QUETTA: The Collectorate of Quetta accelerated the anti-smuggling efforts which have increased the revenues and seizures during the current Financial Year 2016-17. Under the jurisdiction of Quetta Collectorate, the smuggling trend through trucks and buses has almost been discouraged. Transportation of smuggled goods has been shifted through buddies, handcart and pickups by bypassing the route check-posts existing at Chaman–Quetta route. Due to effective checks on clearances at Customs Stations, import/export has also increased. Reinvigorated enforcement efforts with the Frontier Corps and Police, smugglers have started conducting legal import/export through customs stations working under the Collectorate of Quetta.
This was stated by Dr. Saeed Jadoon, Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Quetta, while talking to Customs Today during an exclusive interview. The collector said the customs department has undertaken new projects for the facilitation of traders including “Pakistan Gate” at Pak-Iran border Taftan being jointly constructed by the Frontier Corps Balochistan and Pakistan Customs. He said the Taftan Gate is being termed a landmark achievement. He further said the construction of mosque, rest rooms, guest rooms, a restaurant, wash rooms for passengers, immigration and baggage hall have also been undertaken. Dr. Saeed Jadoon said that four acres of land has been requisitioned from Commissioner, Quetta Division, which would extend trade and baggage facilitation at Taftan border.
Answering a query, the collector stated that another avenue for business community is under processing for the storage of fresh fruits produced in Balochistan. The processing of fresh fruits plants for preparation of jams and juices may be established at Quetta for export, which would give us a competitive advantage over competitors of India.
Answering another query regarding the Anti-Smuggling Organization’s performance during the month of MarchFY2016-17, Dr. Saeed Jadoon said the MCC Quetta has seized various non-duty paid vehicles and various kinds of smuggled goods worth Rs121.899million during said month. During said period, the ASO Quetta seized 112 non-duty paid vehicles valued Rs48.422million whereas the ASO seized foreign origin cloths worth Rs6.691million, and the collectorate seized 2,750 kilogram smuggled food grains worth Rs0.385million whereas the ASO Quetta seized 549 kilogram black and green tea worth Rs4.644million as well as 5,766 tyres and tubes worth Rs14.066million.
During the month of March 2016-17, the ASO Quetta seized a huge quantity of auto parts worth Rs6.184million, whereas the ASO seized four bottles of whisky worth Rs0.024million. The ASO also seized 279,061 liters non-duty paid diesel worth Rs13.714million, whereas during month of March FY16-17 the ASO seized 1460 liters of Mobil oil valued Rs0.302million. The ASO seized 400 cartons of fake cigarettes valued Rs4.452million. The ASO seized 317 carpets worth Rs0.456million and the ASO seized 41 pirated CDs worth Rs0.082million. The ASO seized 891 bags of urea fertilizer worth Rs1.445million, whereas it seized 1008 blankets worth Rs1.777million and the ASO seized huge quantity of medicines worth Rs2.298million and the ASO also seized 18 smuggled dinner-sets worth Rs0.037million.
The collector said that during March FY16-17 the ASO Quetta seized contraband Pan Prag worth Rs0.55million, whereas it seized a huge quantity of Indian made banned Gutka worth Rs2.316million. He said the ASO Quetta also seized detergent powder worth R0.384million, whereas it seized vegetable ghee worth Rs0.023million. He added that the ASO seized miscellaneous smuggled goods worth Rs10.490million.
Replying to yet another query, Dr. Jadoon said that During July to March FY2016-17, the ASO Quetta seized 225 kilogram of hashish, whereas the ASO seized 3674 kilogram of hashish and 800 grams of crystal (Heroin) during same period of corresponding Financial Year 2015-16.
Telling details about the total revenue collected during July to March 2016-17 under the head of auctions of confiscated goods, he said the Quetta Auction Cell collected Rs679.4million during said period, whereas it collected Rs582.3million during corresponding Financial Year 2015-16.
