ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to give cash rewards to the officers of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) engaged in seizure of smuggled goods and vehicles.

The FBR has proposed amendments in the Customs Reward Rules, 2012 through a notification issued here on Thursday.

Presently, customs officers and officials are eligible for the cash rewards.

The scope of the Customs Reward Rules, 2012 has been extended to the officers and officials of the law enforcement agencies.

The amount of rewards would be available as per provisions of the Customs Reward Rules, 2012.

Under the revised rules, rewards would also be available to the officers and officials of other LEAs who assist Customs officers and officials or are actually instrumental in seizure of smuggled goods and vehicles as confirmed by the respective Collectorate of Customs, for their meritorious conduct in such cases only after realisation of part or whole of the duty and taxes involved in such cases, it added.

The Covid-19 (Prevention of Smuggling) Ordinance, 2020, has empowered the law enforcement agencies and the customs to impose heavy fines on smugglers of foreign currency, gold/silver, precious stones, sugar, onions, pulses, salt, potatoes, gur, rice, wheat/flour, chemical fertilisers, livestock, maize, edible oil, and therapeutic goods.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021