QUETTA: Director I&I Quetta, Saeed Wattoo, had uncovered a major case of solvent oil smuggling from Iran to Punjab via the Taftan border. Acting on this intelligence, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated a comprehensive investigation targeting numerous Customs officials from Multan and Sargodha.
The Customs Enforcement wing in Punjab has been mobilized to probe the involvement of these officials, who are suspected of facilitating the illicit transport of solvent oil. The investigation is being led by Collector Multan, Imran Sajjad Bukhari, who has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer. The inquiry would determine whether it was smuggling or the solvent oil was imported and cleared by some mistake.
In a related move, the FBR has announced a one-time waiver for all tankers and containers carrying petroleum products, petrochemicals, and chemicals imported before August 15, 2024. This waiver, which comes with a penalty of Rs. 300,000, aims to regularize the import of these products under the Petroleum Act, 1934. Importers who have ordered or booked their consignments before the specified date are also eligible for this relaxation.
However, the waiver does not extend to petroleum products imported or ordered after August 15, 2024. These consignments will be subject to the existing rules and policies. Importers benefiting from the waiver are required to apply for the necessary licenses under the Petroleum Rules, 1937, without delay. The conditions outlined in the Division’s letter dated August 15, 2024, remain unchanged.
All applications from importers are being forwarded to the Department of Energy (DOE) for processing in accordance with the recent decisions and the Division’s directives. The DOE has also been instructed to provide updated data on all tankers and containers confiscated at Pakistan’s dry ports for record-keeping purposes.
This investigation underscores the FBR’s commitment to combating smuggling and ensuring compliance with national regulations. The findings of the inquiry are eagerly awaited as they will shed light on the extent of the smuggling network and the involvement of Customs officials.