ISLAMABAD: Iram M Amir, the additional collector of Islamabad Model Customs Collectorate, has ordered the officials concerned to seize the foreign currency, which was recovered from a Thai woman, Oraphan Kanma, at the Islamabad Airport.
The foreign currency included $26,000, £100, €10 and 6,480 Thai baht. The woman had concealed the money in her coat. The additional collector ordered the officials to deposit the money in national treasury under ONO 1/2015.
According to reports, Kanma is a chef in a Thai restaurant. In reply to the show cause notice, her lawyer claimed that the currency was not bought by her. He said that she told the ASF officials at the airport that she had $26,000 and other foreign currencies on which the ASF handed her over to the customs authorities.
The lawyer claimed that under the State Bank of Pakistan notification no F.E.2/98-SB, issued on July 21, 1998 — in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Section (2) of Section 8 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (Act No. VII of 1947) — any person can take $10,000 or equivalent foreign currency out of Pakistan. Therefore, he said that $10,000 should be returned to her.
The additional collector said that according to the SBP rules, it is compulsory for a person who wants to take foreign currency out of Pakistan to purchase it from a registered forax dealer and its entry should be made on the passport.
In second case, a foreigner, who brings money to spend in Pakistan, stays in Pakistan less than three months can take back the remaining money with him.
In third condition, a large amount of foreign currency can be brought into Pakistan through foreign currency account, bank draft or bill of exchange. The additional collector said that the seized currency was accumulated and evidence shows that she attempted to take the money out of Pakistan secretly. Therefore, there was no reason to return $10,000.
According to Assistant Collector (Investigation) Naveedur Rehman, they had reports that an attempt would be made to smuggle a large amount of foreign currency abroad through flight no TG-350. He said that the airport authorities were already alert and every passenger, particularly women, was strictly checked to arrest the suspect.
