Customs authorities at Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad have seized huge quantities of antiques/artifacts from export consignment destined for Japan. According to details, the export consignment cleared vide GD # SICE-SB-20, dated 5.8.2017, (Sialkot International Container Terminal) filed by LEO's Corporation, Al Rehman Centre, Defence Road, Sialkot, on behalf of exporter M/s B2B Traders, Sialkot, was reexamined. Contrary to the declaration as "decoration items" found valuable antiquities which have been confirmed by the Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums, Islamabad.
The consignment included; 10 items are counterfeit statues of the Buddha (Gandhara Art) and 06 items are original antiquities having Indo-Iranian influence of 2nd to 5th Century AD made of gold thin sheet (337 grams). All the said artifacts/ antiquities are banned under Section 24(2) and Section 35 of Antiquities Act, 1975. The consignment has been seized and FIR is being registered against the culprits. Further investigation is underway.