LAHORE: Mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation between the Customs Department and business community can play a vital role in the progress and prosperity of the country.
This was stated by Collector of Customs Junaid Akram while inaugurating the first ever branch of the National Bank of Pakistan at the Wagah Border.
“We need to bridge the gap between the Customs Department and business community in order to get good results out of daily operations,” the Collector said.
While appreciating the setting up of new NBP branch, he said that this would not only benefit the Customs Department but also the business community and the general public.
He said that the new NBP branch will make easier the process of clearance of goods and articles, adding that customs duty collection will also get smoother.
Tariq Jamali, NBP SEVP and Group Chief, Commercial & Retail Banking, said that NBP officials would do their utmost to satisfy the traders, importers, exporters by providing excellent banking services.
He sought full cooperation of the business community for making the branch profitable. The opening of the branch is aimed at facilitating the business community, he added. Jamali said that the branch has been opened especially to serve the importers and exporters.
Shahid Iqbal Dar, NBP Lahore region head, said that the branch will help enhance trade between Pakistan and India. He said that the bank will provide all banking facilities to the traders in this regard.
On the occasion, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) chief Sohail Lashari, lauding the initiative, said that the NBP branch will facilitate traders, importers and exporters alike.
He said that as it is an online branch, it will further enable the business men save their precious time.
Sohail Shaukat Butt, MNA, said that the banking facilities in the area will enable locals to benefit from the branch. He said that earlier, locals had to go to Lahore for their banking needs.
Additional Collector of Customs Sadia Munib, Deputy Collector of Customs Shafiq-ur-Rehman, LCCI) chief Sohail Lashari, NBP SEVP and Group Chief, Commercial & Retail Banking Tariq Jamali, , branch manager Adil Rasheed Bhatti and others were also present on the occasion.
