ISLAMABAD: Customs authorities have decided to take strict action against livestock smuggling from Balochistan to Iran as the smugglers are transporting animals by simply obtaining NOCs from local administration of different districts.
The Customs officials have raised the issue with the Chief Secretary of Balochistan for curbing the practice with stern administrative steps and urged him to direct the district authorities to stop issuing NOCs in this regard.
The sources said that the NOCs are obtained by the alleged smugglers just to transport the livestock at local level but the same is being smuggled to Iran.
Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) has also decided to approach Federal Board of Revenue Chairman and Member Customs to immediately intervene in the matter and help the authorities stop smuggling.
According to details, Model Customs Collectorate Gwadar has initiated a crackdown against livestock smuggling, but the smugglers have now adopted a new technique for transportation of their stock just by obtaining NOCs from the administration of various Balochistan districts.
The district administration of Lasbella, Turbat and Gwadar are issuing NOCs for the intra provincial movement of livestock. From October 4, 2013 till date, 16 NOCs for 6,559 oxen have been issued by Deputy Commissioner Lasbella, 4 NOCs for 800 oxen issued by Deputy Commissioner Turbat and 5 NOCs for 600 Oxen have been issued by Deputy Commissioner Gwadar.
The sources disclosed that all these NOCs are being misused and this livestock is being smuggled to Iran through the in-frequently used land routes between Pakistan and Iran.
