MULTAN: The key post of deputy collector in Customs Adjudication is lying vacant for about one month due to transfer of Deputy Collector Saima Ayyaz.
Deputy Collector Saima Ayyaz was appointed at the Customs Adjudication Multan Camp Office almost one and half years ago to dispose the pending seizure cases after promotion and transfer of Additional Collector Farhat Ali. She was transferred to Directorate of Training and Research (DOT) Lahore from Collectorate of Customs Adjudication in the beginning of July.
Saima Ayyaz was appointed in Customs Adjudication after continuous gathering of seizure cases formed by seizing agencies. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) appointed Deputy Collector Saima Ayyaz to deal seizure cases formed by Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation and Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO). She was also holding charge of Customs Adjudication Faisalabad along with other responsibilities. Customs Adjudication Multan is facing pendency issues in the disposal of various seizure cases due to the absence of deputy collector after relocation.
Deputy Collector Saima Ayyaz has conducted speedy justice by disposing of highest number of seizure cases in Customs Adjudication Multan after concluding of their trial. There were 258 different seizure cases worth Rs.106.581 million settled by Deputy Collector Saima Ayyaz after completion of their trial during the economic year 2017-18. Deputy Collector Customs Adjudication is about to hear 62 seizure cases of worth Rs37.858 million available for the hearing in the Customs Adjudication.
Deputy Collector Customs Adjudication has the pecuniary power to adjudicate seizure case up to rupees one million. Due to vacant key post of Deputy Collector Customs Adjudication, Multan camp Office is facing pendency in issuing Show-cause notices to respondents for the hearing of their seizure cases.
The pendency of the seizure cases at Customs Adjudication will further increase with the passage of time if the FBR did not appoint any Deputy Collector for Customs Adjudication Multan Camp Office. Due to unavailability of Deputy Collector, Customs will also face hurdles in the auction of goods and vehicles due to pendency of available seizure cases.
