September 9: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu has admitted that the ban imposed by the government on the import of various goods has increased smuggling of goods into the country. It may be noted that the private sector had been saying that the government’s policy of imposing ban on several kinds of goods has encouraged smuggling.

During a programme organized at the ministry on Thursday to make public the achievements made by the ministry in five months since Badu took charge of the ministry, Badu accepted the fact that banned goods were entering the country through illegal channels.

“We imposed a ban on few goods after analyzing the country’s economy. It has had a positive impact but the entry of goods through illegal channel continued unabated,” said Minister Badu, adding, “We received reports that the illegal entry of goods caused us a loss in revenue collection. We are studying the matter.”

The minister clarified that the ban has not been imposed permanently but will be lifted gradually as per the need. He said that the ban will be lifted on condition that the foreign exchange reserves of the country improves.

The government has already lifted the ban on import of six out of ten items that were banned on April 26. Minister Badu said that the government is currently studying whether it would be appropriate to lift the ban on the remaining four items or not.

On the other hand, the private sector has been maintaining that the ban imposed by the government has given a good opportunity to the smugglers. They say that all items banned by the government except motorbikes and four-wheelers are entering the country unabated through illegal channels.

The government had banned goods including cars, jeeps, van and motorcycles of more than 250 cc capacity for personal use along with smartphones worth more than USD 600, diamond, ready-made liquor, tobacco products except industrial raw materials, chips like Lays and Kurkure, playing cards, toys, and television sets bigger than 32 inches.

The government later revised the provision related to import of motorcycle and smartphones and imposed a ban on import of motorcycles above 150 cc and smartphones worth more than USD 300.

The government has already lifted the ban on all goods except car, jeeps, vans, motorcycles, smartphones and readymade liquor.