KARACHI: In order to eliminate smuggling, the government has proposed harsh punishments for persons involved in smuggling goods in or out of Pakistan.
If the value of the smuggled goods is from Rs150,001 to Rs3,000,000 (both inclusive); such goods shall be liable to confiscation and any person concerned in the offence shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding the value of the goods; and upon conviction by a Special Judge he shall further be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
if the value of the goods is from PKR 3,000,001 to 5,000,000 (both inclusive); such goods shall be liable to confiscation and any person concerned in the offence shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two times the value of the goods; and upon conviction by a Special Judge he shall further be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years: Provided that the sentence of the imprisonment shall not be less than two years.
If the value of the smuggled goods is from PKR 5,000,001 to 7,500,000 (both inclusive); such goods shall be liable to confiscation and any person concerned in the offence shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding three times the value of the goods; and upon conviction by a Special Judge he shall further be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years: Provided that the sentence of the imprisonment shall not be less than two and half years.
If the value of the smuggled goods is from PKR 7,500,001 to 10,000,000 (both inclusive); such goods shall be liable to confiscation and any person concerned in the offence shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding four times the value of the goods; and upon conviction by a Special Judge he shall further be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years: Provided that the sentence of the imprisonment shall not be less than three years.
if the value of the goods exceeds PKR 10,000,000; such goods shall be liable to confiscation and any person concerned in the offence shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five times the value of the goods; and upon conviction by a Special Judge he shall further be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years: Provided that the sentence of the imprisonment shall not be less than five years and the whole or any part of his moveable and immoveable assets and property shall also be liable to forfeiture in accordance with section 187 of the Customs Act, 1969.
In the case of such goods as may be notified by the Federal Government in the official Gazette, the sentence of imprisonment shall not be less than five years and the whole or any part of his property shall also be liable to forfeiture.
Moreover, the government has also proposed several measures to discipline Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers and officials.