711 confiscated vehicles lying in Customs’ warehouses

ISLAMABAD: At least 711 confiscated vehicles, some of them belonging to prominent brands, have been lying in warehouses of Customs across Pakistan.

According to official documents obtained by the Hum Investigation Team (HIT), the total value of these vehicles exceeds a staggering Rs2 billion, while the unpaid taxes on these vehicles amount to Rs150 million.

This cache of confiscated vehicles includes a remarkable collection of around 100 luxury cars, such as Range Rovers, Mercedes, BMWs and Land Cruisers.

The documents reveal that the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement) DI Khan currently holds the largest number of confiscated vehicles, followed by Karachi in the second position.

The Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation Customs ranks third in terms of the number of seized vehicles.

The Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation Customs Islamabad has only two confiscated vehicles.

Among the cities, Karachi has the highest count with 42 confiscated vehicles, followed by Hyderabad with 19, Gwadar with 21, and Quetta with 71 confiscated vehicles.

Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar have 4, 57, 7, and 10 confiscated vehicles respectively.

The Collectorate of Customs, Customs House Hyderabad, has 27 confiscated vehicles in its custody, while Sialkot has 12, and Gwadar has 61.

The Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement) Customs House Lahore has 9 confiscated vehicles, Sargodha has 5, Peshawar has 22, Khuzdar has 2, Quetta has 63, DI Khan has a staggering 123 and Karachi has 91 vehicles.

The legal process for confiscated vehicles in Pakistan involves individuals challenging the validity of the seizures. This process requires filing a petition with the FBR tribunal, along with legal documentation. If necessary, decisions by the tribunal can be appealed in the high court, or a separate petition can be filed. Once a vehicle is declared illegal, it is usually put up for auction.

An official said that auctions are handled by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and they are held regularly at various locations across the country, with some taking place every two months.