20000328

Setting up new

check posts to curb

smuggling under study

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The federal government is considering establishment of new customs check posts on inter-provincial exit/entry points and several other places like Rukhni (Quetta-D.G.Khan route), Kafif (Zhob-D.I.Khan route), Dera Murad Jamali (Quetta-Jacobabad route).

The participants of the Regional Anti-Smuggling Coordination Committee meeting held at Customs House, Quetta, early this month were informed that there was a need to check the flow of smuggling of Irani products including P.O.L. to the interior of the country which was taking place mostly via Khuzdar-Sibi and Khuzdar-Bella routes,

Similar trend has been adopted by the smugglers through Nall-Mashkhali-Awaran and Hoshab-Khuzdar routes. Oil tankers also adopt un-frequented routes via west defile of Durrejay-Sagran-Bela areas. It was suggested in the meeting which was chaired by the Collector of Customs, Sales Tax and Central Excise, Quetta, that a customs check post be established at Nall and Bela to effectively cope with the changing smuggling trends at these two points.

Smugglers used to change the technique frequently in order to hoodwink the anti-smuggling agencies by using the main/frequented as well as un-frequented routes at their choice. It was also suggested that besides establishment of check posts on the above mentioned points, a parallel system of mobile units can also be deployed to combat with the menace of smuggling particularly liquor, charas and heroin. The present customs check post at Khurkhera be strengthened as the big seizures of heroin and charas etc, have been effected during the last week of February, 2000 at the said post.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Quetta assured the meeting that even services of traffic police can be utilised in the cities in regard to the seizure of smuggled vehicles plying in the cities after the lapse of amnesty scheme. The meeting was informed that a number of people were bringing vehicles from across the border and paying customs duty and taxes on reduced/depreciated values to the disadvantage to the national exchequer.

Only such vehicles are produced to the customs at the notified stations such as Quetta, Zhob, Panjgoor, Gaddani etc, which are far of from the international borders, being assessed for payment of customs duty and taxes under the amnesty scheme. Customs have no record of vehicles currently crossing border points and enter in to the country since the borders are guarded by Frontier Corps of Balochistan. About 1500 vehicles have been regularised so far under the amnesty scheme.

The DIG, Quetta also conveyed the concern of the provincial government regarding the smuggling of Afghan origin marbles and the aspect of loss of revenue to the government on one side and its adverse affects on the local mining industry on the other side.

He, therefore, proposed that effective measures be adopted by all the anti-smuggling agencies to curb the flow of Afghani marble into Pakistan. It was suggested that the Mineral Development Department should be instructed not to issue the certificate for smuggled marble as of Pakistani origin. The Collector of Customs informed the meeting that recommendations have been forwarded to the Central Board of Revenue to notify land customs station Dalbandin for clearance of Afghan origin goods like marble, wool, hide and skins etc. and the case is presently under consideration of CBR.