Customs officials ask for help in combating smuggling

Say business community should play a role as it is most affected.

LAHORE: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation is utilising all available resources to curb smuggling: nonetheless, it has asked the business community to play its role as the menace affects trade and industry.

Director General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Samaira Nazir Khan was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Monday. She said it is unfair to claim that the Customs Intelligence and Investigation department is creating hurdles in the flow of goods in the country, and made it clear that the department acts only on specific information.

Pakistan shares long borders with Iran, Afghanistan and China, and despite Customs’ best efforts, smuggling through these borders cannot be completely plugged. She said the department has successfully curbed the smuggling of plastic moulding compounds, while it has also achieved success on other fronts. She reiterated that the department would continue to facilitate businessmen.

“The government understands that the economy is under tremendous pressure: therefore, both public and private sectors will have to work in unison to overcome challenges,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar highlighted a number of issues faced by the business community, but laid particular stress on smuggling, under-invoicing and uniform valuation at all ports.



He deplored the fact that smuggling remains rampant, and that its scale is growing with the passage of time. He said the menace is causing losses to the national exchequer, but it is industry that bears the actual brunt of it.

“Smuggling has become a lucrative activity because firm action is not being taken against those who are involved in it,” he complained.

The LCCI President said that Customs officials associated with the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation are equipped and experienced enough to track such elements, but they still leave a lot to be desired.

He asked Customs officials deputed to check smuggling to be more active at or nearby shared borders. “But we often find them busy in stopping and checking movements of goods within the cities,” he complained.

Rebutting Khan’s claims, the LCCI president said that the smuggling of plastic raw material from Iran was fairly checked a few months ago, but has started again over the last couple of months.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2012.