The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan has implemented new measures to combat smuggling between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Importers, customs agents, brokers, and transport operators need to submit a bank guarantee for taxes and duties on goods moving out of the country.
These measures aim to combat smuggling under the guise of Afghan transit trade and regulate border trade. At least 25% of the goods will undergo scanning through a computerized system to prevent the smuggling of goods back into the Pakistani market.
In the fiscal year 2023, Afghanistan imported goods worth $7.3 billion through Pakistan under the transit trade facility, with a significant portion of these goods being sold back to the Pakistani market through smuggling.
The FBR’s move follows Pakistan’s imposition of a 10% additional processing fee and a ban on trade in several commodities with Afghanistan as part of efforts to regulate cross-border trade and curb smuggling activities.
Pakistan Reiterates Commitment To Expel Illegal Immigrants Amidst Controversy
Meanwhile, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to the policy of evicting all illegal immigrants from the country, including approximately 1.7 million Afghan refugees, asserting that this decision aligns with international norms and practices.
As law enforcement agencies persist in their crackdown on individuals classified as ‘illegal aliens,’ a significant number of families have been crossing the border into Afghanistan over the past week.
Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, while attending a forum in Tibet, explained in an interview that “No country allows illegal people to live in their country, whether it is Europe, whether it is countries in Asia, in our neighborhood. So, accordingly, this is in line with the international practice that we have taken this decision.”
Pakistan’s directive for illegal immigrants to leave the country by October 31 or face forced expulsion has faced criticism from both domestic and international quarters, with organizations such as UNHCR and Amnesty International calling on the government to reconsider its plans. The Taliban government in Kabul has also expressed reservations regarding this move.
Mr. Jilani noted that people had historically sought refuge in Pakistan during times of trouble, but it has been more than 40 years, and the situation in Afghanistan has stabilized. He mentioned that Pakistan engaged in discussions with Afghanistan on the migrant issue for a long time and called on international humanitarian agencies to assist in the process.
