ASO has a few officials near retirement age and outdated equipment to curb smuggling
KARACHI: The Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) of Pakistan Customs has outdated technology and a few officials near their retirement age to curb smuggling, Customs Today learnt.
Sources revealed that most of ASO officials in Karachi were not familiar with latest technology, adding that they were using outdated methods to detect smuggling.
“We are facing acute shortage of night-vision machinery, boats and launches. Most of the officials have reached their retirement age and no new officials have been recruited since 1988,” they added.
They said further the ASO has not yet introduced any contemporary/latest technology to improve its operations.
To a question, they disclosed that a shortage of funds was an impediment to introduce latest equipment in the ASO, adding that the board has written several letters to the federal government in this regard, but no avail.
The sources made it clear that outdated, non-operational equipment, absence of latest technology and a shortage of manpower were the main problems that were badly affecting the ASO operations.
They said that the other federal agencies such as the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Pakistan Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Security Agency (MSA) have been provided with upgraded technology. They deplored that a step-motherly treatment was meted out to the Pakistan Customs, which was a front-line federal agency that safeguarded Pakistan’s coastlines.
The neighbouring countries of Pakistan, particularly India and China have employed modern technology in their customs and anti-smuggling affairs. This helps them in curbing smuggling while the smugglers in Pakistan carry out their illegal activities with ease and impunity.
