QUETTA: The Customs authorities, on the directive of Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), have started crackdown against illegal mini patrol pumps and the dealers of non-customs paid vehicles.
The Customs authorities have seized thousands of liters of foreign-origin diesel and sealed various pumps in the provincial capital on Wednesday.
Collector Ashraf Ali, while talking with Customs Today, said that MCC Quetta has seized thousands of liters of foreign-origin diesel at various parts of Quetta and sealed all those illegal petrol pumps. He added that this crackdown was started on directions of the FTO.
He said that these petrol pumps used to provide poor quality diesel/petrol of foreign origin (smuggled) which is disastrous not even for the masses but also for the vehicles, in which this fuel is used.
Ashraf Ali said that he directed Additional Collector Zubair Shah and Deputy Collector Preventive Maqbool Baloch to take strict action against these unscrupulous elements.
Team was headed by Deputy Collector Maqbool Baloch and consisting of Superintendents Preventive Maqsood Durrani and Niamat Kakar along with inspectors posted at anti-smuggling branches with all mobile squads and sepoys. Police was also present during the operation.
The collector said that during the month of April, the FTO also asked the Quetta Customs to take strict action against the showrooms of non-customs paid vehicles, owners and illegal petrol pumps.
Answering a question, Collector Ashraf Ali said that during April 2018, the FTO issued a notification no. 42-45/C-03/OM/FTO/QTA/2018 and 46-49/C-04/OM/FTO-QTA/2018 in which he asked the collector to take strict action against the showroom of non-customs paid (NDP) vehicles working under jurisdiction of Quetta Customs. He added that MCC finalized the policy to make firm action against the dealers involved in the selling and buying of NDP vehicles. The fresh crackdown is another episode against smugglers and owner of smuggled patrol pumps, he added.
