MULTAN: Former Vice President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Syeda Masooma Subtain has said that corruption of notorious Incharge R&D Dost Muhammad at bonded warehouse is causing serious security risks for the national security and damaging integrity of customs department.
In an exclusive interview with Customs Today, she told that most recent corruption at bonded warehouse is again an eye opener for the customs high-ups to take strict action against dishonest Dost Muhammad who is running parallel smuggling network in the country. Corruption of Dost Muhammad and his company is shameful act for the honest customs officials and it has damaged huge financial loss to the national exchequer.
Masooma told that corruption is deep rooted in the customs department and it is also one major reason that huge scams are approaching with every passing day which shows inability of department and Federal Board of Revenue who failed to take any action against corrupt officials like Dost Muhammad.
She said that serious irregularities have been found at the bonded warehouse for the clearance of import shipments with connivance of Dost Muhammad and his team raised serious questions on the integrity of customs department. Several corrupt officials like Dost Muhammad are operating their illegal services for the sake of kickbacks openly. Corruption is not possible without involvement of Customs staff and every scam revealed that corrupt customs officials were involved in expediting them for clearance of their shipments. Corruption is a major problem at ports for clearance of shipments and genuine importers are suffering due to frauds of Dost Muhammad and his network.
Corruption became a boon for the customs officials like Dost Muhammad and his network nowadays as they are facilitating smugglers for the clearance of their contraband items for the sake of their financial benefits through kickbacks.
Importers who want to clear their genuine import shipments also compelled to pay bribe for their clearance; otherwise they harass them and form false cases for the sake of bribe. Importers have started giving them regular bribe for the clearance of their genuine consignments to avoid any unforeseen situation.
She said that government must interrogate serious irregularities and corruption of Dost Muhammad and his network which is a major problem for genuine importers. Unfortunately, in our country, corruption has become a part of life. It has entered the very roots of the society and dishonesty has tarnished every fabric of our social life. She surprised that our anti-corruption departments let them free without any punishment.
She suggested that Dost Muhammad and other corrupt officials who if found guilty in the bonded warehouse scam should be punished severely and an exemplary sentence should be given to said officials for eradication of corruption.
