PM Orders Probe Into Rs120bn Solar Panel Scam

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered immediate legal action after a Rs120 billion solar panel over-invoicing and money laundering scheme was uncovered by federal authorities.

Prime Minister directed law enforcement agencies to pursue all individuals identified in the case, following an official statement released by his office confirming the decision.

The fraudulent scheme operated between 2017 and 2022, during which importers transferred funds abroad illegally through the deliberate manipulation of solar panel import invoices.

The PM Shehbaz has established two high-level committees to ensure accountability across both government institutions and private entities implicated in this major scandal.

The first body, named the Committee for Disciplinary Action, will oversee proceedings against officers from all relevant institutions found negligent or directly involved in facilitating over-invoicing.

It is headed by the Secretary of the Establishment Division, with senior officials from the State Bank of Pakistan, FBR, FIA, and the Intelligence Bureau serving as members.

A second body, the Monitoring Investigation and Prosecution Committee, will assist authorities in pursuing trade-based money laundering cases linked directly to solar panel over-invoicing activities.

The Director General of Pakistan Customs Intelligence chairs this committee, with representatives from the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, Customs Enforcement, FIA and senior IB officials included.

Both committees are required to submit formal performance and progress reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office every fifteen days without exception.

The Prime Minister has instructed the Law Minister to nominate two qualified special prosecutors, one each in Karachi and Islamabad, to actively pursue these cases through court.

The scandal was uncovered by the Directorate of Post Clearance Audit of FBR, which found importers had systematically inflated invoices to transfer money illegally to accounts abroad.

The Customs Adjudication Authority subsequently imposed penalties totalling Rs111 billion on fake companies after charges were formally proven, with separate penalties also issued against individuals involved.

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