MULTAN, Dec 4th: On the special instructions of Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Chairman FBR Nisar Muhammad Khan,all the customs Collectorates and Directorate General of Customs Intelligence have taken foolproof measures to check the smuggling of gold and US dollars. Sarfraz Ahmed Waraich Collector of customs Multan told media men that Airport security force, FIA, Customs and other law enforcing agencies have been alerted at Multan international airports to foil any attempt to smuggle the currency and gold.He said that the government has already launched a crackdown against illegal money changers at the airports. As a result of this crackdown against unscrupulous elements, the rupee-dollar parity has improved by rupee one in the last 48 hours, he mentioned. He said that the government would not allow any unscrupulous element to play with destiny of the country. Collector told that all the international (arrival and departure)flights (day& night) are being personally monitored/supervised by the Collector,Deputy,Additional,Assistant collectors and they are visiting important flights to further enhance the level of vigil and to ensure that no untoward/unlawful activity is effected by unscrupulous elements .Personal search of all the outgoing and incoming passengers is supervised by the Deputy or Assistant Collectors. In addition to the personal search and scanning by ASF at departure. All other agencies including ASF have been specifically sensitized about the gravity of the matter and more coordinated efforts and exchange of information is being ensured.All the departure flights,the baggage of the departure passengers is being scanned and examined simultaneously by the ASF, ANF, Customs followed by personal search of passengers.All arrival flights are being monitored and 100 percent scanning and examination of the accompanied baggage is being done by customs special teams constituted by the collector and headed by Muhammad Zohaib Sandhila, Assistant Collector. During this campaign,Customs staff seized a number of mobile phones,liquor , LEDs,Cigarettes etc.
