ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Customs has stepped up the checking of smuggling in the guise of Afghan Transit Trade and, as a result, the volume of smuggling has significantly reduced.
Main source of smuggling is the long porous Pak-Afghan border from where goods from Afghanistan enter Pakistan. However, due to long porous border and lack of verifiable data about smuggling made under the guise of Afghan Transit Trade, it is difficult to determine the exact losses caused due to the smuggling of goods.
“To curb the menace of smuggling across the country including border areas, Pakistan Customs has reinvigorated its enforcement measures,” source at the Pakistan Customs told Customs Today. In this regard, PC has taken a number of steps which have been helpful in checking and reducing smuggling from Afghanistan.
Transportation of Afghan Transit goods through authorized bonded carriers as well as en-route tracking and monitoring of movement of all Afghan Transit containers / vehicles under Tracking and Monitoring of Cargo Rules.
Moreover, the source named establishment of Mobile Enforcement Units (MEUs) in all Customs Collectorates performing anti-smuggling operations to respond to the tracking alerts generated by the system and to coordinate with the enforcement unit of the Licensed Tracking Company as another important measure in this regard.
Similarly, the source said that the particulars of vehicles having tracking devices carrying transit goods had been electronically entered at the designated check posts and in case of any deviation from the prescribed route, the tracking company informs the concerned Customs Collectorate which sends dedicated Mobile Squads to check the subject vehicle.
The source said that movement of transit goods through geo fenced designated routes and real time reconciliation of Afghan Transit consignments through WeBOC System as well as 100% weighment of Transit consignments at entry and exit points and risk based physical examination at entry and exit points had also resulted in reduction in smuggling of goods back into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
The source added that strict legal actions under Customs Act, 1969 to deal with cases of pilferage, illegal removal or concealment or mis-declaration of Afghan Transit goods had also forced smugglers to avoid indulging in this crime.
Moreover, the source said that Customs Enforcement agency had also cemented intelligence sharing and joint operations with the support of Frontier Corps (KP), Pakistan Rangers (Punjab/Sindh), Pakistan Coast Guards, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and Political Administrative Authorities (FATA).
