SIALKOT: The Model Customs Collectorate at Sialkot Dry Port Trust has been facing shortage of staff to curbing smuggling and tax evasion for the last two years, it is learnt.
Sources said that Sialkot Customs Collector Ahmad Reza is trying his best to curb smuggling and handle matters at the dry port, but shortage of staff will further increase in coming days, as some officials are going to retire in 2017, 18 and 19 after attaining the age of superannuation.
Currently, two posts of deputy collectors, three posts of assistant collectors, five posts of superintendents, four posts of deputy superintendents, seven posts of inspectors, three posts of appraisers, four posts of assistants, five posts of senior clerks, six posts of junior clerks, five posts of constables, two posts of naib qasids and others posts are vacant at the Sialkot Customs.
The sources revealed that letter was sent to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) demanding more staff, but no any official has been posted so far. They added that the FBR also demanded list of required staff thrice but the department has not received response yet.
When contacted Sialkot Customs Deputy Collector Muhammad Hanif, he said that the FBR should take serious notice of shortage of staff, besides taking action as soon as possible to fill the vacant seats in order to achieve desired results. It is an appreciable matter that the collectorate is giving good performance and achieving revenue targets despite having limited staff.
