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Tag: smuggling

  • FBR starts air travelers’ monitoring to detect money launderers, drug smugglers

    FBR starts air travelers’ monitoring to detect money launderers, drug smugglers

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched passenger profiling system at international airports to curb money laundering and drug smuggling.

    A statement on Thursday said that Pakistan Customs, a wing of the FBR, has launched a specialized Risk Management System for passenger profiling at all major international airports in Pakistan.

    This exercise is part of the Customs Border Management Initiative (BMI) recently approved by the prime minister.

    The Passenger Profiling System, “Global Travelers Assessment System” (GTAS) is now operational at seven major airports of the country for which Customs staff has been adequately trained.

    Moreover, World Customs Organization (WCO) and US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) have provided Technical assistance for deployment and implementation of the project.

    The system is capable of carrying out passenger profiling and targeting through Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record Information (PNR) for interdiction of suspected travelers, drug smugglers and money-launders etc. while adhering to the requirements of FATF action plan.

    It will also help in creating profiles of passengers travelling to and from Pakistan and generate risk indicators in advance using a proactive methodology for effective border management.

    According to Chairman FBR Syed ShabbarZaidi, the GTAS will also enable Customs to achieve the “Invisible Customs approach” with least presence at airports while facilitating the genuine passengers.

    The Chairman has also directed Member Customs Operations to ensure adequate training sessions for customs officers while initiating data sharing with border agencies which will serve as a targeting portal for all law enforcement agencies at Pakistan Customs National Targeting Centre.

  • Customs directed to verify seized vehicles carrying smuggled goods

    Customs directed to verify seized vehicles carrying smuggled goods

    ISLAMABAD: Syed Shabbar Zaidi, Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed customs authorities to launch verification of seized vehicles carrying smuggled goods.

    A statement issued on Monday, the FBR chairman directed the customs field offices to identify smuggled items and take strict action against offenders.

    On the instructions of Syed Shabbar Zaidi, Chairman FBR, Customs Wing has issued instructions to all its field formations to verify the genuineness of all seized conveyances being used to transport smuggled goods through verification from Forensic Science Laboratory, Registration Database of Excise & Taxation Department and Customs Clearance documents.

    The field formations have been further instructed to initiate separate legal proceedings in case such conveyances are found to be smuggled or with tampered chassis number.

    These instructions will greatly help in dismantling the smuggling network being used to transport smuggled goods.

    In line with the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Steering Committee on Anti-smuggling, Pakistan Customs being the country’s lead Anti-Smuggling Organization has accordingly stepped up enforcement actions in coordination with other Law Enforcement Agencies.

  • FBR starts verifying imported goods in spot checking of markets, shopping plazas

    FBR starts verifying imported goods in spot checking of markets, shopping plazas

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to launch mega crackdown against smuggled goods and in this regard joint teams of the revenue body will visit markets and shopping plazas in major cities of the country from September 01, 2019.

    The FBR on Saturday issued a notification related to anti-smuggling drive, which highlighted the adverse impact of smuggled goods on the economy in general and industrial activities in particular.

    The FBR said that it had started phased program, which included verification of imported documents of foreign goods available in the market.

    “With effect from September 01, 2019 special joint teams of the FBR may be visiting major shopping areas especially large retailers in major cities to check the import documents the imported goods available for sale to ensure compliance to various requirement of the law,” it said.

    The FBR clarified that such checking would not be called ‘raid’. “All teams will be conducting respective identification as being officially designated and the team will be headed by a senior person.”

    It further said that in case a retailer/shopkeeper had not documents at the time of checking then the team would provide adequate opportunity to submit the document in respective offices/shops after reasonable time.

    The FBR said that all relevant persons are expected to cooperate with the FBR personnel during this exercise which is being undertaken to ensure compliance of laws and discourage sale of smuggled goods.

    The FBR asked Member Customs (Operations) and Member (IR-Operations) to supervise the activity and provide complete assistance to the joint team wherever required.

    The FBR also directed Director General (I&I) and Director General (I&I) Inland Revenue to constitute joint teams under intimation to this office and concerned Member Operations keeping in view the scope of the activity on countrywide basis.

  • FBR estimates Rs20 billion annual revenue loss in illicit tobacco trade

    FBR estimates Rs20 billion annual revenue loss in illicit tobacco trade

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has estimated around Rs20 billion as revenue loss due to illicit trade of tobacco products.

    The FBR on Tuesday said that the tobacco sector in Pakistan contributed significant revenue in 2018-2019 amounting to Rs 117 Billion (Rs 90.854 billion FED and Rs. 26.147 Billion sales tax).

    However, Pakistan is also facing problem with the illicit trade in tobacco products, which includes undeclared local production, smuggling of tobacco products of foreign brands and counterfeit production. “The illicit trade in tobacco products costs Pakistan more than Rs. 20 billion a year,” the FBR said.

    In order to prevent leakage of revenue, under-reporting of production and sales of tobacco products and to ensure proper payment of FED and Sales Tax on the manufacture and sale of tobacco products, the FBR is mandated to licence the implementation of a track and trace system; which is to be developed, operated and maintained by the licensee for tobacco products manufactured in and imported into Pakistan.

    To this end, the FBR is inviting applications for grant of licence to be issued under the Sales Tax Rules of 2006 for the development, maintenance and operation of track and trace system in accordance with the provisions of the rules and the instructions specified herein below.

    The successful applicant in compliance with SRO 250(I)/2019 dated 26.02.2019 shall implement a track and trace system, including high security tax Stamps/Markers/Codes which includes unique, secure and non-removable identification markings (hereafter referred to as unique identification markings) combined with state-of-the-art electronic monitoring and tracking systems, for the purpose of protecting existing revenue and to facilitate the generation of further revenue streams through the effective reduction of the illicit trade of tobacco products in Pakistan.

    The FBR said that Pakistan ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on 3rd November 2004 and acceded to the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products on 29th June 2018. Article 8.2of the FCTC Protocol requires Pakistan to establish a tracking and tracing system, to be controlled by Pakistan, for all tobacco products that are manufactured in, imported into or transiting through its territory.

    Pakistan has to embark on a project to implement a track and trace system for tobacco products to meet its national need to monitor and protect its revenues and address the high level of illicit trade within its borders, and to meet its international obligations under FCTC to implement a track and trace system that can form part of a regional and/or global international track and trace regime for tobacco products.

  • FBR warns stern action against under-invoicing, mis-declaration

    FBR warns stern action against under-invoicing, mis-declaration

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to launch drive against manufacturers and importers indulged in under invoicing and incurring huge revenue losses to national exchequer.

    FBR chairman Syed Shabbar Zaidi, in a statement, warned such manufacturers and importers to abstain from misdeclaration and under-invoicing.

    The statement said that the smuggling was the greatest menace but under-invocing and misdeclaration of imported goods were also depriving the country from actual revenue collection.

    The chairman warned manufacturers and importers that in case misreporting or under-invoicing was detected then stern action would be taken under relevant provisions of laws.

    The statement said that smuggled goods have badly dented the local manufacturing. The prime minister noticed the huge quantum of smuggling and directed the authorities to take all measures to stop the menace.

    In order to comply with the directives of the prime minister, Pakistan Customs enhanced the enforcement against illegal movements of goods.

  • Customs recovers huge quantity of drugs, smuggled goods

    Customs recovers huge quantity of drugs, smuggled goods

    KARACHI: Customs authorities in Karachi conducted two major operations on Friday, resulting in the recovery of a significant quantity of contraband and smuggled goods.

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