In next 18 months entire customs workforce will be trained: Collector Zulfiqar Younas
LAHORE: Collectorate of Customs Preventive Lahore has sent first batch of customs field staff comprising ten inspectors and 15 sepoys to Warsak for participating in a month-long training program in order to efficiently overcome smuggling activities.
Talking to Customs Today, Collector Zulfiqar Younas said that development of the human capitals and training of the officials engaged in fields has immense importance to get good results.
He said that the role of customs department is fast changing with more focus on enforcement and anti-smuggling. In recent past on the initiative of chairman FBR an integrated anti-smuggling campaign was launched which bore good results.
However during implementation of this campaign a dire need was felt for professional training and capacity building of the customs field officers to optimize their efficiency and performance to make anti-smuggling operations more outcomes oriented, he stated.
Furthermore it was felt that more investment in human capital is critical for enhanced performance of any organization, he said, adding that accordingly, the customs ollectorate , Lahore has taken an initiative for imparting training to its inspectors and sepoys and an arrangement has been made with Scouts Training Academy Warsak for their training.
“First batch of Customs field staff comprising of ten inspectors and fifteen sepoys has proceeded to Warsak for participating in a month-long training program starting on 11th of July, 2016,” he informed.
Once the first batch completes training the next batch will be ready to get the subject training and in next 18 months entire work force will be trained and deployed to participate in anti-smuggling operations, he shared.
Younas said the first batch left for Warsak in an official van from Custom House Nabha Road Lahore in the presence of senior officers of the collectorate.
The Collector of Customs Preventive informed that all the participants have been instructed to take the training program seriously and put in their best efforts.
He underscored that the performance evaluation done by the trainers will be taken into account while deploying the trained staff in various field formations. Besides physical and weapon handling training, few training sessions on customs laws enforcement will also be conducted at Warsak Academy with the collaboration of customs , Peshawar, the collector stated.
Younas also mentioned of the special cooperation of Peshawar Collector of Customs Qurban Ali Khan who extended all out support and help in enabling the Collectorate of Customs Preventive to send its first batch of inspector and spoyes for the training programe.
He said that the collectorate has also sought the help of the Punjab police and the IG Punjab has assured full-cooperation in training the customs field force at its training center, enabling the customs department to better prepare to encounter elements involved in smuggling activities.
