KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed all the customs collectorates to prevent illegal import of LPG through Pakistan-Iran and Pakistan-Iran border as substandard smuggled LPG is threat to public safety.
In a letter sent to the Collector of Customs, Model Collectorate of Customs, Appraisement (East/West)/Preventive, MCC Muhammad Bin Qasim, Lahore (Appraisement/Preventive), Hyderabad, Multan, Faisalabad, Sambrial, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gwadar and Quetta, the FBR directed that it had received letter from Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) showing concerns on illegal import of LPG.
Earlier, Ogra informed the FBR that substandard LPG having low specification was being smuggled from Iran and Afghanistan by road which was a matter of serious concern both for local LPG industry as well as public safety.
Ogra said that LPG is highly inflammable and its handling required expertise, LPG easily leads to leakage which consequently can cause an explosion thus endangering public safety. It said that LPG (Production and Distribution) Rules, 2001 prohibits any LPG activity without having license. Only licensed LPG marketing companies are allowed to import LPG.
Ogra has requested to advise the concerned customs authorities at the Pak-Iran and Pak-Afghanistan border to curb the illegal import of LPG in cylinder/bowzers and maintain record of the licensed companies who import LPG by road. The requisite record may kinkdly be forwarded to Ogra for necessary action, it said.