The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has assigned the task to Directorate of Intelligence, Customs and Excise, for devising a comprehensive and workable strategy, in consultation with all the collectorates of customs to eliminate the smuggling menace from the country, which is badly affecting the local industry.
The Director General, Directorate of Intelligence, Customs and Federal Excise, Major General Usman Shah (Retd), has started studying various proposals to formulate an effective strategy in the light of the directives of the CBR, and also held a meeting with customs collectors of Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Sambrial here on Saturday.
The meeting, which held at Customs House Lahore, lasted for around six hours. In the meeting, various proposals and possible ways and means were discussed in detail to address the issues pertaining to menace of smuggling in a more effective manner, sources told Business Recorder.
It was learnt that participants from the collectorates suggested that first of all borders and quantum of smuggling must be identified before moving ahead with the issue.
There were, however, conflicting views over the issue of establishment of 'Nakas' in cities, as some of the officials were of the view that in past such steps had not been able to produce any desired results and resultantly the menace of smuggling kept growing.
Customs officials should focus on tightening vigilance on borders, which were the source of smuggling, while information network should be made more effective and scientific, an official privy to the meeting informed Business Recorder, saying the next meeting would be held soon at Karachi.
He said the directorate will devise a strategy in the light of suggestions to be put forward at these meetings. It may be pointed out that CBR Chairman Abdullah Yousuf, soon after assuming the charge of his office, had announced that the menace of smuggling would be controlled through fiscal regime and tariff rationalisation.
Subsequently, on various occasions, he frequently talked of this tariff or fiscal regime and cited the example of smuggling of tyres, which, in his words, had completely halted through such measures.
Moreover, it was also decided to redefine the role of customs and now there are reports that the Customs Intelligence Directorate will be re-organised, re-named and its role will be re-defined with a view to making it more effective and functional. Its powers will also be enhanced and for this purpose, while the government has recently withdrawn the powers of police department. There are also reports that such powers from Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies are also being withdrawn.