ISLAMABAD: A passable way is required to utilise stuck up revenue of over Rs 1.5 billion through the auction of cell phones seized by Pakistan Customs in different operations.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Customs Chief Akhlaq Ahmad Khattak stated this while giving an interview to Customs Today. He informed that around 153,000 smart phones were lying at customs warehouse but these could not be auctioned through open bidding under the policy of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), adding that the national kitty will be deprived of a big amount, if PTA did not settle the matter soon.
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He said that a letter has been sent to PTA chairman, who should take keen interest in resolving the issue in larger economic interest of the country, as it is national duty of the PTA.
For the auction of cell phones, the PTA has imposed a condition under which cell phones will be sold only to PTA permit-holder companies and organizations, while authorised dealers did not have capacity to purchase the cell phones, he added.
Furthermore, the dealers could not offer warranty on seized phones that is also decreasing their interest in purchasing the cell phones, he said, adding that the PTA was not taking any serious steps to solve the matter, he said.
He informed that PTA has been given a complete framework to handle the matter, adding that the customs will not only provide IMEI number of every cell phone to PTA but also establish data bank of phones, as the data of smuggled vehicles has been saved.
According to the framework, the purchaser will be liable to provide the data of people to whom it sold the phones, he said, adding that the FBR will have complete record of end users in this way, he said, adding that the PTA will be provided record of phones whenever it demanded. The PTA could take benefit of this roadmap, which will give it a permanent data bank in which it could also save the data of authorised dealers.
In order to weed out menace of smuggling, effective operation were being carried out in country, he said, adding that check posts have been multiplied in Balochistan to keep an eye on smugglers. The smuggling is made largely in guise of Afghan Tranit Trade, he said. The customs was working in limited resources, while steps were being taken to equip the department with latest technology.
Administrative and operational policies and plans, adopted by the FBR, played a crucial role in achieving revenue targets during outgoing fiscal year 2015-16, he remarked, adding that the Pakistan Customs also contributed large revenue in last fiscal year.
It was difficult to assess losses bore by national economy due to smuggling, he revealed, adding that giving customs authorities to forces at border to curb smuggling bringing better results. But, there was still needed to tighten the noose. People those who are involved in smuggling in guise of Afghan Transit Trade have strong relations both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, he told.
