KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs celebrated the World Customs Day by destructing a huge quantity of narcotics, contrabands etc worth billions of rupees.
A large number of customs officers headed by Chief Collector Enforcement South Zahid Khokhar, Collector MCC Preventive Dr Saifuddin Junejo, Additional Collector Preventive (Headquarters) Dr Muhammad Nadeem Memon, Deputy Collector Yasser Wahab Kalwar, senior preventive officers, preventive officers and foreign delegates witnessed the ceremony.
While addressing the audience, Collector MCC Preventive Dr Saifuddin Junejo said World Customs Day is like an Eid for the customs officials. “We protect our society, lives of people, wildlife, indigenous species etc”.
“We (Pakistan Customs) are providing benefits to the local industry by seizing cases of mis-declaration, smuggling, under-invoicing etc”.
“The Pakistan Customs are the revenue collectors as it collects 43 percent of the total revenue. We infuse blood to the national economy. We are the blood providers”, Collector Dr Saifuddin Junejo added.
The Customs are now connected with the State Bank of Pakistan, terminal operators, IATA and other agencies through its own-developed state-of-the-art WeBOC, he said, adding that Pakistan Customs have the muscles and now we are showing our muscles to anti-social elements and we will do.
While briefing the media and foreign dignitaries, Additional Collector Dr Muhammad Nadeem Memon said this year the customs have recovered liquor 85,749 bottles (57,831 from custom intelligence side), bear 147,933 bottles and cans (134,736 from custom intelligence enforcement side), Chars 9672 kilograms and heroin 5 kilograms.
On the occasion, the Chief Collector gave away the appreciation certificates amongst the best performing officers.