The Minister of Finance, Shaukat Tarin, has accepted a proposal of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to restore anti-smuggling check posts across the country. Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that at present anti-smuggling posts are not operating anywhere in the country. These posts were abolished in the past. FBR Member Customs has informed the authorities that these posts helped in great deal in creating deterrence against smuggling.
He suggested that these posts may be re-activated to discourage the illicit trade. The Finance Minister has agreed with the proposal, and the FBR has decided to re-activate anti-smuggling posts. In this regard, the FBR has issued instructions to the Member, Customs Operations, and Member, Tax Policy Customs for immediate re-activation of anti-smuggling check posts across the country. Customs check posts and mobile squads were replaced with the information based system to check smuggling.
Under the policy, customs mobile squads were abolished to facilitate the general public without causing harassment to them. Presently, customs 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 card containing their photograph, name and designation and place of posting.
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