MULTAN: The Model of Customs Collectorate has rejected a proposal to sell the confiscated cell phones through auction due to absence of a policy.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has not developed any uniform policy regarding the disposal of the confiscated cell phones for the last three years that restrained the Customs Department from generating millions of rupees through auction.
Talking to Customs Today, Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich said that the Multan Customs confiscated a huge quantity of branded and used cell phones from airport and other places during anti-smuggling activities.
A major hurdle in the auction of the cell phones is the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, as without getting its approval the customs cannot auction the confiscated cell phones, he said, adding that approval of the PTA is essential to avoid misuse of these cell phones by terrorists.
He added that the phones were presented in the auction every month but due to lack of interest from cellular companies no one offered bids for them.
He informed that Multan Customs has received proposal from Utility Store Corporation of Pakistan for the purchase of confiscated cell phones for their official usage few weeks ago. But the department gave them negative reply following the guidelines of PTA guidelines for the disposal of confiscated cell phones.
Moreover, confiscated cell phones are losing their worth day by day, as new models of cell phones with latest technology are attracting the users, he said. So, the department will have to bear around 40 percent loss if cell phones are auctioned.
Due to existing cell phones policy, Multan Customs is facing revenue loss in millions and it needs immediate uniform policy for the disposal of confiscated cell phones.
