Pakistan Customs seizes gold, silver worth over Rs306m at airports
- Customs officials note a sharp rise in silver smuggling attempts, driven by soaring prices
Pakistan Customs has seized gold and silver valued at more than Rs306 million at international airports during the first five months of FY26, according to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Data released on Friday shows that authorities intercepted 234.133 tolas (2.73 kg) of gold worth Rs100.67 million, along with 30,785 tolas (359 kg) of silver valued at Rs205.67 million.
Customs officials noted a sharp rise in silver smuggling attempts, driven by soaring prices. Silver imports are tightly regulated by the State Bank of Pakistan and the Ministry of Commerce, yet market assessments indicate that silver, traditionally viewed as the “poor man’s gold”, has more than doubled in price over the past ten months, outpacing gold in percentage gains.
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Authorities believe the steep appreciation has incentivised smugglers to exploit international travel routes to bring silver into the country.
The FBR reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the national economy, saying it remains focused on curbing smuggling and mitigating its negative impacts.