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The Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation Wing of Pakistan Customs has taken measures to curb smuggling of tyres in the country. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, after recent media reports regarding huge loss of revenue due to the smuggling of tyres, had ordered strict measures against the menace of smuggling which on the one hand will improve writ of the government and on the other strengthen the revenue earning arm of the government.
In this connection, Customs intelligence and investigation teams have taken action against smuggled tyres in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Customs officials have been entrusted by law to take action against such activities and the finance ministry is monitoring the measures taken by the Federal Board of Revenue to root out illegal practices of under invoicing and smuggling of tyres, cigarettes, tea and petrol/diesel which are depriving government of around Rs 50 billion annually, out of which almost Rs 15 billion is lost due to smuggling of tyres only.
According to information received here, Director of Customs Intelligence Lahore Mukarram Jah supervised a raid in Lahore's Sabzi Mandi area recently. The team was headed by Superintendent Rauf Farooqui and it confiscated 912 LEDs and 180 tyres that were concealed in a warehouse.
"Under the Customs Act 1969 we have comprehensive mechanism for preventing smuggling, moreover, smuggling of goods into or out of Pakistan is an offence under section 156 of the Act. Similarly abetting smuggling or dealing with the smuggled goods in any manner like acquiring possession, removing, depositing and keeping etc are also offences prescribed under the Act," said a customs official on condition of anonymity.
Shortage of staff, scarcity of funds and inadequate logistic facilities have greatly impeded activities of the operational staff. Involvement of huge amounts of black money in this illicit trade is perhaps the most important motivating factor and it could lead to widespread corruption among the relevant officials.
Despite of such challenges the Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation of Customs and high-ups of FBR are committed to bring a change and such raids in Lahore and other cities are testimony of their resolve and similar raids will soon be conducted in other parts of the country.
Customs check posts would also be playing a key role in breaking the ring which is helping smugglers transport smuggled goods especially tyres through the two land routes namely Chaman and Landi Kotal taking the cover of the transit trade. Customs I&I has the power to search a place and vehicle under sections 162, 163 and 164. Any authorised officer of the customs can search with or without warrant in the same manner as provided under the Code of Criminal Procedures.
FBR would be setting up Customs check posts every 50 to 100 kms on roads heading into the country from Chaman and Landi Kotal. "Multiple check posts will hinder easy flow of tyres and other smuggled goods and confiscation of the same would discourage smugglers to carry on their activities," the Customs official added. It is estimated that the government is losing approximately Rs 15 billion annually due to the smuggling of over 2.5 million tyres a year into the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014

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