KARACHI:

In a bid to rebuild trust with the business community, Collector of Customs (Enforcement) Moinuddin Wani announced that the next four raids will be conducted in close coordination with trade associations. If successful, this approach may become standard to address concerns over uncoordinated enforcement actions.

Speaking at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Wani assured traders that their grievances have been heard. "We get daily intelligence reports and are duty-bound to act on credible leads. But we understand not every tip is accurate. Our goal is not harassment but curbing illegal trade transparently," he said.

According to a statement released on Saturday, senior KCCI officials, including Vice Presidents Ziaul Arfeen and Faisal Khalil Ahmed, along with Arif Lakhani of the Customs & Valuation Subcommittee, attended the session. Former presidents and other members were also present.

Wani acknowledged smuggling remains a serious issue, particularly at borders, and called for stronger controls there instead of relying on in-city raids. He added that nighttime operations often meet resistance and can result in injury or armed conflict.

To reduce friction, Wani announced plans to move toward tech-driven enforcement using artificial intelligence. New digital enforcement stations, two or three in Karachi, will replace human-based operations. He called for regular monthly meetings with trade bodies to maintain dialogue and improve practices.

He told participants they have every right to file FIRs if any enforcement agency steals or unlawfully seizes goods. Responding to KCCI concerns about seizures of legally cleared goods, Wani said such cases are rare, but efforts will be made to reduce them further.

Wani also addressed inter-city disputes, saying Lahore authorities claim smuggled goods are entering from Karachi, while Karachi traders say they are unfairly targeted. "I refrain from labelling anyone a smuggler without proof," he clarified, "but under the law, possession of undeclared or illegally imported goods is classified as smuggling."

Ziaul Arfeen criticised the rise in "unjustified, unannounced, and often unlawful raids," stating that many businesses have suffered financial damage, reputational harm, and loss of goods due to enforcement actions executed during non-working hours. He urged the return to the original understanding that raids be done in the presence of shop owners.

He proposed the establishment of a fair, transparent, and consultative mechanism that ensures stakeholder confidence and protects law-abiding traders from unnecessary disruption.

Chairman of KCCI's Customs & Valuation Subcommittee, Arif Lakhani echoed these views, citing a recent raid in which local goods were wrongly seized. He urged prior coordination with KCCI to ensure accurate targeting and prevent reputational damage.