ISLAMABAD: Additional Collector Mohammad Ishfaque Khan said that Customs Collectorate have repeatedly requested FBR and Commerce Ministry to solve intra Kashmir trade issue but they still not finalized any policy which can provide facilitation to Kashmiri traders.
Talking with Customs Today, Additional Collector Ishfaque said that Customs Collectorate, he said that we cannot allow any Indian made products into Pakistan, he added that intra Kashmir trade is specifically allowed for Kashmir while it is not permitted them to enter into the other parts of the Pakistan without paying duty taxes. He said that the plant protection department already informed us that Indian goods are health hazardous, now we does not auction Indian goods but destroy them according to the instructions of Plant protection department.
Additioanl Collector Ishfaque said that the Pakistan Customs has vowed not to allow illegal trade of Indian goods under the grab of intra-Kashmir trade through Line of Control (LoC), as it would damage country’s economy. He added that he as Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation’s focal person intra-Kashmir trade through LoC was limited to duty-free barter system for exchange goods of Occupied Kashmir and Azad Kashmir.
However, he said that some elements were misusing this trade route and were exporting Indian products to avoid customs duty, which otherwise they had to pay while trading these commodities through Wagah border.
AC Ishfaque said that some elements were involved in this practice and were causing losses to Pakistan exchequers and serving interests of India.
He told that that when customs department started its operation against this illegal trade in accordance with the law, some elements were holding protest demonstration to serve their own interests, he said that the customs department would continue its actions to check such malpractices.
Additional Collector told that during Musharraf era with the an agreement regarding intra Kashmir trade was prepared but that agreement still not finalized.
He said that Karayna Merchant Association have registered their complaints many times that they paid heavy duty and taxes on their goods while Kashmri traders bring their Indian origin goods without paying any duty taxes how we can compete with them the office bearers of association complained.
Ishfaq suggested that there should be check post on LoC which can check the goods which come to the country and get duty taxes by them according to customs tariff in this way smuggling of Indian origin goods can be controlled.
He said that we will intercepted those goods until Supreme Court, Parliament, Ministry of Commerce or FBR will not form any policy or will not allow Kashmiri traders to bring their goods into the tariff area, these goods are given to the people to use them into the Kashmir not to sell them into the other parts of the Pakistani cities.
