KARACHI: Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive Karachi has expedited its efforts against movement and distribution of smuggled goods, as Chief Collector Enforcement South Wasif Memon has instructed tighter control over illicit trade.
In recent events, ASO MCC Preventive seized smuggled goods worth Rs2.01 million. Information was passed to the ASO staff about the dumping of smuggled diesel in New Nazimabad. The staff raided an open plot in the New Nazimabad and recovered 19,300 liters smuggled diesel worth Rs1.737 million. Moreover, 1.2 tons of betel nut worth Rs0.338 million was also seized from Kharadar area.
[the_ad id=”32940″]ASO Preventive Karachi has been quite effective against movement, dumping and distribution of smuggled goods and made several cases, and seized the goods illegally brought into the country.
Smuggling, despite current efforts to at least curb it, continues to be one of the biggest headaches of the government and local industries.
While the government heavily relies on borrowings—domestic and foreign—to finance the cost of running the country, deliver social services and set up vital infrastructure, it is still losing potentially huge revenues yearly due to smuggling.
Pakistan is losing billions of dollars worth of revenue a year, due to smuggling of several goods that are making their way through porous borders and, more alarmingly, through high sea and containerised cargo with full support of the state machinery.
A number of smuggled goods find their way in the country including high-speed diesel, vehicles, tyres, tea, auto parts, mobile phones, garments, cigarettes, plastic, television sets, steel sheets, cloth, betel nut and even contraband items.
Majority of the foreign investment has left the country and more is leaving, as they cannot compete with the profit margins, which smuggled goods generate for those who are involved.
Smuggling not only deprives the government of much-needed revenue, it also poses unfair competition to local industries.