ISLAMABAD: Shaukat Ali, Director General Customs Intelligence and Investigation, has taken serious notice of the importers’ complaints that some members of the field staff are involved in corruption, sources said.
According to sources, he has directed all the heads of field stations to identify the officials, who are in the habit of checking the containers already cleared by the Karachi ports by misusing their authority to earn illegal gratification.
He was furious over using the Customs intelligence as a money-making tool and directed strict action against corrupt officials. He also directed that maximum efforts be made to restore the confidence of importers in the institution.
He also directed all the regional directorates that there should be no complaint of bribery from importers and conveyed to all the officials that there was zero tolerance policy against corruption.
He also instructed the officials to take stern action against mafias involved in smuggling, but genuine importers should not be affected by their action.
“The Customs Intelligence and Investigation is anti-smuggling organisation and if genuine importers suffer by their actions, I will take strict action against them,” he said. The director general asked the importers that in case any field officer demands bribery, they should bring it to the notice of concern head of the field office with evidence. He assured the importers that culprits will get punishment for their crimes.