ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Customs (Operations) Shakeel Shah said Wednesday that the ongoing smuggling has caused a revenue loss of Rs 750 billion (USD2.7 billion) to Pakistan’s formal and documented economy.
As per details, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance discussed the proposed PSDP (2026-27) for the FBR, with a total PSPD allocation of Rs 49.22billion for the next fiscal year.
Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance held here on Wednesday, the FBR has projected to recover an amount of Rs 250 billion from the implementation of the Digital Enforcement Stations for the prevention of smuggling and illicit trade.
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FBR Member said that the anti-smuggling activities in Balochistan have resulted in additional revenue of Rs 188 billion from the petroleum sector alone.
He said that the smuggling has distorted the domestic market, suppressed legitimate businesses, and fosters parallel economy. The conventional anti-smuggling approach has shown limited success due to security issues, geographic constraints, and resource limitations. The intervention included the establishment of 25 DCS and the upgradation of 10 strategic check posts in Balochistan, he said.
He said that the technology-led enforcement stations would track and monitor vehicles, as well as, goods.
According to the Finance Act 2025, the Board may, by a notification in the official Gazette, declare places to be Digital Enforcement Stations at such locations as deemed appropriate for the prevention of smuggling and illicit trade. The Board may notify any existing customs check-post as a Digital Enforcement Station.
The Board may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for staffing, operations, and technological enablement of the Digital Enforcement Station.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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