The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has turned down the proposal to restore customs check-posts for controlling growing volume of smuggling, particularly in Balochistan and NWFP. It is learnt that CBR Customs Wing has detected massive increase in smuggling since abolition of the customs check posts.
The Board has implemented 'free road policy' since July 2005 by removing all customs mobile squads and check posts from the highways. The decision was taken keeping in view daily complaints against customs officials at the checks posts, etc.
Recently, the concerned officials visited border areas in NWFP and Balochistan to check smuggling after abolition of check posts. It has been estimated that smuggling has increased manifold due to adoption of 'free road policy'.
Instead of controlling smuggling through information based networks, the smugglers are freely using trucks, buses and other vehicles to bring duty unpaid items through border areas. Keeping this in view, the department wanted to re-activate mobile customs squad, etc, under a revised anti-smuggling policy to curtail the volume of illicit trade.
However, the Board wanted to continue with the policy of facilitating the general public without harassing them. Therefore, customs would only pursue specific information-based anti-smuggling policy, and its functionaries performing these operations are required to be in official uniform and holding official departmental cards showing their photograph, name, designation and place of posting.
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