Vehicles used in smuggling to be permanently seized

ISLAMABAD: The government has introduced a new regulation, allowing the immediate confiscation of vehicles used for smuggling without the option to pay a fine to reclaim them.

This amendment, aimed at strengthening the fight against smuggling, updates SRO 499 of 2009, giving authorities the power to permanently seize any vehicles involved in illegal trade.

Previously, offenders had the chance to retrieve their seized vehicles by paying a fine. However, this new measure eliminates that option, ensuring that smuggling operations lose their transport means for good.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) stated that this change reflects the government’s determination to curb smuggling, which has long undermined the country’s economy by draining valuable revenue and fueling the informal market.

The FBR Chairman has directed customs officials and law enforcement agencies to act immediately, ensuring that all vehicles involved in smuggling are confiscated and taken off the roads permanently.

This amendment is part of the government’s broader efforts to safeguard Pakistan’s economic interests and crack down on illegal trade.

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