The Customs Appraisement (West) Collectorate in Karachi has achieved a significant breakthrough by thwarting multiple attempts to illegally import Indian-origin goods into Pakistan under the guise of other countries. These operations were in direct violation of the country’s import policy order, as importers had falsely declared the origin of their consignments by manipulating labels and documentation to disguise the true source.
The crackdown began when an importer tried to clear a shipment of textile machinery by claiming it was manufactured in China. However, upon inspection, experts discovered clear traces of “Made in India” on internal components, confirming that the goods had actually been produced in Indian factories. Customs officials immediately halted the clearance of the consignment, valued at approximately Rs24.2 million, and tightened surveillance at the port to prevent similar attempts.
Following this initial discovery, intensified monitoring at Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) and several off-dock terminals led to the interception of three additional suspicious shipments. One of these, also a textile machinery consignment, had been shipped from Jebel Ali and falsely labeled as Chinese-made. During examination, investigators found faint but visible “Made in India” marks on electrical parts, while the machinery frame bore the name of a well-known Indian brand. The shipment, worth over Rs16.6 million, was subsequently seized.
In another case, inspectors discovered that product labels had been deliberately tampered with and replaced. When they examined the main panel of a power distribution unit, the words “Made in India” were clearly inscribed. The total estimated value of this consignment was around Rs3.76 million.
A similar pattern was found in a separate consignment sent from Ambarli, Türkiye, declared as “Turkish-made.” However, upon close inspection, customs officers found original packaging with unmistakable “Made in India” markings. Though the value of this particular shipment was relatively small—around Rs154,000—it pointed to a broader and organized network attempting to smuggle Indian goods into Pakistan by exploiting third-country routes.
According to sources, some importers have been using Gulf ports such as Jebel Ali as transshipment hubs to conceal the actual origin of their goods. In free zones at these ports, the products are repackaged, and their labels are altered to present them as Chinese or Turkish before being shipped onward to Pakistan. This deceptive practice not only undermines transparency in trade but also constitutes a serious breach of Pakistan’s import regulations.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced plans to enhance its surveillance measures by deploying advanced scanners and intelligence-driven monitoring systems to detect such fraudulent activities more effectively. FBR officials stated that certain importers are deliberately exploiting global trade loopholes and regional exemptions to bypass restrictions on Indian-origin goods, thereby harming the national interest and depriving the exchequer of legitimate customs duties.
Trade analysts have warned that this trend of covertly importing Indian products poses a direct threat to Pakistan’s domestic industry, as it allows banned or restricted items to infiltrate local markets and distort fair competition. Experts emphasize that stricter penalties and international coordination are crucial to dismantle such smuggling networks and ensure long-term compliance with trade laws.
Customs authorities confirmed that their latest operations have successfully disrupted the network responsible for channeling Indian products into Pakistan under false origin claims. Officials further stated that surveillance will continue to expand, and any future attempts to violate trade laws will be swiftly intercepted to safeguard the integrity of the country’s import system.