ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Rangers and FC Khyber Pakhtunkhaw and FATA administration are given the powers of anti-smuggling operations within 20km of the international border.
“The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has entrusted the national entities with powers to through SRO 1090(I)/2010,” sources told Customs Today.
Under the SRO, the political administration of FATA has also been entrusted with anti-smuggling powers under the Customs Act to check the inflow of smuggled goods in the tribal belt near the border.
Moreover, the sources said that the anti-smuggling powers were given to Pakistan Coast Guards vide SRO 42(I)/2014 and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency vide SRO 43(I)/2014 to check smuggling in high seas and the coastal areas.
To a question about existing mechanism being followed by Pakistan Customs to check smuggling, the source said that a robust mechanism was in place for online monitoring of transit goods. Consignments carrying transit goods are being trekked and monitored enroute live using a trekking device mounted on every vehicle and container through a system based in Custom House Karachi.
Therefore, the source said that the customs authorities immediately detected and responded to any irregularity observed during inland transportation of transit goods. Hence, chances of pilferage of transit goods enroute are almost nil.
Moreover, the source said that a random selectivity criterion for Afghan goods was under consideration, for development, implementation and introduction of a robust and automated risk management system. Presently, five percent of ATT consignments are randomly selected for examination/inspection for deterrence.
Furthermore, the source said that FBR had been constantly pursuing multiple anti-smuggling strategies through the following measures including monitoring major entry points/smuggling routes in the country through check posts and mobile anti-smuggling units manned by Pakistan Customs with the assistance of Law Enforcement Agencies.
“Moreover, en-route tracking and monitoring of movement of Afghan Transit containers / vehicles is being carried out. Fencing whole of the border with Afghanistan will play a major role in curbing menace of smuggling” the source maintained.
