ISLAMABAD: Former President of LCCI & Chairman of LPG Association of Pakistan Farooq Iftikhar has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs authorities to make vigilance system effective at borders because the smuggling of LPG rising day by day causing huge loss to the national economy.
“It is a matter of serious concern both for local LPG industry, as well as public safety, he said in a statement. He said that smuggling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was increasing sharply from Taftan and Mand Borders in connivance with the some corrupt elements of the concerned departments.
He said that smuggling cannot be eliminated but the increase to a level where it has far reaching effects on the economy of Pakistan is beyond our comprehension. He said that daily consumption of LPG in Pakistan varies from 1700 MT to 2300 MT approximately. Around 1300 to 1400 MT are produced locally and the rest is imported either through Karachi Sea Port or through Taftan and Mand borders in Balochistan.
Farooq Iftikhar said that a perusal of Customs record will show a vast difference in the legally imported quantity through Karachi sea port and from Mand and Taftan. He said that around 500 MT per day of LPG comes from Mand and Taftan of which only 20 percent is properly cleared. This smuggled LPG is transported to other cities of Pakistan using the official documents of cleared bowers repeatedly.
He said that the government should check smuggling of gas in low quality cylinders which may cause a big incident. If retailers are offering discount of Rs 10-20 per kg, it means they are mixing the smuggled gas. Former LCCI President & Chairman of LPG Association of Pakistan said that heavy smuggling of LPG from Taftan and Mand borders is causing loss to the government exchequer. He urged the government and FBR to take concrete measures to curb illegal import of LPG from Taftan and Mand borders from where LPG is being smuggled into Pakistan. He also stressed the need to introduce reforms in the Custom department to cope with the menace of smuggling into Pakistan.
