ISLAMABAD: Even after introduction of vehicles’ amnesty scheme by FBR last month, thousands of vehicles plying on roads are still not cleared, incurring millions of rupees loss to the exchequer, sources revealed.
The government introduced the amnesty scheme last month through FBR SRO 172(I)/2013 dated March 05, 2013 to legitimise thousands of smuggled and non-duty paid vehicles.
Prior to launching of the amnesty scheme, FBR had initiated a drive and impounded a large number of smuggled or non-duty paid vehicles to comply a case regarding Balochistan law and order.
FBR informed the Supreme Court of Pakistan that about 33,000 smuggled vehicles were yet to be cleared. However, till the end of amnesty scheme on April 06, 2013, around 60,000 vehicles had been cleared under the scheme. Despite the impressive response, thousands of owners of these vehicles, who intended to get cleared their vehicles, failed to meet the deadline.
Earlier, FBR had repeatedly announced that it would intensify its drive against illegal vehicles after the expiry of the amnesty scheme. FBR said that instructions had been issued to the Customs field formations to impound such vehicles, besides lodging FIRs against the owners of these vehicles, provided that their vehicles were illegal and not cleared under the amnesty scheme.
