The cases of smuggling of foreign currency, including dollars, from Pakistan have seen a multifold increase this year and almost four times more cases than last year have been traced by the customs officials at various airports and borders, while smuggling. Estimates of successful incidents may be even higher.
According to the FBR data available to Urdu News, 94 cases of smuggling of foreign exchange from the country were reported at various airports and land borders of Pakistan in the 11 months of this year, in which about four and a half million dollars were stolen. Domestic currency was being carried illegally. This is the highest amount caught in the last five years.
Last year, customs officials across the country caught 26 such cases in which only two hundred and seventy thousand dollars were attempted to be smuggled.
The federal government also announced a crackdown on dollar smuggling on Monday. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that he has asked the concerned authorities to seal the border if necessary to stop smuggling.
While holding a press conference with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that wheat, fertilizer and dollars are being smuggled from here to a neighboring country. And then they are going to the countries of Central Asia.
In this regard, apart from Pakistan Customs, FIA and Rangers, other law enforcement agencies have also become active to stop smuggling.
On Tuesday, Quetta Customs also recovered Pakistani currency worth crores of rupees, including more than one hundred thousand dollars, at the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman with the support of the Pakistan Army.
What are the reasons for the increase in trafficking incidents?
Talking to Urdu News, Collector Enforcement in Peshawar Moinuddin Wani said that this time smugglers are trying to smuggle dollars out of the country in new ways.
"We have caught several cases where people who were mentally challenged were often used so that the customs authorities would not suspect them. Apart from this, smuggling was also being attempted through women and elderly people. Smugglers have also adopted the technique of smuggling small amounts of money through more people to reduce the chances of getting caught.
He said that one of the reasons for the increase in cases this year is the activation of the surveillance system, but there are many other reasons.
One of the reasons for smuggling is the difference in dollar rates between Pakistan and Afghanistan, due to which cheap dollars are bought from here and taken to Afghanistan and sold at high prices.
Also, under-invoicing is one of the most important causes of dollar smuggling in terms of trade. Receipts are made at a pre-determined price for imports across the country and from Afghanistan. However, this price is fixed low and the remaining amount is paid through cash smuggling.
Apart from this, a third reason is the increasing demand for dollars in Afghanistan. As international aid freezes and asset freezes by the US and other international organizations in Afghanistan have dwindled foreign exchange reserves, the demand for dollars has increased.
The trend of smuggling has also increased due to the Afghan transit trade. As Pakistan and other countries are internationally bound to give way to imports from landlocked countries. Afghanistan brings its imports through Pakistan and Iran in transit trade. However, Pakistani smugglers then allow the same goods to reach through transit first and then smuggled into Pakistan.
All this is an illegal and irregular trade where money is transferred through illegal means and especially through smuggling of large amounts of cash.
How can trafficking be stopped?
According to experts, if currency smuggling is to be stopped, the existing cargo scanners at the Torkham border will have to be replaced with high-tech baggage scanners.
Similarly, the State Bank should issue instructions for early deposit of the export amount shown in Torkham from Afghanistan.
Accommodation should be arranged for customs staff at border stations.
Similarly, coordinated joint operations of all law enforcement agencies, including Customs, should be initiated.
0 Comments
Thanx for Comment