FBR Orders Increased Surveillance on Unauthorized Routes Amid Afghan Border Closure

Quetta — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Customs Wing has issued an urgent directive instructing customs officers in Balochistan to intensify monitoring and control over all unauthorized land routes due to the ongoing Afghan border closure and potential security risks.

The circular, addressed to the Chief Collector Customs Appraisement Quetta, warned that criminal elements may exploit closed borders to smuggle Afghan-origin goods into Pakistan through small or hidden routes. Customs formations have been instructed to remain vigilant and treat all such routes as sensitive.

The directive emphasizes increased surveillance of mountain passes, dirt tracks, border ditches, and unconventional crossings. It also calls for the effective deployment of mobile checking points, range patrolling, and coordination with local security agencies, including the Frontier Corps and border forces, for information sharing and joint operations.

Furthermore, the circular directs the formation of **special investigative teams** in cases of suspicious movement of Afghan-origin goods, ensuring timely seizure and legal action. The FBR aims to curb illegal cross-border activity and maintain security along the Balochistan-Afghanistan frontier.