PESHAWAR: NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has launched inquiry against the officers of customs department and others regarding corruption and corrupt practices in clearance of consignments of perishable items to Afghanistan through Torkham border.
During inquiry, it was observed that Ministry of Commerce issued S.R.O No. 805(1)/2015, dated 17.08.2015 through which the condition of Letter of Credit (LC) only as required in Form “E” was waived off for export of perishable items to Afghanistan for ease and connivance of exporters to avoid unnecessarily delay.
The officials of customs negligently misinterpreted the said SRO and did not ensure receipt of export proceeds in Pakistan, which has resulted in loss of billions of rupees to the national economy. In this regard a briefing / presentation was called from Ministry of Commerce, Islamabad and Customs Department.
The meeting held at this Bureau, was chaired by the Director General, Brig (r) Farooq Naser Awan DG NAB (KP).
It was observed that negligent misinterpretation of waiver of the requirement of Letter of Credit (LCs)for perishable items vide SRO and subsequent Export Policy Order, 2016 in absence of export proceeds realization mechanism has led to drastic decline in exports proceeds of the country as the payment of foreign importer against the export of perishable items is not ensured before/after clearance of consignments.
Hence, the Pakistani products are being drilled out of country without benefiting the country in shape of export proceeds / foreign remittances. The meeting was also attended by other officers of NAB, Ministry of Commerce and Customs Deptt.
Director General NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps, both short and long term, in collaboration with NAB to reduce loss of billions of rupees annually in shape of decline of foreign remittances against exported goods. NAB KP is vigilantly pursuing the inquiry in order to unearth the criminal negligence on the part of the concerned authorities.
