KARACHI: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has shown dissatisfaction on tracking and scanning system of the Pakistan Customs to prevent the smuggling throughout the country.
The meeting of the Standing Committee was held in Customs House Karachi under the Chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla to discuss the growing menace of smuggling and mis-declaration.
The committee members were unhappy on the steps made by the customs authorities to curb the increasing smuggling of goods throughout the country. They were told by the customs authorities that scanners installed at Karachi Port are not working effectively as only 20 percent of the consignments are being scanned.
The committee also showed its displeasure on the flawed tracking system of Pakistan Customs which failed to control mis-declarations of the goods. The customs authorities have been able to only capture 2 to 3 consignments of good on mis-declaration through this poor tracking system.
The customs authorities showed their helplessness in curbing the huge smuggling in the country due to the lack of resources. They were of the view that customs has very low human resource which is unable to control the border of Afghanistan, Iran and India.
Appraisement-West Chief Collector Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Enforcement-South Chief Collector Muhammad Zahid Khokhar gave detailed briefings on the steps being taken to strengthen the port activities by the customs. The customs authorities also pointed out the flaws in the goods declaration process due to which a large amount of tax money is being wasted.
Senate Committee on Finance visited the Karachi Port to inspect the integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITMS) and scanning machines installed by the customs authorities.
Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla has recommended that a new border force be created by the FBR and Pakistan should more focus to control the smuggling.
Pakistan Custom should install its scanners on the Karachi Port and the existing scanners should also be used properly, it should also improve its tracking system, the chairman said. The customs should enhance its capacity to prevent the mis-declarations of goods as it is causing huge loss to the national exchequer.
Committee members appreciated the role of IG FC in preventing smuggling. Senator Saud Majeed, Fateh Muhammad Hasni, Mushahidulah Khan and Mohsin Aziz attended the meeting.
