in the future.
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