By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has overhauled its customs intelligence structure, setting up a powerful new Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Risk Management with sweeping nationwide authority.
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Headquartered in Islamabad, the directorate will have regional offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Islamabad, along with a Risk Management Unit and a Cross-border Currency Movement Wing.
According to the notification, the Director General will directly report to the FBR, wielding countrywide powers to combat smuggling, curb money laundering, detect irregularities in imports and exports, and oversee modern risk management systems.
Regional directors will lead intelligence operations in their provinces against tax evasion, smuggling, and other illicit trade, while the currency wing will focus on choking illegal cross-border currency flows.
The FBR has also transferred all staff, resources, and funds from the previous customs intelligence offices to the new setup. A special committee has been formed to smooth implementation, with a report due in 30 days.
In addition to operational powers, the DG will be responsible for strategic leadership, compliance strategy, intelligence gathering, training, performance monitoring, and supervision of the National Targeting Centre.
The Directorate’s headquarters team will handle administrative and analytical functions, strengthening Pakistan’s customs risk management system.
