KARACHI: Customs Today unearthed the scam of misuse of green channel facility in which a few senior customs officials are clearing a large number of containers loaded with infested betel nuts through green channel at Port Qasim.
After so much coverage by Customs Today, Customs Preventive and Intelligence launched raids on green channel ‘smugglers’ and seized 6 containers of betel buts on 21 February from a godown in Korangi Industrial Area which were cleared through green channel under the protection of a few senior customs officers at Port Qasim.
Fourteen containers were cleared through green channel of the said company from Port Qasim while only six have been confiscated yet. At least 188 containers of betel nuts are stuck up at ports.
Customs staff did not implement the import policy in its true spirit as directed by Member Customs Zahid Khokhar and allowed misuse of green channel facility through which importers ‘smuggled’ infested betel nuts in the country putting health of the citizens on risk.
Sources said hazardous and low quality betel nuts were being imported from India, Nepal and other countries with the help of appraisement and examination staff at Port Qasim in violation of the import policy.
Sources said approximately 7 to 9 containers have been cleared through Appraisement East and Appraisement West on daily basis for last few years and a few customs officials have been getting Rs 20,000-Rs45,000 ‘speed money’ for clearance of each container.
It is pertinent to mention that this low quality betel nuts have been used to prepare hazardous “Paan Masala”, “Main Puri” and “Gutka” causing cancer in the users.
Sources said that plain ‘chalia’ in any form is very injurious to heath. It is proved that juices of even good quality ‘chalia’ is carcinogen when mixed with other hazardous item like artificial colour, hemical, etc., will increase the chance to produce serious diseases like oral cancer (mostly tongue, cheek and lips), mouth ulcer, maggots in mouth, submucous fibrosis, etc.
According to sources, betel nut is an edible item which requires certification by Plant Protection Agency (PPA) for clearance. However, the network of Additional collector Yasin Murtaza at Port Qasim, instead of enforcing PPA certificate requirement in true spirit, is clearing the consignments of betel nuts through green channel.
Meanwhile, the facility of green channel is being misused at MCC-Appraisement Port Qasim under protection of a few senior customs officials including ADC Yasin Murtaza as 200 to 300 containers of Iron-Steel scrap are being cleared through green channel despite the fact that these items are not allowed to be cleared through green channel, causing loss to exchequer worth billions.
It is surprising why FBR and Customs high-ups are not taking action against ‘corrupt’ customs officials despite complete proof and timely information.
Different chambers of commerce and importers associations have appealed to the FBR chairman Tariq Pasha and Member Customs Zahid Khokhar to thoroughly investigate the misuse of green channel facility at larger scale and bring the culprits to justice.
