Pakistani travelers coming from abroad expressed outrage after Customs Officials at Karachi Airport seized the personal belongings of the passengers.
The present government has banned the import of luxury items to curtail the import bill and pressure on the dwindling foreign reserves of Pakistan. A picture went viral on social media in which Customs officials allegedly seized personal belongings like chocolate, shoes, and mobile phones in their use from a passenger.
Collectorate of Customs at Jinnah International Airport Karachi shared the picture online seizing the personal belongings of a passenger. This was celebrated as an achievement. The Collectorate even decided to write about it to the Federal Board of Revenue.
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The letter has the details of how the Custom Officials seized the luxury item and upheld the rule of law. Customs said they scanned the luggage of the passenger coming in from a ‘risky destination’ and found the goods in his luggage.
Our Customs force making sure the PMLN doesn’t win a single vote from Pakistanis who travel to and from abroad. pic.twitter.com/avjXOEuSn9
— Abdul Moiz Jaferii (@Jaferii) May 24, 2022
“Round-the-clock vigilance at international arrival terminal resulted in seizures of various items which had been brought in the garb of bona fide passenger baggage,” said the letter from the Collectorate of Customs’ at the Jinnah International Airport.
The letter mentioned how the Customs officials conducted thorough research of the entire baggage of the passengers arriving from risky destinations. The letter did not mention the number of passengers and flights that went through such checks. Customs claimed to recover 76-kilogram foodstuff, 127-kilogram fruits, 42-kilogram sanitary wares, 213 cell phones, and 96 pairs of branded shoes.
The alleged victims shared the pictures of the receipt handed over to him by Customs Officials and the five kilograms of chocolate seized he had brought for his friends and family. The move came under strong criticism from social media users, victims, and commentators on social media.
Finance Minister Miftah Ismail also commented on the incident. He said:
“As the government has banned the import of a few non-essential items, we fear that smuggling of these items will increase. Therefore, we have increased enforcement against professional Khaipyas [smugglers]. Officials know who they are. Ordinary citizens bringing in a few items will not be harassed,” he tweeted.
A group of economic analysts had questioned the move on banning the imports of luxury items by the present government. Others believe the Khaipiyas work allegedly in connivance with the Customs Officials, they do not do anything on their own.