Pakistan Customs seizes Rs2.25bn worth of essential commodities

September 09, 2023 (MLN): Pakistan Customs seized large quantities of essential commodities worth approximately Rs2.25 billion during the last fortnight in various operations across the country, including Quetta, D.I. Khan, Multan, Karachi, Sargodha, and Lahore regions, according to a press release issued today.

The major seized essential commodities included sugar, urea, POL, Pak currency as well as tyres, black tea, betel nuts, vehicles, iron, steel and other goods.

These smuggled goods are transported via trucks and in the case of passenger vehicles in smaller quantities to the main urban centers.

 Being aware of this phenomenon, Pakistan Customs has intensified the smuggling operations and started a crackdown against the smuggled goods especially Essential Commodities, POL, Currency, and other goods.  

In the Balochistan region on 2nd September, Customs Enforcement-Quetta seized 1,637 tons of sugar worth approximately Rs1 billion from smugglers in a convoy of 15 trucks.

This was followed by a massive seizure of smuggled goods and vehicles, worth Rs519 million on Daraban-Darazinda Road DIK on 3rd Sep 2023 in collaboration with local police and 218,000 liters of smuggled POL/diesel, valuing approximately Rs137.6m by Customs Enforcement-D.I. Khan.

Last week, Customs Enforcement – Karachi disrupted the flow of smuggled POL by seizing Iranian origin 115,000 liters of diesel and 30,000 liters of petrol. 

Moreover, strict instructions to the anti-smuggling formations including mobile squads of the Collectorates and airports have been issued to keep vigilance on the illicit movement of essential goods/commodities, Iranian POL, and currency.

Chairman FBR Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana and Member Customs (Operations) Ms. Zeba Hai Azhar have appreciated Pakistan Customs for taking timely action to thwart the smuggling of essential goods.

Pakistan Customs is committed to eliminating the menace of smuggling and will continue intensifying its anti-smuggling operations nationwide.

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