KARACHI: The Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-West Laboratory has been facing acute shortage of staff for a long time as only 24 officials are working at the laboratory against its sanctioned strength of 80 people, Customs Today has learnt.
The sources told Customs Today that the Customs Appraisement West Laboratory had been working below the strength, causing delaying in laboratory tests of the importers referred by the Customs Collectorate West.
Moreover, there are air-conditioners installed however majority of them are out of order and the officials can been seen sitting in front of stand fans, sources added.
“There are only ten chemists/chemical examiners at the Appraisement-West Laboratory out of them one was transferred to Lahore, while two were transferred to Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, leaving behind only seven chemical examiners to do the job”, sources informed.
To a question, the sources elaborated that there was a ban on new recruitments in the FBR since long that resulted in shortage of staff, adding that Collector Appraisement West Jawwad Uwais Agha has visited the Laboratory and assured that things would be put in order soon.