The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) will not be able to control the menace of smuggling till the 'Bara' markets in NWFP and Balochistan, which are primary source of supply of smuggled goods in Punjab and Sindh, are effectively controlled through anti-smuggling efforts.
A CBR analysis on these markets has shown that the so-called Bara markets in Karkhana Bazar, Peshawar, and others in Nowshera and Quetta, are the main source of supply of smuggled merchandise to other cities and towns.
The Karkhana Bazar in Peshawar is owned by the Political Administration of Kyhber Agency and the shops are allocated to tribal people to ensure political influence in their areas. This ensures total domination of tribal leaders in the Bara markets of NWFP and Balochistan.
According to CBR, it is ironic that one arm of government (Customs) is making anti-smuggling efforts to eradicate smuggling, whereas another arm (the political administration of tribal area) is patronising the main markets of smuggled goods.
The CBR report says that smuggled goods are sold in shopping centres of Punjab and NWFP which are either owned by the government, or located in areas next to the seat of government. This is an alarming situation as so-called Bara markets are being set up in main bazaars without any check by government agencies.
It points out that the scope of Customs Act, 1969 was extended in FATA and PATA long ago. However, the Political Agents, who have been entrusted with customs powers, hardly enforce them in FATA/PATA. On the contrary, the functionaries of Political administration in these areas allows free flow of smuggled goods, against collection of token/negligible amount of illegally imposed tax per mule/horse/camel/wagon/truck. There is an immediate need to stop the establishment of joint check-posts and custom stations in these areas as it will be of no benefit until and unless the Political Agents are held responsible for stopping smuggling activity, the CBR report says.
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