To effectively check smuggling through motorways, National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) would be legally bound to assist customs officers of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to control movement of smuggled goods on motorways. Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that Finance Bill 2017 has made an amendment in section 7 of the Customs Act, 1969 to ensure assistance of motorway police to conduct anti-smuggling activities with the help of customs department. Now, it would be legal obligation of the motorway police to assist the customs department on motorways used for smuggling of goods. With the help of motorway police, customs can timely intercept vehicles based on information-based enforcement actions.
The Inland Revenue Service (IRS) officers covering income tax officers are also required to assist the customs department in anti-smuggling operations across the country, sources said. According to details, section 7 of the Customs Act, 1969 requires all officers of Federal Excise, Police etc. to assist officers of Customs in discharge of their functions. However, the federal excise officers are now part of the Inland Revenue Department. In addition, inclusion of the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) in this provision of law is imperative as Customs enforcement regularly needs their assistance for specific information-based checking of vehicles on Motorway/National Highway.
It is proposed to address both the issues by amending Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1969 to include reference to both the officers of Inland Revenue and NH&MP, enabling enhanced synergy between both operational wings of the FBR as well as allowing for co-ordinated enforcement efforts to interdict movement of smuggled goods on the National Motorways/Highways.