Crime on wheels: ‘Enforce registration policy of NCP vehicles

IGP writes to chief secretary to draw his attention to smuggled cars


Our Correspondent October 20, 2014

PESHAWAR:


IGP Nasir Durrani has written to the provincial government urging it to enforce the Customs Act 1969 in Malakand Division and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in order to register non-customs paid (NCP) vehicles.


According to the letter sent to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief secretary, interior ministry secretary and Federal Board of Revenue chairman, although the Customs Act 1969 has been extended to Malakand Division, it remains unenforced. Therefore, the area is the most attractive destination for non-customs paid vehicles which are smuggled into Pakistan from Afghanistan.



Moreover, since these vehicles do not have any formal documentation such as shipment details and proof of ownership, they go uninspected by the local customs office and unregistered by the excise department and are then easily smuggled to other parts of the country, the letter states.

Stating that the phenomenon poses a threat to law and order, the letter adds non-customs paid vehicles are increasingly being used by criminals and militants across the country because there is no mechanism for ascertaining and verifying their ownership. “This makes it very difficult for the police to investigate and apprehend those who use non-customs paid vehicles for their activities.”

Through the dispatch, IGP Durrani informed the government around 23,000 non-customs paid vehicles were brought to Malakand Division during 2013. Its adds that in 2002 the provincial government had directed Malakand police to document such vehicles and keep the records available in local police stations but the police department does not have the capacity to do so because the process  falls under the responsibilities of the excise department.

Suggestions

The IGP recommends a mechanism should be put in place for the customs department in Malakand Division and Fata to check if non-customs paid vehicles have entered the country through the proper procedure and take action if they have not.

He suggests that instead of the police department, the provincial Excise & Taxation department be tasked with registering such vehicles in Malakand Division, while in Fata, the relevant political agent be assigned the responsibility.

The letter states the provincial excise department/political agents should ascertain the vehicle’s ownership before registering it and issue a registration number only after verification of its documents.

The details should also be shared with all law-enforcements agencies and excise departments of all provinces, it adds.

According to the IGP, registering non-customs paid vehicles will not only counter the security threat but also generate revenue along with preventing such vehicles from being used in criminal and militant activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2014.

COMMENTS (1)

Raghu | 9 years ago | Reply

Its a good suggestion. And IG is a very sharp and intelligent person. Hopefully CM Khattak will look into the problem and sort it out soon.

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