LAHORE: Director General Customs (Intelligence and Investigations) Imtiaz Ahmad Khan has said that a month long anti-smuggling operation would begin at M1 and M2 motorways from next week.
He said that the Customs Intelligence and Investigations has started process of recruiting constables through NTS and inspectors through FPSC, an initiative that would solve department’s most troubling problem of the shortage of staff.
Imtiaz said that smugglers used to take advantage of long border area in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, however, Customs Intelligence and Investigations, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies was able to reduce smuggling there.
He said that efforts are being made to counter smuggling through border with Iran were proving beneficial with the help from FC, however, admitted still a lot has to be done with the cooperation from all to achieve complete success.
To a question, he said that an anti-smuggling check post was being built at Sadiqabad which would start functioning in March.
Imtiaz said, the department had also recommended such check posts at Sakhi Sarwar, Taunsa and Kashmore.
He said, he has given anti-smuggling targets to customs Intelligence and Investigations officials of Sadiqabad and DG Khan. He said the department was also taking steps to check smuggling of vehicles.
He said that customs can also inspect shops and seize smuggled items but added it can create problems and may trigger abuse of power by officials.
