KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has adopted a new mechanism for clearance of consignments of imported betel nuts, after so much coverage by Customs Today regarding Rs 1000 billion mega scam of green channel where hazardous and low quality betel nuts were also being imported from India, Nepal and other countries with the help of a few customs staff in violation of the import policy.
According to the notification C.No.12(12)S/Lit-HC/Cus/2019 issued by Secretary Legal Customs Shahid Ali, with mutual consent of Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and importers, a testing laboratory will be selected from the list of approved laboratories/companies as contained in Appendix H of Import Policy Order. The inspection report of these laboratories/companies will be admissible for the clearance of the imported shipment of betel nut. Commerce Division will incorporate necessary amendments in the Import Policy Order to allow pre-shipment inspection (PSI) of food items including betel nut.
According to notification, the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) will be undertaken by already recognized labs mentioned in the Import Policy Order. Import permit will be issued by Department of Plant Protection (DPP) within 48 hours on receipt of application. The mechanism notified above was agreed between FBR and Commerce Division.
It is pertinent to mention here that Customs Today unearthed the scam of misuse of green channel facility in which a few senior customs officials were clearing a large number of containers loaded with infested betel nuts through green channel at Port Qasim and other ports. FBR and Customs high-ups did not take action against ‘corrupt’ customs officials despite complete proof and timely reporting by Customs Today. Customs Today published several reports about betel nuts smuggling worth billions of rupees through ports at Port Qasim and Appraisement East Collectorate.
Extensive research revealed that an FBR official at one instance has mentioned to media on how many containers are released under green channel without scanning or examination. The FBR official said that 700,000 consignments were released under green channel.
Sources said green channel scam started in 2011-2012. So much of liquor, mobiles, electronic items, cigarettes, betel nuts, chemicals, etc. have been poured into the country through green channel in these years. Pakistan has lost Rs. 1,000 billion and also millions of lives and properties due to this.
After so much coverage by Customs Today, Customs Preventive and Intelligence launched raids on green channel ‘smugglers’ and seized 6 containers of betel buts on 21 February, 2018 from a godown in Korangi Industrial Area which were cleared through green channel under the protection of a few senior customs officers at Port Qasim.
These reports led to multiple raids, tens of FIRs and recoveries of illegally cleared goods worth billions of rupees. In fact, in a single raid at a SITE area godown, 600,000 Kgs. of betel nuts worth Rs 1.5 billion were seized. Customs Today also published investigative reports about changing of strategies by green channel smugglers as they started clearing illegal goods through yellow channel & TP.
Even, Customs Today succeeded to prove its reports regarding green channel smuggling as former Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of the issue and Directorate General Customs Intelligence & Investigation (I&I) admitted that green channel facility has been mercilessly abused by some syndicates in connivance with a few corrupt customs officers. The Supreme Court associate also wrote to Chairman NAB to take necessary action.
