Around 700 check posts along the international border (Pakistan-Afghanistan) have been established while pickets and foot patrolling are also being conducted to control smuggling.Listing the measures, a senior official on Sunday said that Frontier Corps (KPK/Balochistan) and Pakistan Rangers (Punjab/Sindh) are border security forces which carry out anti-smuggling coordination as such powers have been delegated to them by the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) through a special SRO. He said earlier custom powers were entrusted by FBR to the above forces only from December 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 which were further extended until June 30 this year. However, the FBR has recently, extended the said powers for another two years.

The official said responsibility of checking of different items being imported and exported and smuggled through entry point at Wagha/Attari as well as though Samjhota Express train rests with the Customs authorities. No worthwhile smuggling has, however, been reported through this route so far, he added.

More so, he said, since the fenced border is being guarded by Pakistan Rangers, the ratio of smuggling is very less due to effective checking by establishing pickets patrolling duty and observation posts.

The steps taken includes erection of fence all along the eastern border, establishment of observations posts by Pakistan Rangers, Punjab and Sindh and establishment of 340 check posts at Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran border by Frontier Corps, Balochistan. The other measures are establishment of 700 check posts byFrontier Corps, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at western border, mobile and foot patrol and occasional road check and deployment of intelligence tentacles for information gathering.