ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: The government on Thursday accorded powers to Frontier Corps -- NWFP and Balochistan -- to carryout anti-smuggling functions along the Pak-Afghan border.

A customs notification issued here by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) delegated the powers to the para-military forces till March 31, 2008 in order to ensure a greater vigilance on the possible smuggling of wheat from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

The government has authorised the personnel of the para-military forces to carryout raids and confiscate the smuggled goods on the Pak-Afghan porous border.

The powers from the Frontier Corps along with others had been withdrawn a year ago by the chairman FBR following complaints of harassment of passengers on roads by the para-military personnel.