TORKHAM: Pakistan Customs is taking all measures to curb smuggling of foreign currency from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
This was said by Deputy Collector Umair Zahid during an exclusive talk.
Answering to a query he said that alarm bells are ringing that US dollars may not be smuggled from Pakistan to Afghanistan in this regards Customs enforcement and Compliance Wing is keeping a close watch on the export terminal to curb the smuggling of dollars whereas we, the MCC Peshawar, are more concerned, especially with the clearance of cargo.
At present, the eyes of the whole world are on business between two neighbouring countries Pakistan and Afghanistan and as the situation improves, import and export between the two countries should be promoted.
Answering to a query he said that nature of gates at Torkham customs station is also different. There are border gates and terminal gates where Inter-agency coordination is urgently needed in this regard.
The Customs is in full touch with FC and NLC, the Customs has specifically asked NLC to improve its infrastructure. Our Customs export terminal is neither fenced nor very safe. Despite all these difficulties, when the vehicle passes through the examination area, the customs staff again completely rummaging the entire vehicle from the driver’s cabin before crossing border.
The Deputy Collector said that due to the current situation of Afghanistan the number of empty export vehicles has increased immensely. However, these empty vehicles are also being completely rummaging and these vehicles are also being scanned. Whereas due to harmful radiation, the driver’s cabin cannot be scanned. In the past, cases of cash smuggling have been caught from the driver’s cabin.
He said there is an urgent need for all law enforcement agencies working at the Torkham border, including customs appraisement, to share information so that a vehicle carrying any contraband can be stopped before it crosses the border.
There is a need to look into that what kind of vehicles most smuggling is taking place, i.e perishable goods or non-perishable goods, it is worth mentioning here that mostly businessmen wanted to clear vehicles carrying perishable goods quickly but if compared, most of the prohibited items are smuggled through vehicles carrying vegetables or fruits.
Zahid said that businessmen must understand that if we want to facilitate the legal business, we have to do the same regarding vigilance.
The Deputy Collector said that discussions going on in the media that if it is announced that there are problems with the TT (telegraphic transfer) in terms of exports and the baggage system that has been destroyed in Afghanistan, then if they do it in rupees, then perhaps the benefit is that Dollar smuggling can be prevented, but we also have to see that we have to meet the conditions of the FATF, so we have to see both cases.
He said that the Customs is facing a lot of challenges at the moment. There is an objection to scanning and rummaging of a vehicle. The department is reluctant to spends enough time because it could not left any vehicle with out proper checking.
If the infrastructure of NLC is improved, many problems can be avoided as the current situation is that there are bus stands and shops in the export terminal due to which all kinds of traffic continue. No unauthorized persons in this area should come near such vehicles which are being or have been tested so that no illegal items can be placed in these vehicles.
In his concluding remarks Deputy Collector Torkham said that the Customs Department has appointed Special Vigilant Staff at both the Import and Export Terminals who thoroughly check every vehicle to prevent smuggling of banned items.
