QUETTA: Customs Quetta is pursuing a rigorous crack down on smuggling and during the course recovered Rs1.864 billion worth of smuggled including sugar, urea fertilizer and other contraband goods during the month of April 2023.
Prime Minister of Pakistan had advised to launch a crackdown against the smuggling of essential items from Pakistan to the neighboring countries, which had caused shortage and price fluctuation of such commodities.
Under directives from Chief Collector Baluchistan Muhammad Saleem, Customs Quetta increased vigilance, strengthened information network and coordinated with other security agencies. This huge quantity of Pak Origin Fertilizer Urea & Sugar and other goods are record activity during a single month and is a major blow to smugglers.
After major reshuffling the Staff of Balochistan Customs especially Quetta Enforcement launched huge operation against the smuggling mafia in its jurisdiction annexed to Iran and Afghanistan with the assistance of FC, Police, Levies and other District Administration.
Muhammad Saleem chief Collector Balochistan lead role in conducting the operations in association with the other law enforcement agencies in certain remote and far flung areas of the Balochistan was a tough job.
During the month of April around 400 Matric Ton Sugar and 346 Matric Ton Urea fertilizer were recovered in certain parts of the Customs Quetta Jurisdiction. Total value of the said essential commodities were Rs750 million. Meanwhile Rs1.1 billion worth of other contraband goods were also recovered in certain activities.
From July 2022 to March 2023, 2059 Matric ton Sugar and Urea was recovered by Balochistan Customs. The Staff of Balochistan Customs are performing their duties in remote and dangerous areas with very meagre staff. Around 500 staff i.e. from sepoys to Superintendent are performing their duties in field. Custom Staff faces very stiff resistance from powerful smuggling mafia helped by local people.
Mr. Tariq Pasha Advisor to PM on Economic affairs and chairman FBR Muhammad Asim directed Member Customs Mukaram Jah and Further Chief Collector Balochistan customs Muhammad Saleem, to initiate strict measurement against the said smuggling and especially essential commodities.
With the direction of Federal Government Pakistan Customs created numerous check posts with neighboring countries borders and deputed staff to coordinate with FC and local administration.
Thus during the ongoing operations against the smuggling of essential commodities, the Customs Authorities face numerous pressure from local elite to Transporter and smugglers during the month of April few major operation have successfully foiled attempts to smuggle huge quantities of essential commodities to Afghanistan which is a severe blow to the smuggling mafia.
Chief Collector Muhammad Saleem and Collector Irfan ur Rehman congratulated the enforcement Team and supervisory officers for their extra ordinary efforts in controlling the menace of smuggling of essential items from Pakistan.