Following abolition of customs and provincial governments check-posts, the government has decided to install 18 scanners at the joint check-posts to be set up at sensitive areas, including Northern Areas, to check movement of contraband goods.
Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that the joint check-posts would comprise staff from customs, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Civil Armed Forces to check flow of arms and ammunition, explosive material, lethal cargo and contraband items.
The 'sensitive check-posts' would be primarily set up for installation of scanners to use electronic means at border areas and provincial border areas. Sources said that the Ministry of Interior has completed preliminary work on the project to use both fixed and mobile scanners for this purpose.
The Ministry is co-ordinating with other departments for early finalisation of the plan. The Ministry is of the view that the idea of establishing such check-posts would only be applicable in case scanners are installed there.
It is important to mention that the Central Board of Revenue had implemented 'free road policy' since July 2005 by removing all customs mobile squads and check-posts from the highways. Presently, customs pursues only specific information-based anti-smuggling policy, and its functionaries performing these operations are required to be in official uniform and holding official departmental cards containing their photograph, name and designation and place of posting.
Sources said that anti-smuggling powers of law enforcement agencies, including police, Coast Guards, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary, have been withdrawn. Under the same policy, the provincial governments have also removed all check-posts and squads of different provincial departments, including excise, to relieve people of unnecessary checks by different government departments.
As all departments have abolished such check-posts, there is no possibility of routine checks of vehicles and persons for carrying out anti-smuggling activities by other departments.
Now, it seems that the Ministry of Interior's idea of reviving the joint check-posts and installation of sophisticated scanners is a new one. The Ministry would also inform the ANF, provincial governments about the new strategy of constituting 'sensitive joint check-posts' across the country.