Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Chief Collector Customs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saeed Akram on Thursday said that in the past four months, customs authorities have seized a record of contraband and custom-paid items worth millions of rupees.
Chief Collector Custom Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saeed Akram was speaking to journalists at Torkham Zero Point. He said that they have taken concrete steps to curb smuggling in all its ways and means. He said strict directives have been issued to all Khyber Pakhtunkhwa customs officials to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against all kinds of smuggling.
The official said Pakistan recently imposed a ban on the export of a number of items to Afghanistan that had been smuggled back to Pakistan. He said they have seized a record of non-custom paid items including non-custom paid vehicles.
He said the federal government had instructed all concerned departments to take strict actions so that they could stabilise the shrinking economy of Pakistan. He said through transit trade a number of items were being exported to Afghanistan from Pakistan which was not being used in Afghanistan but smuggled back to Pakistan.
Saeed Akram said in the past four months Pakistan customs along with the other sister departments have continued raids to discourage smuggling. He said soon the positive impact on the fragile economy could be seen.
He said in 120 raids conducted in the past four months customs authorities have recovered 950 million rupees worth non-custom paid items. He said the seized items included clothes, tyres, cosmetics items and other contraband.
The Customs chief also met with traders, and officials and inspected various customs offices in Torkham. He assured the traders that he would take every possible step to enhance bilateral business with Afghanistan and Central Asian States.
