SIALKOT: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of the Model Customs Collectorate has confiscated smuggled white cumin worth Rs 70,000 from a van on Grand Trunk (GT) Road.
Assistant Collector Fahad Bashir Choudhary deputed Inspector Aftaf Ahmed on GT Road to check the vehicles and curb smuggling. The Inspector along with his team started checking vehicles on said road near Wazirabad. During the checking of vehicles, the team intercepted a van which was coming to Mirpur (AJK) and going to Sialkot and recovered smuggled white cumin worth Rs 70,000.
The team asked driver namely Rehmat about the customs clearance documents of the loaded item but he was failed to produce the papers. The driver told that the cumin was loaded from the van stand of Mirpur (AJK) and I don’t know about booking papers. The team confiscated the cumin and shifted in the store of Sialkot Customs while team challened the driver and team issued legal notice to van stand manager. The team released driver with van after proper interrogation. The team will register a case and refer to Adjudication Court for proceeding while if the Adjudication Court will announce judgment in the favor of department then department will liable to auction of confiscated Cumin.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has instructed to all Model Customs Collectorates in the country to set up a branch of research and development because it is the need of the hour.
Sources told Customs Today that the FBR wants to facilitate the exporters and importers in the country by the help of the department. The FBR instructed that it is the need of the time to set up a branch of research and development to accelerate the trade activities.
Sources said that the staff will appoint from Customs Department which officials have command on research and development process. Deputy Collector will incharge of the branch and he look after all matters of branch. The Information Technology expert will appoint from in this branch.
Sources told that the Customs Department has already intimated to FBR about shortage of staff while the FBR has instructed for the time being staff the department will appoint new staff with new recruitment in said branch. FBR has not announced any date or month that when set up above mentioned branch.
