Pakistan Customs has intensified goods inspection at all international airports to prohibit the smuggling of recently banned commodities. The federal government prohibited the items in SRO No. 598(I)/2022, issued May 19, 2022, by revising the Import Policy Order, 2022.
This 24-hour monitoring at international terminals to prevent smuggling has already resulted in multiple confiscation of these items disguised as legitimate passenger baggage.
Banned commodities like foodstuff, fruits, sanitary wares, used mobile phones, and branded shoes were found in commercial quantities during scanning and inspection at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on May 23, 2022.
The aforementioned items were detained/seized in accordance with Sector 168 of the Customs Act of 1969 for violating SRO No. 598(I)/2022 (Import Policy Order, 2022) and Sections 16 and 139 of the Customs Act of 1969.
While applauding Pakistan Customs’ efforts, the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reaffirmed the FBR’s unwavering determination to strengthen policing strategies at all airports, seaports, and land border stations to ensure the avoidance of trafficking of goods, including newly banned items.
Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and FBR Chairman, on the other hand, have issued instructions not to bother genuine passengers bringing in goods in non-commercial/small quantities for personal use, and to assist such passengers at airports to the greatest extent permitted by law.
People in Pakistan were outraged by the Customs move, particularly those who had been thoroughly scanned and shared their side of the story on social media.
