ISLAMABAD: The Customs International Mail Office (IMO) Islamabad exceeded its assigned revenue targets throughout this Financial Year 2016-17. Inspector level staff of the IMO must get trained by the DLO. During the tenure of Assistant Collector IMO, no unusual mistake or incident was committed by the customs staff with the clients.
This was stated by Ali Asad, Assistant Collector International Mail Office (IMO) Islamabad, while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today at his office.
He said he is very much inspired by the Collector Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad Dr. Arslan and by former Collector West Dr. Fareed. The Collector MCC Islamabad’s management qualities are appreciable and it is a well learning process for newly appointees like us.
The AC IMO hails from Rawalpindi and studied in prominent educational institutions like Convent school Murree, Cadet Collage Kalar Kahar and passed his post graduation degree from Agriculture University Faisalabad. He joined the customs department by passing the examination of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) 2017 and was posted at the MCC Islamabad as an Assistant Collector IMO.
Answering a query regarding the jurisdiction and staffing of the IMO Islamabad, he said there are about eight customs officials at Chakla IMO office led by an Inspector, one customs officer appointed at GPO Islamabad and two are at GPO Rawalpindi. The officials placed at the IMO are well experienced and there is zero tolerance for narcotics traffickers.
Inspector Shabir IMO was alone at office when he intercepted a parcel at Islamabad GPO which was carrying 330 grams of fine quality heroin. The Chairman Federal Board of Revenue not only appreciated the Inspector but also announced reward money for him.
Assistant Collector especially named another Inspector Javed Goraya who intercepted a very difficult 420-gram heroin smuggling case which was concealed in shoe-soles. The seized heroin was shipped for Netherlands. The FBR has also awarded him a commendatory certificate. During his three-month tenure, he seized three parcels of heroin and arrested two persons involved in smuggling activities.
He said with the lesser strengthen of present staff and customs officers at Islamabad collectorate, he has to overwork as he looks after IMO, imports examination, unaccompanied baggage, SWH, Audit and MCD.
Ali Asad prefers manual checking of international parcels to digital checking as it is not as perfect as manual examination of registries. All the seized heroin cases were intercepted via manual checking. The AC emphasized that the IMO offices must be led by experienced customs staff because all the cases seized were intercepted with the experience based knowledge.
Assistant Collector further said he has learnt how to share and get information from other foreign customs agencies during Australian Border intermediate course. He added that he learnt about the customs laws and rules at the SDPI workshops and courses. He opined there should be Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for airport customs duty staff so that they can move on the premises of airport for performing their duties more freely and effectively.
Answering another query, he disclosed that our WeBOC system is more modern than other developing countries.
