MULTAN: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement has shown extra ordinary performance in the first three months of the 2023 by seizing 632,000 litres of non-customs paid High Speed Diesel and 43 various vehicles during crackdowns of smuggling.
Multan Customs Enforcement is playing a major role in the national economy by protecting local industry through prevention of smuggling. It was stated by Collector Muhammad Tahir Ali during his press conference on the current economic year with regarding Collectorate performance.
The territorial jurisdiction of the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement-Multan) is pivotal with respect to the cross-the-border movement of goods as the Collectorate is situated in the centre of three provinces, i.e., on side touching Baluchistan through Rakhni-Bawata Inter-Provincial Border and, on the other hand, linking with Sindh through Obaro-Sadiqabad Point. Whereas, it is adjacently placed alongside the Punjab which is the major consumer of raw materials and finished-goods/articles, in terms of industrial development and population, respectively.
Multan Customs has seized almost 632,000 litres of smuggled Iranian petrol and diesel in the first three months of 2023 so far, Multan Customs Collectorate has created atmosphere business friendly due to promotion of legal trade after taking serious measures to prevent menace of smuggling.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is a growing need for enhanced vigilance due to newly established roads network at Motorways and National Highways and the incessant rise in smuggling due to higher tariffs. In terms of the anticipated tasks, viz. measures to be adopted for counter-smuggling of gold and currency; checking of retail outlets for dealing in smuggled goods; continuation of POL operation etc., and to eradicate the menace of smuggling by identifying hotspots in the area through joint-patrolling with other agencies on the newly established routes and diversions on Motorways and National Highways, the Collectorate has made a need based analysis and has come up with the concrete proposals for direct recruitment of officials and staff and the same has been shared with the Board.
With a view to adopt effective counter-smuggling measures, the Collectorate is establishing new Customs offices, in Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan and Multan Divisions, which hitherto did not exist; other such areas and smuggling-hotspots are also being identified. Besides, the emphasis is being laid on the merge needed inter-agency cooperation, i.e., the Police, Rangers, Motorways and National Highway Authorities and Border Military Police (BMP), etc.
He further stated that Multan Customs Collectorate Enforcement will continue their anti-smuggling crackdown in the month of Ramadan and will curb smuggling from the jurisdiction.
