Islamabad, October 9, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced the complete elimination of the redemption fine for smuggled goods, intensifying the government’s crackdown on illegal trade activities.
In a bold directive from Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, all relevant governmental bodies, especially the FBR and Pakistan Customs, have been tasked with implementing stricter measures to curb smuggling across Pakistan. A pivotal element in this enhanced campaign is the recent amendment introduced via SRO 1619(I)/2024 dated October 3, 2024, which revises the existing S.R.O. 499(I)/2009, originally issued on June 13, 2009. This new regulation grants authorities the power to confiscate vehicles and any other means of transportation involved in smuggling activities, with no possibility of recovery through a redemption fine.
This strategic amendment signifies the government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating smuggling, a scourge that has severely undermined Pakistan’s economy for years. Smuggling not only drains vital national revenues but also nurtures an unregulated, informal market that destabilizes legitimate trade. Under the updated regulation, any vehicle or conveyance implicated in the illegal transport of smuggled goods will face immediate and irreversible confiscation. This marks a sharp departure from the previous policy, where offenders could reclaim their seized assets by paying a redemption fine. The closure of this loophole ensures that the instruments facilitating smuggling are permanently removed from circulation, thereby crippling the logistics of such illicit operations.
The Chairman of the FBR has directed customs officials and law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively to enforce the new amendment. He called for coordinated efforts across all relevant departments to ensure that once vehicles or other conveyances used in smuggling are apprehended, they are permanently confiscated and never returned to operation.
This strengthened enforcement is a crucial step towards safeguarding Pakistan’s economic sovereignty and holding those who support illegal trade accountable. The amendment is just one of many robust measures the government is adopting to eliminate smuggling and protect the integrity of the nation’s economy. By closing the doors of redemption, Pakistan inches closer to securing its economic borders and dismantling the networks of illicit trade that have long hindered its financial growth.