LAHORE: The first module of Mandatory Capacity Building Training for BS 17-19 officers was conducted in Directorate General of Training and Research Customs, Lahore from 8-12 July, 2019.
The training was attended by senior officers of Pakistan Customs Service including Assistant Collectors, Deputy Collectors and Additional Collectors from Lahore, Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad.
The Director of DGTR, Customs, Lahore inaugurated the week’s training with a speech highlighting the critical role of Customs in the country and the need for multi-pronged strategies to tackle the challenges tor the economy. The training started with a presentation from the Director General of Valuation, Mukararm Jah Ansari, who highlighted the serious menace of mis-declaration and tax evasion and the procedures that are being developed to control loss of revenue through fake documents.
He shared the history of valuation with the participants and explained the framework of regulations for valuation by the World Trade Organization and World Customs Organization. On the second day, Saad Khan who is working as Directing Staff, Senior Management Wing, National School of Public Policy gave a lecture on transitioning role of civil service in Pakistan.
The lecture was followed by a comprehensive session on exchange rate and its impact on exports and imports by Hassan Fareed, Deputy Collector, Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Lahore.
On similar lines, as part of broadening the vision and imparting imperative knowledge, Zulfiqar Younas, Director Civil Services Academy, Lahore shared his views with the participants on the topic of trade officers. Pakistan Customs officers are frequently posted as Trade officers in trading partner countries of Pakistan and their assistance to the Government of Pakistan and field officers of Customs are of immense importance.
Dr. Sohail Anwar, Secretary, Punjab Social Protection Authority shared his views with the participants on poverty alleviation and the efforts of the current Government to alleviate poverty through innovative techniques.
On the second last day, Dr Salamat Ali, Additional Director, National Single Window project, sensitized the participants on the issue of trade based money laundering and the implementation status of National Single Window. Dr. Salamat explained the magnitude of the National Single Window and that it is a platform where 44 different Government agencies will be interacting together. This change involves redefining the process flow of executive bodies working in various ministries. National Single Window is set to change the way we deal with immigration, customs and trade matters.
The last day was scheduled for Jamil Nasir Khan who is posted as Chief of Public Accounts Committee Cell in the Federal Board of Revenue. Public Accounts Audit and Departmental Audits are a key feature of all Government offices. All government expenditures and procedures are subjected to audits wherein the reports and audit objections are discussed before the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
Jamil Nasir sensitized the senior officers attending the training that the attitude and response of the Department towards audit paras is not upto the mark. He briefed the participants about the pendency in Audit Reports which are not being attended by the officers, resulting in an embarrassing position for the Department. He highlighted the need for quick decision making and resolving pendency in compliance of audit reports.
Finally, the training was concluded with the vote of thanks by the Director and distribution of completion Certificates among the participants. The Director highlighted that training, capacity building and investing in human resource of the country is the way to solid progress.
