MULTAN: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Customs (Operations) Jawwad Awais Agha directed Chief Collector Zeba Hai Azhar to adopt zero tolerance policy against smuggling in the territory to curb this menace through a robust, effective and coordinated strategy.
Member Customs (FBR) Jawwad Awais Agha made his first visit to Customs Preventive and presided over a special meeting with Customs Collectorate Preventive officials to devise a comprehensive strategy against smuggling. Collector Muhammad Saleem, Additional Collector Ali Abbas Gardezi, Deputy Collector Saqib-ur-Rehman, Deputy Collector Yousaf Ahmad Baloch, Assistant Collector Syed Jalal Haider Zaidi and Assistant Collector Muhammad Fahad Jamil were also present in the meeting.
The Member Customs said that government has taken serious initiative against smuggling by forming separate collectorates in the region for the prevention of smuggling because it was difficult for a single department to control the menace. He directed Multan Customs Preventive to improve coordination and share important information across the Collectorate regarding smuggling.
He expressed smuggling causes heavy loss to the country’s economy so an effective control measures are vital for boosting local industry in the country. He directed Customs Preventive to adopt zero tolerance policy against smugglers in the jurisdiction for the eradication of smuggling from the country.
He directed Anti-Smuggling Organization to step up operations in the jurisdiction through aggressive enforcement against smuggling by deputing staff on suspected routes for the prevention of smuggling.
Collector Customs Muhammad Shakeel briefed the Member Customs about working of Anti-Smuggling Organization for eradication of smuggling in the jurisdiction and informed that Anti-Smuggling Organization has installed trackers in the vehicles of Anti-Smuggling Squad through which effective monitoring of squad will be conducted and it will also assist them in conducting their operations.
He said anti-smuggling special campaign focused on assigning specific anti-smuggling responsibilities to specific staff, identification of significant smuggling prone areas and choke points, effective utilization of mobile squads, better coordination with other Law Enforcement Agencies and effective monitoring will curb smuggling in the region.
There are 23 anti-smuggling squads actively deputed in different places for tackling smuggling in the jurisdiction and implementing effective strategy. In pursuance of policy guidelines issued by Federal Board of Revenue against smuggling, Customs Collectorate Multan has intensified the anti-smuggling operations. Anti-smuggling operations made significant seizures of about Rs 350 million during the first two and half months after formation of Preventive Collectorate by seizing huge quantity of smuggled vehicles, skimmed milk, tyres, auto parts and others, the Collector added.
Member Customs directed Model Customs Collectorate Preventive and Customs Collectorate Appraisement to make strategic cooperation with each other for the implementation of future plan. Customs Anti-Smuggling Squad carrying out information-based operations in the jurisdiction and all concerned departments are taken on board against smuggling.
Member Customs Jawad Awais Agha was informed that Customs anti-smuggling enhanced monitoring on suspected smuggling routes of territory and launched anti-smuggling squad’s special campaign by assigning specific anti-smuggling responsibilities to field staff for curbing smuggling in the region.
Member Customs (FBR) Jawwad Awais Agha anticipated the officers and staff of the Collectorate would continue their hard work in the interest of the country and their plans against smuggling would yield fruitful results.
