20000226

FACC to discuss plan

of action for Bara

markets today

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: A plan of action for bara markets will be discussed at the Federal Anti-Smuggling Co-ordination Committee (FACC) meeting convened at Islamabad on today (Feb 26).

According to the working paper circulated by the Ministry of Interior for the meeting, the CBR and provincial governments have been asked to indicate their strategy to help draft the plan, to work out modalities for formulation of a plan of action, as per decision of the Cabinet Committee.

The Cabinet committee for control of smuggling in its meeting held on January 13, 2000 had decided that retail outlets involved in the business of smuggled goods be given a period of three months to legitimise their goods by paying taxes and after expiry of this period, CBR with the help of provincial governments will initiate action against defaulters.

The Cabinet committee had set up FACC under the Secretary Interior Division to review the performance and recommendations of main Regional Anti-Smuggling Coordination Committees (RASCC) at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. The committee will meet regularly to review the performance of each agency in the control of smuggling and take necessary measures for improvement.

At present 4 RASCCs are functioning at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta under the convenorship of Collectors of Customs, with representatives of FPCCI, local chambers, provincial governments and FC/Rangers/ANF. These committees were set up under a decision contained in the national plan of action for maintenance of law and order as approved by the Federal cabinet in its meeting held on August 8, 1997. As per report furnished on the performance of these committees by the Central Board of Revenue, better coordination has developed amongst various agencies involved in anti-smuggling efforts and private sector and also helped to fight the menace of smuggling. During the year 1998-99 contraband goods worth Rs. 3585 million were seized by the Pakistan Customs only as against seizure of Rs. 2234 million during the year 1997-98.

The RASCCs, at present, are functioning under the convenership of Collectors of Customs with representatives from provincial home department in case of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan and provincial police in case of NWFP. To ensure effective fallow-up actions on the recommendation of RASCC, it has been proposed that being administrative head of the provincial government he may be nominated as the Chairman of RASCC. This step would streamline the working of various government agencies in the provinces and provide impetus in the implementation of recommendations of the regional committees. It is felt that the level of the committee should be raised and the meeting may discuss this proposal.

There are incidencs where FIR have been lodged against the staff of anti-smuggling agencies particularly of customs in cases where there is no mala fide on the part of the staff taking part in the anti-smuggling operation. It has been recommended that in future, FIR, if needed, may only be registered after the holding of inquiry by a committee constituted by RASCC in the interest of justice, fair play and morale.This issue will also be taken up at the meeting.

To minimise chances of legalisation of vehicles through forged documents, it has been proposed that the provincial excise and taxation departments may start immediately making entries of particulars of Custom's NOC for regularised or auctioned vehicles or of sales tax for locally produced vehicles. It will be a bit cumbersome for the owner of the vehicles and also add to the provincial government's work. The participants of the meeting may like to suggest alternatives to root out fake documents.

It is felt that CBR and Pakistan Railways should evolve a mechanism whereby goods booked by railways can be checked at the booking or the destination station thereby reducing chances of smuggling. At present, there is no system to check railway cargo at booking or destination station. The meeting may authorise CBR to get in touch with Pakistan Railways to finalise the details specially for checking movements of goods to and from dry ports.

To share information and coordinate action for curbing smuggling, it is considered desirable that vital intelligence data is available to all players. This can also help in having joint operations. It has been proposed that a liaison officer may be appointed by each provincial governments as well as each of the federal agencies involved in anti-smuggling operations to constitute a joint intelligence and coordination cell in each RASCC. The meeting may agree to set up such cells to work in close co-operation and under the guidance of RASCCs.

Due to absence of checking staff, smuggling through motorway has increased. Though inconvenient for the public, combined checkposts comprising of motorway police and customs personnel be established at entry/exit/interchange points. The meeting may agree to the proposal and authorise CBR to get in touch with Ministry of Communications/motorway police to work out the modalities and details.

The meeting may examine possibility of setting up a single check post on highways consisting of all agencies to save people from hardship being faced due to checking at various check posts established by different agencies. The issue of numerous check posts on the GT Road between Peshawar and Rawalpindi was also taken up by a special committee of the senate (defunct) which after taking into account viewpoint of interior division, customs and provincial police, excise and food departments concluded that two check posts jointly manned by all should be established at Margella and at Mulla Mansoor on the GT road between Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

The FASCC may examine setting up of joint check posts on all important highways in the country. Proposals in this regard may be submitted by the provincial governments/civil armed forces and customs during the meeting.

There has to be an effective system of issuance of Rahdaries/permits for food and other items by the provincial governments of NWFP and Balochistan based on the actual requirement of border villages as the surplus quantity tends to take flight across the border. If the genuine requirements of the population are not provided, there is a tendency to smuggle in these items especially diesel and petrol. Provincial governments may express their viewpoint and update the meeting on present position.

Under section 185 of Customs Act 1969, Federal government can appoint as many special judges as it considers necessary for trying cases under the Customs Act. The territorial limits of the special judge and their headquarters can also be notified under this act. The meeting may consider if appointment of special judges under section 185 is required to expedite finalisation of cases under Customs Act.

The Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965 does not provide for dealing with the issue of cavities in the vehicles. As substantial amount of smuggling is carried through vehicles having cavities, there is a need to declare such cavities and conversions made in the vehicles illegal. All provincial governments may consider making amendment in their respective Motor Vehicles Ordinance to deal with this matter effectively. CBR may also brief the meeting if powers under Customs Act are available to check and confiscate such vehicles.