QUETTA: Collectorate of Customs Preventive Collector Irfan Javed has said that under guidance of Federal Board of Revenue there has been a substantial improvement in the performance of MCC Quetta to curb smuggling activities.
Talking with Customs Today Collector Irfan Javed said said that this Collectorate has embarked upon a proactive approach to bring real results, and there has been a generous improvement in performance of Customs Preventive Quetta and a number of initiatives have been taken in a short span of time that is June 2020.
Answering to a query he said that there has been a 258 percent increase in value of seizures in June 2020 against the performance of same corresponding period June 2019, adding that In month of June 2019, the value of seizures was estimated in worth Rs182.45 million whereas seizures substantially increased in June 2020 in value of Rs 651.61 million.
It is essential to mention here that this quantum of seizures is higher than any other month of financial year 2019-20 (except November 2019) and is much higher than the monthly target of Rs.340 million the Collector said.
Replying to another query about anti smuggling mobile squads, he said that mobile squads of MCC Quetta have been activated with strict instruction of vigilance, transparency and efficient, he adding that the mobile squads had remained inactive during financial year 2019-20. The last orders for active independent mobile squads were made during April 2019.
Last auction of seized smuggled goods was conducted on 29.02.2020, subsequently no auction was held from Feb to June 2020 however, in order to liquidate stuck up government revenue three (3) auctions have been held during the month of June, 2020 on 10.6.2020, 17.06.2020 & 24.06.2020 thereby bringing in considerable revenue.
Answering to query that what initiatives he has taken after assuming charge of Collectorate he said that in order to address the issue of rationalization of reserve prices a letters to Collector (Appraisement & Facilitation) and Director Intelligence and investigation have been written with the request to form a committee duly headed by an Additional Collector and consisting of representative of collectorates and Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation for transparency.
In this regard meetings with inspector General of Police, Baluchistan. Inspector General Frontier Crops Baluchistan and Chief Secretary Baluchistan have been held, as a result as an immediate step has been taken that officials of this Collectorate have been nominated for joint Anti-smuggling operations with police of the region.
Further about initiatives taken by him he said that the Commandant Frontier Crops Battle Schools, Quetta have been requested to train newly recruited customs sepoys because this training is being reinitiated after 2017, he adding that this office has a strong resolve to become an active arm of FBR’s anti-smuggling initiative and substantially exceed the targets assigned to it.
