As part of the precautionary measures being taken in the wake of the deadly Beirut port blast that killed at least 190 people and left over 6,000 wounded last month, Pakistan Customs officials have handed over confiscated explosive material to Pakistan Army.
Moreover, mechanisms are being devised with the assistance of port authorities and container terminal operators in order to ensure the safe storage and handling of hazardous and flammable imported goods, said Customs Enforcement chief collector Saifuddin Junejo while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Friday.
He said a new department, the Directorate General of Marines, was being set up by Pakistan Customs to curb smuggling via sea routes, which would include officials of the customs preventive department and those from Gwadar port.
Between July and September, Customs officials registered 92 per cent more cases as compared to the same period in 2019, and seized smuggled goods including 200 vehicles worth Rs10 billion.
Junejo said that the Customs Marine Force was also being formed for operations on the high seas, and would take action against smugglers with the help of modern equipment and boats.
He further said that amid the Covid-19 outbreak, 61 imported products used in the production of personal protective equipment had been exempted from all duties and taxes. According to him, the supply chain of medicines and food also remained unaffected during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
“The Pakistan Customs is extending all-out support to traders in order to boost the country’s exports and an automated system has also been introduced for the prompt release of duty drawbacks,” claimed the official.
Junejo said they had also developed a module to promote e-commerce in the country.
He added that the prevention unit had recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of heroin to Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.
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