KARACHI: A recent crackdown by Customs authorities in Karachi has once again unearthed the alarming trend of smuggling Indian products into Pakistan.
On a tip-off, the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement raided a warehouse located in Karachi’s Saddar area, near the Star City Mobile Market and seized goods worth Rs30 million including modern iPhones, MacBooks, smartwatches, pencils, AirPods and tablets. A large number of the seized items were of Indian made.
Under Pakistan’s official policy, the import of Indian products is completely prohibited and violations can result in heavy fines and legal proceedings.
How Do Indian Products Enter Pakistan?
According to a report by Urdu News, multiple routes used to smuggle Indian goods, all operating under an organised network.
According to senior Customs officials and economic analysts, Indian electronic items and other products typically enter Pakistan through countries like Afghanistan or Iran.
Also read: FIA details crackdown on human smuggling in NA; 204 arrested in two years
These goods are either falsely declared as imports from those countries using fake documentation or cleared through airports, ports, and border crossings under dubious means.
Small-scale smuggling is also carried out under the guise of air cargo, courier services, or personal luggage. Goods that are part of transit trade meant for Afghanistan or Central Asia are sometimes illegally diverted into Pakistan’s domestic markets.
Customs sources said: “Many consignments arriving from abroad conceal Indian-manufactured goods along with electronics, which are then sold in Pakistani markets for higher profits.”
Impact of Smuggled Goods on the Market
Economic experts warn that the open availability of Indian products and other smuggled electronics in the local market is creating severe challenges for legitimate importers and manufacturers.
Legally imported goods are subject to heavy duties and taxes, whereas smuggled items bypass all such obligations, making them cheaper and more attractive to consumers—ultimately causing losses to lawful businesses.
One economist, on condition of anonymity, said: “Each year, Pakistan loses billions of rupees in revenue due to this illegal trade, and the profits from smuggling often fund various criminal activities.”
Karachi Mobile and Electronic Dealers Association President Minhaj Gulfam said that the association does not support any business that violates the law or harms the country’s economy.
He emphasised that the ban on Indian imports would be fully respected, and those who break the law would be dealt with accordingly.
However, Gulfam also urged Customs officials not to harass legitimate businesses unnecessarily, and to target only those who are genuinely involved in illegal practices.
Previous Operations
This is not the first time such an operation has been conducted at Star City Mall or other markets in Karachi.
In February 2025, a similar raid on the same mall resulted in the seizure of mobile phones, tablets, iPads, and banned Indian gutka worth millions of rupees.
Yet the question remains: Why does this illegal trade persist despite repeated crackdowns?
Experts argue that “the roots of smuggling networks are so deep that raids and fines alone are not enough to stop them.
These networks operate through collusion among corrupt elements, influential traders, and local groups in border areas.”
Customs officials say they were now expanding the scope of operations and strengthening intelligence networks to apprehend the major culprits behind smuggling.
Authorities have also appealed to the public to refrain from purchasing illegal goods, stating that such actions not only break the law but also cause severe harm to the national economy.