SUKKUR, March 10: A large quantity of ancient artefacts being taken from Islamabad to Karachi has been seized by the Customs intelligence, officials said on Sunday.

The seized artefacts worth millions of rupees belong to Gandhara civilisation, pre-Christian era and the periods of Muslim rule, Tasawwar Shah, a local Customs officer, told Dawn.

He said Customs personnel on information that thousands of artefacts were being transported to Karachi from Islamabad cordoned off the entry points of Sukkur and caught a container (JT-0439).

He said the container was impounded about a month ago but it was opened on Sunday when senior officials, headed by Mohammad Shah Bokhari, arrived here from Karachi, adding that the artefacts were being taken to Karachi from where they were to be smuggled to a foreign country.

The official said 28 wooden boxes were found packed with thousands of artefacts stolen from archaeological sites and museums in Punjab.

He said details about the artefacts were being collected and an investigation into the case was under way.

He said the driver and cleaner of the container had been released on surety bonds but they could be called when required by the department.