ISLAMABAD: The government has legally bound Border Military Police (BMP), operating in D G Khan and Rajanpur to assist officers of Pakistan Customs in discharge of their official functions including anti-smuggling operations.
The FBR has proposed a number of amendments in the Customs Act to deal with the issue of smuggling and enforcement actions against the smugglers.
Finance Bill 2020 has proposed amendment in section 7 of the Customs Act to legally bound Border Military Police (BMP), operating in D G Khan and Rajanpur to assist officers of Pakistan Customs in discharge of their official functions.
On the recommendation of National Tariff Commission (NTC), Finance Bill has clarified that repayment of duty and taxes includes additional customs duty, regulatory duty or special customs duty, whatever the case may be.
Finance Bill seeks to amend section 2(s) of the Customs Act to include transportation, storage and safe-keeping of smuggled goods in the definition of smuggling to render it more comprehensive. The government has also proposed amendment in the Customs Act to differentiate general passengers or crew at the airport making false declaration or who fail to declare from unscrupulous elements with intent of smuggling.
The FBR has also rationalised the punishments for smuggling of goods in a cascading manner and making them consistent with the Covid-19 (Prevention of Smuggling) Ordinance, 2020.
The FBR has also specifically prescribe punishments for smuggling of currency, gold and other precious metals and stones in any form, with the intent of smuggling, commensurate with the Covid-19 (Prevention of Smuggling) Ordinance.
Through Finance Bill 2020, the FBR has enabled customs authorities to proceed against the properties, acquired by a person in his own name or in the name of someone else, by the proceeds of smuggling and also to make him liable to prove evidence of the lawful possession of such properties.
The FBR has proposed amendments in Customs Act to decrease the time for deciding appeals in cases of smuggling under section 2(s) from sixty to thirty days for their expeditious disposal.