MULTAN: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement has started monitoring of essential commodities including sugar and urea which were smuggled from Pakistan into Pakistan through unfrequented routes spanning the bordering areas of Afghanistan and Iran.
Collector MCC Multan Dr.Rehmatullah Vistro has directed anti-smuggling squads to monitor movement of essential commodities including sugar, wheat and urea to curb smuggling from Pakistan. These smuggled goods are subsequently transported via trucks and in case of passenger vehicles in smaller quantities to the main urban centers from South Punjab.
It is pertinent to mention here that FBR Chairman Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana and Member Customs (Operations) Ms Zeba Hai Azhar have appreciated the Pakistan Customs for taking timely action to thwart the smuggling of essential goods.
Being cognizant of this phenomenon, Multan Customs has intensified the counter smuggling operations and started crackdown on the smuggled goods especially essential commodities, POL, currency and other goods.
During the last fortnight, Pakistan Customs seized large quantities of essential commodities worth approximately Rs65 million in various operations across the country including Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan regions. The major seized essential commodities included sugar, urea, POL, Pak currency as well as tyres, black tea, betel nuts, vehicles, iron, steel and other goods.
Strict monitoring instructions were issued after thwarting smuggling attempt in Balochistan region during month of September where Customs Enforcement, Quetta seized 1,637 tons of sugar worth approximately Rs1.0 billion from smugglers in a convoy of 15 trucks.
Moreover, strict instructions to the anti-smuggling formations including mobile squads of the Collectorates and airports have been issued to keep vigilance on the illicit movement of essential goods/commodities, Iranian POL and currency. Pakistan Customs is committed to eliminating the menace of smuggling and would continue intensifying its anti-smuggling operations across the country.
