Business

Interior ministry asks FBR to curb smuggling

100% increase in smuggling of animals recorded before Eid, says ministry.

Express November 21, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has instructed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to adopt a consolidated approach and implement firm measures to curb the smuggling of livestock to Afghanistan and Iran.

According to a senior official of the FBR, the interior ministry communicated in a letter to the FBR that the smuggling of livestock, including goats, cows and sheep, doubled during the days leading up to Eidul Azha. The letter said that if this continued unchecked, then the country will face a serious shortage of meat and livestock.

The ministry has suggested that the FBR restore anti-smuggling operations as part of the jurisdiction of levies, Frontier Corps, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Rangers, amongst other paramilitary forces to address this issue.

In response, the FBR has issued orders to the intelligence and investigation department, the customs department and the anti-smuggling wing. The FBR is also considering commissioning a study on the smuggling of livestock.

Sources indicate that the FBR is gathering data and intelligence on those involved in the smuggling of livestock and will take action against the smugglers soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2010.

COMMENTS (3)

zarlashta | 14 years ago | Reply @Asrar Ahmed If we fence the Pak Afghan border then how will we export our home grown commodity to Afghanistan??? And we have an abundant supply of this commodity..... The FBR has clipped the powers of Customs for more than a decade in the name of facilitating tax payers thereby legitimising smuggling. If you issue a single notice to tax defaulters, the FBR comes gunning straight for your neck, not that such notices are paid heed to by anyone under the sun. We are suffering from the Development Syndrome.....Western Tax Systems in a country where there is no enabling environment for implementing such systems. No wonder the tax to GDP ratio has gone down to a measly 8.5% from 13.2% after a decade of tax reforms and hundreds of million dollars in expenses. What we need to do is to take a leaf out of the book of our next door neighbour and adopt a mixture of the Western Tax system along with indigenous elements which would be suitable to the genius of the Pakistani people otherwise we will keep on popping up the begging bowl on seeing any fair skinned guy or woman. But who will do this? No one, so better not waste your time on such nonsense and start looking for the greener pastures. Regards

Asrar Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply I fully agree with comments of HEGAN. Pakistan needs to get serious about real problems facing the country. Livestock smuggling is a small problem compared to massive smuggling in Afghan Transit Trade and under invoicing. All types of smuggling needs to be stopped. Part of the problem is PACCS. Install security cameras on Pak-Afghan border, install barb wire fence on the border crossing points; conduct massive raids on bara markets......you will start getting results very soon. We all have Pakistanis have to raise to the occasion and jointly face the problems facing the country. can someone carry out Management audit of FBR and Pakistan Customs?

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