Islamabad, July 11, 2023 – In a significant move, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has delegated the authority to conduct anti-smuggling operations to various law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in Pakistan.
Under the new directive, the FBR has empowered the Pakistan Rangers, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), and Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) to actively combat smuggling. However, these LEAs will work in collaboration with officials from Pakistan Customs to effectively eliminate smuggling activities within the country.
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To ensure a streamlined implementation of this decision, the FBR has issued several notifications outlining the guidelines and limitations associated with the delegation of powers. The Rangers, in particular, have been granted specific limitations, which include the following:
(i) Their operations, excluding city municipal limits, customs areas, customs stations, ports, border customs stations, international airports, and bonded warehouses, will be confined to within fifty kilometers of the international borders for goods other than essential commodities.
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(ii) In the case of preventing the smuggling of essential commodities specified under subclause (iv) of clause (s) of section 2 of the Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969), their operations will extend to the bordering districts of Balochistan adjoining Afghanistan, including city municipal limits and certain highways in the province of Balochistan.
(iii) LEA personnel are prohibited from inspecting the baggage and goods of legitimate passengers cleared from any customs area.
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(iv) It is imperative that LEA personnel exercise caution to avoid obstructing the flow of legal trade, imports, exports, and public movement while carrying out their duties.
(v) LEA personnel are required to provide support to customs officers in performing their functions as outlined in Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1969. Additionally, Pakistan Rangers personnel have been advised to deposit seized goods suspected of being smuggled or intended for smuggling only in a state warehouse approved by the Collector of Customs.
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The delegation of powers to the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) comes with similar considerations. The FBR emphasizes that PMSA officials must exercise care to prevent any disruption to the movement of legitimate trade, imports, exports, and the general public. They are also required to provide assistance to customs officers in accordance with Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1969. Similarly, any seized goods suspected of smuggling should be deposited in an approved state warehouse.
The FBR has also established certain limitations for personnel of the Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) in their anti-smuggling functions, which include:
— Operating within a fifty-kilometer range along the coastline.
— Exclusion of city municipal limits, customs areas, customs stations, ports, border customs stations, international airports, and bonded warehouses from their operations.
— Prohibition on inspecting the baggage and goods of bonafide passengers cleared from any customs area.
— Cautioning against obstructing the flow of legal trade, imports, exports, and public movement while performing their duties.
— Providing assistance to customs officers as required by Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1969.
— Seized goods suspected of smuggling should be deposited in an approved state warehouse.
By issuing these directives, the FBR aims to enhance the collective efforts of LEAs and Pakistan Customs in combating smuggling activities effectively. The FBR has also requested the Officer Commanding (OC) of each formation or Wing of the PMSA to provide monthly seizure details to the Collector of Customs (Enforcement) within their respective jurisdictions by the 5th day of each month.
