Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) decided to seize vehicles which used in smuggled goods in the country after government issued orders in this regard.
The government made it clear such vehicles will not be exempt from penalties in future smuggling cases. The FBR has released a notification regarding this.
The FBR announced that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed all relevant government agencies, particularly the Federal Board of Revenue and Pakistan Customs, to take strict measures against smuggling across the country.
A significant development in this regard is the amendment made to SRO 499(1)/2009, introduced through SRO 1619(1)/2024 on October 3, 2024. This amendment grants authorities the power to seize vehicles and other means of transport used in the transportation of smuggled goods.
This amendment, introduced earlier this month, reflects the government’s firm commitment to eliminate smuggling, which has long impacted the country’s economy and caused a decline in national revenue, while also encouraging the illegal economy.
Under this amendment, all vehicles involved in the transportation of smuggled goods would be seized immediately, and the option to recover these vehicles by paying a fine was removed, as per the amendments made to the SRO issued on June 13, 2009.
This change eliminated the opportunity for offenders to reclaim seized vehicles by paying fines, ensuring that vehicles used in smuggling are permanently removed from the roads.
The Chairman of the FBR directed the customs officials to implement this amendment immediately, collaborating with law enforcement agencies to ensure that vehicles used in smuggling activities are seized and permanently decommissioned.
