ISLAMABAD: Additional Collector Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad Nisar Ahmad Phullerwan said that outside requests for protocol of passengers will be scanned even if it is not allowed for the passengers who belong to the Customs Department. It has been noticed that some protocol receiving passengers are involved in mala fide practices.
According to details explained by Additional Collector Islamabad Airport Nisar Ahmad Phullerwan while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today.
He said to make the Customs Department more efficient, the border security and customs department must be integrated therefore this troika must work under one umbrella of the Customs Department. He added that, after 9/11, America understands that Immigration Department, Border Security and Customs Department must be integrated.
He said we have followed American style for Inland Revenue Service (IRS) as Land and Taxes work together under one roof but we do not follow American style for Customs Department. The Customs Department lacks information regarding the borders and, as for as immigration is concerned, it causes difficulties to cope with the notorious elements.
Additional Collector told CT that the matter of issuing all area airport passes by the Airport Security Force (ASF) has been resolved. Now the ASF has issued regular all area airport passes to the permanent transferred officers of the Customs Department like Collector Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad, Additional Collectors and Deputy Collectors and Assistant Collectors whereas the officers, performing duties on rotation, are still issued all area passes of the airport when they come on rotation to perform their duties.
Phullerwan showed his concerns over the shifts’ working during 24 hours at the Customs Arrival Lounge at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA). He said that some shifts are inefficient because some Inspectors are old and they are suffering due to understaffing. He suggested that every shift must have five inspectors who could perform their duty vigilantly.
He complained that, at the International Arrival Lounge, 20-year old defective scanners have been installed which hampers the smooth sailing of the department. The old installed scanners at the Arrival Lounge get out of order after every four or five days, although a letter has also been written to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for installation of new scanner so as to check the luggage properly.
Additional Collector further said the services of the customs staffers, who do not perform their duties properly, have been surrendered and disciplinary proceedings have also been started against them for skipping from their jobs.
He appreciated the performance of Dr. Saeed Khan Jadoon, Collector MCC Islamabad Air Freight Unit (AFU), whose department has surpassed its assigned revenue collection target for the corresponding 1st Quarter of Financial Year 2017-18 under all the heads. He optimistically assured the higher authorities of the Federal Board of Revenue of surpassing the revenue collection target under all the heads during the upcoming 2nd Quarter of 2017-18.
