Senate Committee Discusses Gul Plaza Fire, Data Leaks, FBR Corruption
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior convened a detailed session to discuss several pressing national issues, including the Gul Plaza fire incident, passport and NADRA data leaks, alleged police inefficiency, and corruption allegations in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Committee members also expressed strong displeasure over the continuous absence of the Inspector General of Sindh. Additionally, the matter of implementing M-Tag electronic registration for vehicles in Islamabad was taken up during the meeting.
The session, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem, began with a recitation of Fatiha for the victims of the Gul Plaza fire tragedy. Senator Saifullah Abro highlighted the lack of law enforcement in Sindh, stating that government institutions have largely failed in fulfilling their responsibilities.
In his briefing, the Director General of Passport Services disclosed that over the past one and a half years, multiple cases had emerged involving passport data theft and the use of fraudulent information to travel abroad. However, he noted that data hacking had been brought under control since 2023.
Senator Talha Mahmood raised serious concerns about NADRA issuing identity cards to Afghan nationals, while Senator Afnan alleged that sensitive data from NADRA and FBR is being sold on the dark web.
During the session, a father of a deceased citizen criticized the police for their inability to act against an influential accused, prompting the committee chairman to assure the family of full cooperation. The performance of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) was also questioned, with members deeming it largely ineffective.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a three-member inquiry committee was constituted to investigate allegations of corruption within the FBR. On the issue of vehicle M-Tags, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Memon reported that 166,000 vehicles have now been equipped with M-Tags and that enforcement efforts would soon be intensified.
During the discussion, Senator Dostain Domki raised a unique concern, noting that his vehicle is registered in the UAE, jokingly stating that he would need the Crown Prince of the Emirates to install an M-Tag.
The committee deliberations highlighted systemic gaps across multiple institutions, with lawmakers calling for stronger enforcement measures, improved accountability, and protective mechanisms to safeguard citizens’ data.