Plastic granules: FBR directed to control smuggling

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to control smuggling of plastic granules into the country and called for taking appropriate steps in this regard. Chairing the committee, Khawaja Suhail Mansoor said that billions of rupees in losses had incurred due to the smuggling. “More than 20,000 bags of plastic granules per day were being smuggled from Iran into Pakistan but the FBR has not taken any action against the menace,” he added.  “The FBR is doing its best to control it, besides facing shortage of resources and staff,” said FBR Custom Member Muhammad Riaz while speaking in the committee. The committee directed the FBR to gear up its efforts to control the smuggling especially on the borders of Iran and Afghanistan with Pakistan. The committee was informed that 3% of goods transported to Afghanistan were carried by the National Logistic Cell while 97% by the private carriers and railways.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2012.