LAHORE: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated an inquiry into the alleged smuggling of solvent oil from Iran via Taftan into Punjab, targeting customs officials supposedly involved in the operation.
However, the investigation is being criticized as a futile effort since the solvent oil is not a banned item under the Import Policy Order (IPO), as confirmed by the Ministry of Commerce.
Using the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) system, the product is automatically cleared without requiring additional documentation, further indicating that the claims of smuggling are baseless. Goods Declarations (GDs) have been filed for all shipments.
Customs Intelligence recently stopped a tanker carrying Light Aliphatic Hydrocarbon solvent, but it was released as the item is not restricted. The investigations revealed that the solvent is being mixed with fuel, lowering the smuggling of Iranian fuel but harming vehicles.
The issue could be resolved if the Ministry of Commerce amended the import policy. In the meantime, the Ministry of Energy has imposed penalties on 874 tankers carrying similar products, requiring importers to provide documentation for industrial use.
