ISLAMABAD: The Customs, on directions by Member Customs-Operations Mukarram Jah Ansari, has accelerated its crackdown against foreign currency smuggling from Pakistan. The drive is in line with national interests and aims at stabilizing the rupee against the US dollar and other foreign currencies.
According to a tweet by Member Customs-Operations Mukarram Jah Ansari, officials of the Collectorate of Customs, Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, seized an amount of 112,500 Saudi Riyals which was cleverly concealed in the handbags of three Pakistani passengers travelling to Dubai on the night of December, 14.
According to the tweet, special instructions have been issued to the officers posted at Int’l Arrival/Departure to play their full role in curbing the act of currency smuggling/Contraband goods by using available resources.
In another tweet, Mukarram Jah said the number of currency seizures by the Pakistan Customs during December 1 to 15 has crossed 20 cases all over the country: Chaman, Torkham, airports at Peshawar, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore! “The crackdown continues,” he added.
The Federal Board of Revenue has taken very stringent enforcement measures at the airports to eliminate the possibility of any such unethical practice. The Pakistan Customs has made it mandatory for all passengers flying out of the country to undergo a thorough personal scrutiny and 100pc declaration of currency through an automated process in order to ward off the nefarious illegal activity. This leaves little possibility of the undesirable practice. “This transparent and efficient mechanism being adopted at all airports across Pakistan is facilitating the smooth and easy movement of outbound passengers, thus significantly reducing their time and cost,” the FBR said in a statement.
Recently, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also held a meeting with officials in which ways and means were discussed to eliminate dollar smuggling to Afghanistan. The Customs Department has intensified the crackdown on foreign currency smuggling from Pakistan after the meeting.
