FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Faisalabad staff showed outstanding performance during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2016-17 and recovered foreign origin goods and vehicles worth Rs 67.4 million
These views were expressed by Collector Dr Zulifkar Ali Chaudhary during an exclusive interview with Customs Today.
The collector said that the collectorate team comprising Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya, Inspector Khalid Ashraf Noor, Mehmood Dogar, Ali Zahid and Sepoys Afzal Hussain Liaqat Ali, Muhammad naeem, Muhammad Ashraf foiled many attempts of smuggling in the region.
The team during different operations intercepted nine vehicles which were being used for smuggling and loaded with foreign origin items. All these vehicles were brought into country without payment of customs duty and taxes through unauthorized route. Collector Zulfiqar said that the impounded vehicles includes Toyota Corolla, Land Cruiser, Hilux Surf, Toyota Picasso etc.
The collector said that ASO team also seized foreign origin cloth 2620-kgs, tyres tubes 30 nos, foreign origin cigarettes of different brands 3630-dandas, and other different items during the said period.
The collector in response to a query said that ASO staff seizes items worth Rs 16,017,418 in July, while Rs 39051171 goods were recovered during the month of August. He said that ASO team seized smuggled goods worth Rs 12325942 during the month of September.
Collector Zulfikar said that ASO teams seized all these goods and vehicles after through verification of documents. He said that most owners of these vehicles and goods were failed to provide any relevant documents regarding possession and transportation of these goods. After their failure ASO team seized these goods and vehicles.
He said that FBR strictly directed all Customs Collectorate to adopt zero tolerance policy against smuggling and persons who are involved in smuggling of vehicles and goods.
Collector Zulfiqar said that Customs Faisalabad is working on a comprehensive strategy to meet revenue collection target set for the current Fiscal Year 2016-17. He said that we are quite optimistic that Faisalabad Collectorate will surpass its assigned revenue collection target.
The collector said that smuggling is ruining our national economy and strong taxation system is backbone of any country’s economy. He said that it is our national duty to pay taxes according of our income.
He said that staff who are deputed at Faisalabad Dry Port and Air Freight Unit at Faisalabad International Airport is working dedicatedly and honestly. He said that AFU staff deputed at Faisalabad Airport thwarted many attempts of smuggling in recent past. He said that Customs authorities are using all resources to curb smuggling in the region.
Collector Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhary said that Customs Adjudication department is also conducting hearing of all pending cases on priority basis involving huge amount. He said that Adjudication decided marginable cases during first quarter of current Fiscal Year 2016-17.
In answer to a question Collector Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhary said that that Collectorate is extending full support to importers for clearance of their goods and consignments from Faisalabad Dry Port. He said that Customs collectorate adopted measures to facilitate business community of Faisalabad.
