KARACHI - The Excise Department of Sindh Government has unearthed the financial embezzlement of millions of rupees in terms of tax evasion of Motor Vehicle Tax (MVT) at three branches of National Bank of Pakistan in city. The preliminary inquiry of internal audit of the department revealed the financial embezzlement of over Rs40 million of Motor Vehicle Tax has been carried out only in two months (Jan and July 2009). Sindh Minister for Excise and Taxation Department Mukesh Kumar Chawla on Saturday briefing the media about the tax evasion scam said that due to continuous downfall in the collection of MVT, the department has initiated inquiry and started random visits of NBP branches of the city where special counters of MVT established by department. The Provincial Department collects MVT at 11 branches of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in Karachi but within two months a huge financial embezzlement unearthed in three branches of bank. The three officials of the department namely Syed Seemab Ahmed Junior clerk at NBP branch of M.A Jinnah, Muhammad Mursaleen Inspector at NBP Defence branch and Shahid Abid Junior clerk of department at NBP branch, Model Clifton Karachi have been suspended. However, he pointed out that one Junior Clerk has been escaped, while stern action will be taken against all the officials and staff found involved in the financial embezzlement on account of MVT. Minister said that with the approval of CM Sindh, a high-powered committee headed by Director General Excise and Taxation Department and two members each of CM Inspection Team and NBP, will initiate the inquiry about the tax embezzlement and to examine the record of all the eleven branches of NBP collecting the Motor Vehicle Tax. The committee will start its inquiry from tomorrow (Monday) and submit its report within 15 days which to be shared with the media. Provincial Minister further said that keeping in view of the huge financial embezzlement occurred in two months, the CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah has instructed the department to initiate audit of Motor Vehicle Tax collected during last five years. To a query about the amount of financial embezzlement of tax money, Provincial Minister replied that keeping in view of level of financial embezzlement in two months, the further corruption of tax evasion could be unearthed during in inquiry. Replying to another question regarding involvement of NBP staff in financial embezzlement of MVT, Minister Excise Dept Mukesh Kumar replied that he wont blame on anyone of embezzlement of MVT, saying that if any official of bank or department found involved in the tax evasion scam, will be punished. After unearthing of financial embezzlement in MVT, the property and Professional tax would also be audited, Minister added.