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Lahore, November 28, 2014 (PPI-OT): Former LCCI President and Chairman of LPG Association of Pakistan Farooq Iftikhar has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Custom Authorities to make vigilance system effective at borders as day-by-day rising smuggling of LPG is causing huge loss to the national economy. “It is a matter of serious concern both for local LPG industry, as well as public safety.”
In a statement issued here, Farooq Iftikhar said that smuggling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was increasing sharply from Taftan and Mand Borders in connivance with the some corrupt elements of the concerned departments.
He said that smuggling can not be eliminated but the increase to a level where it has far reaching effects on the economy of Pakistan is beyond our comprehension.
He said that daily consumption of LPG in Pakistan varies from 1700 MT to 2300 MT approximately. Around 1300 to 1400 MT are produced locally and the rest is imported either through Karachi Sea Port or through Taftan and Mand borders in Balochistan.
Farooq Iftikhar said that a perusal of Customs record will show a vast difference in the legally imported quantity through Karachi sea port and the officially custom cleared bowsers from Mand and Taftan and the countries consumption. He said that around 500 MT per day of LPG comes from Mand and Taftan of which only 20% is properly cleared and the balance smuggled and sold all over Pakistan.
This smuggled LPG is transported to other cities of Pakistan using the official documents of cleared bowsers repeatedly. He said that the government should check smuggling of gas in low quality cylinders which may cause a big incident.
If retailers are offering discount of Rs10-20 per kg, it means they are mixing the smuggled gas. Former LCCI President and Chairman of LPG Association of Pakistan said that heavy smuggling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Taftan and Mand borders is causing loss of billion rupees to the government exchequer.
He urged the government and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take concrete measures to cub illegal import of LPG from Taftan and Mand borders from where LPG is being smuggled into Pakistan. Farooq Iftikhar also stressed the need to introduce reforms in the Custom department to cope with the menace of smuggling into Pakistan.
For more information, contact:
Shahid Khalil
Information Department
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
11-Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Tijarat,
Lahore -54000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-222-499
Fax: +92-42-6368854