ISLAMABAD: As result of strict anti-smuggling measures by the Pakistan Customs, a visible increase in seizures of smuggled good has been observed during the last three fiscal years, sources said.
The Collectorates of Customs Quetta and Torkham have shown tremendous performance in this regard, they said. In first six months of the current fiscal year, the Pakistan Customs seized goods worth Rs 10,366 million,” sources at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shared data with Customs Today.
The data showed that Pakistan Customs seized smuggled goods amounting to Rs 4652 million in previous fiscal year, whereas the amount of seized smuggled goods in the fiscal year 2015-16 was Rs 14,343 million. However, the value of seized goods in fiscal year 2014-15 was Rs 9582 million.
The data further revealed that Collectorate of Customs, Quetta seized smuggled goods amounting to Rs 1,350 million in fiscal year 2016-17 and smuggled goods valued Rs760.23 million in first half of current fiscal year (July-December 2017-18)
Similarly, Collectorate of Customs Peshawar seized smuggled goods amounting to Rs2379 million in 2016-17 million while value of seized smuggled goods during first half of current fiscal year (July-December 2017-18) is Rs1956 million.
Particularly, the source added that the Collectorate of Customs Quetta galvanized the anti-smuggling squads at its bordering stations including Taftan by providing more human resource and developing physical infrastructure and had established a number of check posts which had resulted in tangible achievements in the form of more seizures, (in terms of value) as compared to the past.
Moreover, the source said that Customs Quetta took concrete steps like enhanced vigilance on smuggling prone routs and closer coordination with other law enforcement agencies (LEAs). This resulted in seizures by Collectorate Customs, Quetta of 978 animals of cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value amounting to Rs21.483 million 2016-17 and 431 animals of CIF value amounting to Rs 14.064 million during this year.
As regards the Customs stations Torkham, the source said that it was the main crossing point on Pak-Afghan border for bilateral trade. It is also the major route for Afghan Transit Cargo through Pakistan.
“Despite limited resources available vis-a-vis other agencies preset on the border like FC and political administration, the Customs officials at Torkham have thwarted many attempts of smuggling of gold, currency, contrabands and narcotics etc” the source concluded.
