ISLAMABAD: The Customs Staff of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) Islamabad needs access to the FIA data for effective profiling mechanism to bring down percentage of baggage examination without compromising controls. The customs staff deputed at the BBIA airport needs Body X-ray equipment for detecting body concealments. The airport customs staffers also require residential accommodation at the new Islamabad airport to easily manage 24/7 operations.
This was stated by Neghma-e-Tehenat, Deputy Collector BBIA Islamabad, while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today.
She said only one scanner at arrival for checking of taxable goods/contrabands creates congestion problems at the time of multiple flights. She said at new airport, scanners are being placed outside the conveyor belt in line with the international best practices for five belts. Five scanners will be required at new airport. The VHF radio communication system and web based CCTV coverage shall also be required considering long distances within the airport and increased volume of passengers.
During current Financial Year FY2016-17, the customs staff disputed at the BBIA seized 2,247 numbers of mobile phones valued Rs32.89million whereas the Islamabad customs airport staff seized 2,997 numbers of mobile phones during the above said period of corresponding FY2015-16 priced Rs63.20million. She informed Customs Today that all the above said seizures were intercepted at the passengers’ baggage terminal.
Answering a query, the DC airport said the BBIA undertook major initiatives as it set up Canine Section for better performance while the BBIA established a currency counter for online data feeding. The BBIA has been provided with an effective monitoring of staff through online CCTV coverage, she added.
The Model Customs Collectorate has established body search counters at the BBIA for detection of body concealments and it has also set up 24/7 passenger facilitation desk at airport to provide best quality services to the passengers.
Responding to a query about the comparison between collections and assigned targets for FY2015-16 and FY2016-17, she said that during FY 16-17, the Customs Station BBIA received revenue of Rs17.27million against the allocated revenue of Rs15.47million. During said period, the BBIA achieved 112% taxes against the earmarked target.
During the corresponding Financial Year 2015-16, the BBIA earned revenue of Rs7.56million against the assigned target of Rs12.57million. The additional incomes earned were due to new initiatives taken by Collector MCC Islamabad Dr. Arslan, she remarked
The Deputy Collector BBIA said that during FY2016-17, the customs staff deputed at the airport seized foreign currency worth Rs7.00million whereas the BBIA staff seized foreign currency valued Rs15.07million during corresponding year FY2015-16. During FY2016-17, the airport customs staff seized 3.88 kilogram of heroin powder worth Rs1.80million and during the corresponding year FY2015-16, the airport customs seized 21.67 kilogram of heroin worth Rs220.50. During FY2015-16, the BBIA staff confiscated 736.410 gram of gold valued Rs3.10million, deputy collector informed.
