KARACHI: Chief Collector Enforcement-South Muhammad Yahya has said that Pakistan Customs has been doing its utmost efforts in curbing smuggling due to which the smuggling activities have been reduced to some extent and that their efforts will be continuing.
He said this in a meeting with office bearers of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry during a visit to FPCCI Head Office in Karachi along with Collector Model Customs Collectorate of Exports Wasif Ali Memon and Collector of Model Customs Collectorate Port Qasim Agha Shahid Majeed Khan.
Chief Collector Yahya assured the business community for utilization of maximum available resources to curb smuggling and under invoicing.
He also said that the FPCCI’s Budget proposals should first be consulted with the concerned Customs Collectorates so that FBR may feel it comfortable to understand and incorporate them into the budget.
Earlier FPCCI President Zakaria Usman and former president Tariq Sayeed said that the smuggling of different items from Iran through Balochistan including Chaman Border has been badly affecting the local industry of Pakistan and the government is also well aware of it. This underscores the need to take more positive steps by the Customs authorities to protect the local industries and legal importers.
Zakaria Usman further stated that the black economy is growing in the country due to the unabated increase in smuggling activities. Customs authorities should find out the reasons why smuggling of such items is increasing which can be imported through legal channel easily. The reason may be the complicated policies for legal taxpayers. The valuation department of Customs needs more improvement as nowadays the procedures of the valuation of items are complicated. He suggested that all items should be attached with the international publications which will be very easy for the customs authorities as well as the taxpayers.
The meeting was also attended by other office bearers of FPCCI including Senior Vice President Shaukat Ahmed, Vice President Mazhar Ali Nasir, Vice President Khurram Sayeed and Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Customs Saqib Fayyaz Magoon, who identifying the smuggling of plastic granules, sulphuric acid, tiles along with other items said that it is discouraging for the real importers and causing loss to the industries.
They also sought attention of the Collectors of Customs towards the problems in customs clearance and under-invoicing due to which the local industries are badly affected.
