Smuggling of food items: Customs authorities asked to deploy all possible resources

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Saturday directed Customs authorities including Customs Intelligence department to immediately deploy all possible resources for controlling smuggling of food items. In this regard, the FBR has issued instructions to the Director General, Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation, Chief Collector of Customs (Enforcement-Central), Lahore, Chief Collector of Customs (Enforcement-South), Karachi, Chief Collector of Customs (Balochistan), Quetta and Chief Collector of Customs (North), Islamabad.

According to the FBR, Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken serious view of the shortage of food items i.e. sugar, wheat/ wheat flour, maize, Maida, poultry, fresh fruits, vegetables and livestock etc in the country and one of the reasons of the shortage has been attributed to possible smuggling of these food items to the neighbouring countries especially Afghanistan.

The PM has directed that all efforts may be made to control the smuggling of these food items out of the country. Therefore, the Customs authorities are directed to deploy all their possible resources for the said task and make all endeavors in their areas of jurisdiction to control the smuggling, specially of food items.

The Customs authorities should also keep close liaison with Law Enforcement Agencies. Strict vigilance may also be kept on clearance of export consignments to thwart any attempt of misdeclaration/ smuggling of these items in the garb of normal items. Moreover, the detail of steps already taken and its results may also be shared with the Board. A fortnightly report may be sent by the Directorate General of I&I - Customs and Chief Collectors highlighting anti-smuggling performance in their areas, FBR's instructions added.