The government is likely to allow Frontier Corps (FC), deployed in NWFP and Balochistan, to carry out anti-smuggling function, along the Pak-Afghan border, for controlling movement of ghee, cooking oil, meat, pulses and other commodities of daily use.
Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has referred the matter to the Federal Food Committee (FFC) for taking appropriate decision in the matter. It is proposed to enhance the jurisdiction of Customs Act 1969 enabling the Frontier Corps, in NWFP and Balochistan, to check any smuggling of pulses, ghee, cooking oil and meat/poultry etc across Pak-Afghan border.
Sources said that the board had extended powers to FC under the Customs Act 1969 to ensure greater vigilance on possible smuggling of wheat from Pakistan to Afghanistan. The powers will remain delegated to the Frontier Corps till March 31, 2008.
Sources said that the board had withdrawn the anti-smuggling powers of Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Frontier Constabulary and Rangers in 2006. The customs department remained the sole anti-smuggling agency performing functions under the Customs Act following withdrawal of these powers. They said that the tax authorities had repeatedly conveyed to the government that anti-smuggling agencies were misusing the powers and, instead of controlling smuggling, it was being 'encouraged' by them.
The anti-smuggling data shows that out of total confiscated goods, over 50 percent were seized by customs and the remaining confiscated by 8-10 anti-smuggling agencies operating in the country. Now, the FBR may restore the anti-smuggling powers of FC to check smuggling of other commodities as well, sources added.
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