KARACHI: Appraiser Muhammad Naeem Khan posted at Port Qasim is allegedly involved in rampant corruption, undermining the anti-corruption campaign vigorously launched by Chief Collector South Abdul Rasheed Sheikh.
Sources claimed that Appraiser Muhammad Naeem Khan posted at Port Qasim Import Group-7 puts undue pressure on genuine importers through deliberately delaying clearance of consignments. He creates different hurdles to demand speed money from importers. He even threatens importers to lodge false cases against them.
Sources further said, “Naeem Khan is a blue-eyed officer working as the front of few corrupt officials. In the presence of such “favourable” appointees like Naeem Khan, it is impossible to defeat the corruption from Port Qasim. ‘Black sheep’ in customs make it very difficult for officers of high calibre like Chief Collector Abdul Rasheed Sheikh and Collector Saeed Akram to impose their agenda of corruption-free customs.”
Sources asserted, “Appraiser Naeem Khan had a bad repute and track record. Such persons should not be allowed to work at important posts at Port Qasim to upset the genuine importers.”
An importer said, “The objective of FBR is to facilitate legal importers so that smuggling is stopped. Even policies are made in this direction. FBR already knows about the menace of discouraging imports. However, the lower staff does exactly opposite by discoursing imports and encouraging smuggling.”
It is pertinent to mention here that importers have been complaining for last few days about their grievances due to highhandedness of few corrupt officials at Port Qasim. Chambers and trade bodies have also recently received dozens of complaints from importers about rampant corruption by few black sheep at Port Qasim.
Importers are suffering at the hands of corrupt officials especially Appraiser Muhammad Naeem Khan who are using different illegal tactics to harass the importers and delay their consignments for 20 days. Even they are used to threaten these importers of physical harm if they refuse to pay the speed money.
These lower cadre customs officials have been discouraging legal imports and promoting smuggling of above Rs 20 billion by wrongly causing financial losses to legal importers, various harassments, and pushing them to give speed money.
Member Customs Federal Board of Revenue Muhammad Zahid Khokhar has adopted zero tolerance policy against corruption in Customs Department. Several times he expressed this commitment that he will make field formations corruption free as he believes this is the primary responsibility of customs officers and officials to do their duties with honesty and devotion.
Keeping in mind this commitment of FBR & Customs high-ups, importers demanded of FBR Chairman Tariq Pasha and Member Customs Zahid Khokhar to take prompt action against Appraiser Naeem Khan posted at Port Qasim. Quick action against such corrupt officer will boost the confidence of importers.
