ISLAMABAD: Preventive measures taken by the Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation brought a decline in smuggling trends, especially smuggling made in guise of Afghan Transit Trade.
Additional Director Abdul Waheed Marwat stated this during an interview with Customs Today, adding that the Customs Intelligence confiscated foreign origin cloth, diesel, electronics, vehicles and other items worth Rs 286.7 million, besides registering 114 cases during July of new fiscal year 2016-17.
He said that police of all the four provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir was coordinating with the Customs Intelligence to curb the smuggling in region. Frontier Constabulary (FC), Pakistan Coast Guard (PCG) and Rangers were functioning harmoniously with the department, he said, adding that it all became possible with the efforts of Director General Imtiaz Ali Khan. A list of 14 notorious smugglers has been given to law enforcement agencies in order to arrest them.
He said that closure of Pakistan-Afghanistan borders at Chaman and Torkham would not pose negative impact on collection of duty/taxes. “By implementing Pak-Afghan Borders Management Control Programme, we can at least control cross-border smuggling from our side,” the additional director explained, adding, “We are focusing on strengthening the intelligence information desk”.
DG Imtiaz Ahmad Khan has directed all the directorates to strictly implement a uniform policy towards curbing smuggling, he informed. The Customs Intelligence DG recently held meeting with IGs of FC, Punjab and Balochistan Police in which forces concerned were ordered to provide assistance to the department on call.
The forces have been give special authorities of customs under which they, especially FC and PCD could take action against the smugglers, he said, adding that such additional authorities will prove helpful curb smuggling a Pak-Iran border.
He also revealed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has not only appreciated the national action plan of DG Imtiaz but also agreed on it.
The Customs Intelligence was taking various steps for the welfare of the employees, he said, adding that a fair price shop has been set up where they will be given goods on concessionary rates. Appreciation certificates will be awarded to officials on showing good performance, he said. The impounded vehicles and goods will be auctioned in next month, he informed.
Sharing details of seizures made during July 2016, he said that the department impounded 56 vehicles worth Rs 105.5 million, 30 vehicles impounded under Section 157 worth Rs 36.3 million, cloth worth Rs 2.728 million, 175 square feet wood worth Rs 3.6 million, 93,744 kilogramme of tea worth Rs 45.9 million, 186,000 litres of diesel worth Rs 15 million, 24000 litres of Iranian petrol worth Rs 96,000, toys worth Rs 5.49 million, medicines worth Rs 1.557 million and miscellaneous items worth Rs 72.55 million. It also confiscated 13kg charas and 2400kg poppy seeds.
