PESHAWAR: Principal Appraiser Dost Muhammad is illegally operating smuggling networks for clearance of contraband items upon which the criminal silence of Customs high-ups is causing huge loss to national exchequer.
The Principle Appraiser allows clearance of contraband goods like Indian gutka, banned medicines and betel nuts which not only causes loss to the customs revenue collection but also earns bad name for the Customs Department.
The Members of Peshawar Tax Bar expressed certain objections over large-scale corruption of Principal Appraiser Dost Muhammad, who is currently performing his duties at Customs Appeasement East, R&D section, Karachi.
Advocate Isaac Ali Qazi, member of Isaac Law Associates here in Peshawar, informed Customs Today in an interview on Thursday that due to corrupt customs officials like Principle Appraiser Dost Mohammad, importers and exporters registered a lot of cases against Customs Department in which they were frustrated on clearance of legally imported goods to Pakistan.
Advocate Issac Ali Qazi further said that the clearance of contraband goods is a serious crime upon which the appraiser needs to be punished but these officials become blue-eyed persons of smugglers and criminals who not only tease hardworking officials but also frustrate genuine importers.
In Peshawar region, containers are seized at Kohat often despite the green chit of clearance given from the Karachi port for taking bribe.
The Advocate added that the Customs high-ups need to take strict action against the corrupt official Dost Mohammad in order to discourage those supporting him, causing huge loss to the exchequer.
The Advocate further told Customs Today that so far a number of importers based in Peshawar have sidelined themselves from the business of trade and transit but the Customs high-ups are not worried about the corruption made by lower staff in different regions of Pakistan.
He said there needs to be a proper check and balance system which can identify the data to be used for tracing of moving consignments between borders which can increase tax collection.
