ISLAMABAD: Zulafikar Ali Chaudhry, Collector, MCC Islamabad, has constituted a committee for destruction of perishable Indian origin smuggled biosecurity risk products.
According to an office order C: NO03(01)ADM/2018/4059 that in the wake of a letter from the Department of the Plant Protection dated 14-03-2018, fresh fruits and vegetables coming into Pakistan from India through Line of Control (LOC) trade are carrying biosecurity risk.
It mentioned that the Indian origin consignments seized by the Preventive Division, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad, need to be disposed of under Rule 34 (a) (l) chapter ix of the Customs General Order (CGO)-12-2002. It added that the Destruction Committee in such cases shall comprise Assistant Collector, Preventive Division, Superintendent, State Ware House (SWH), Superintendent, Preventive Division, Inspector, Customs House Office (CHO), and Inspector SWH Islamabad.
The MCC Islamabad has to destroy a couple of millions of kilograms of seized Indian origin banana impounded during different actions. It was added that samples of banana were sent for laboratory test to the department of the Plant Protection who advised that bananas must be destroyed as soon as possible under supervision of Customs Officer along with the Plant Protection Department.
To stop the smuggling of Indian perishable goods via AJK, the Collector, Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad, has asked the ASO Islamabad not to let anyone carry the perishable goods from AJK into the jurisdiction of the MCC Islamabad.
It was added that all the three squads of ASO Islamabad are busy in doing surveillance of perishable goods coming from AJK via Chaukothi to Rawalpindi while smuggling is in its swing via other parts like Islamabad Motorway and Pindi to Peshawar Highway because of lack of focus.
