ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has appeared to be indifferent towards the ongoing smuggling of Iranian POL products from Balochistan to protect Customs officers who are ‘reportedly’ hand in glove with the smugglers
The board has announced constitution a high-level committee to investigate the smuggling of Iranian petroleum products after a collision between two passenger coaches and a petrol tanker carrying smuggled Iranian diesel at RCD Highway near Gadani on March 22, 2014 that burnt 35 persons to death.
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The committee was to be comprised of Director General of Intelligence and Investigation Customs, Chief Collector of Customs Enforcement (South), Director Intelligence Karachi and other senior Customs officials but so far the FBR has not issued any formal directives to its members to start the investigation.
It appeared that the announcement regarding the constitution of the probe committee after the tragic incident was aimed at pacifying growing protest against the FBR, besides avoiding inquiry against its officials by other investigation agencies.
Though the Customs has been communicated about all the major routes and spots being used for smuggling of Iranian oil into the country, no action could be initiated to contain the illegal trade that is not only taking a toll on revenues of the country but also putting people lives at risk.
It is to be noted that most of the smuggled Iranian diesel is being unloaded from fishing and other vessels at Jiwani (Jiwani Aoor and Jiwani Kuntail beaches), Pishukan and Gwadar Jetty with the connivance of Customs officials and other agencies.
