FAISALABAD: FCCI SVP Rana Sikander Azam said that some black sheep in customs are not only ruining the credibility of the department for their vested interests but also causing destruction to businessmen. FBR high ups should take action against such corrupt elements in the larger interest of the county.
Faisalabad Chamber’s Senior Vice President (SVP), Rana Sikander Azam said the purpose of Customs Department is to facilitate the business community and curb the menace of smuggling to save the economy of Pakistan.
While talking to Customs Today, he said that the government establishes different institutions like FBR & Customs department to provide investment friendly environment to importers and exporters. They should not blackmail or threaten these importers and exporters.
Sikander Azam said importers are facing problems at Port Qasim in clearance of their consignments. Due to this reason they have to divert to other ports for clearance of shipments.
He said good working relationship between importers and Karachi Customs officials will ease the problems faced by the business community.
He urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to understand the problems of business community and take early action against ‘blackmailers’ in Customs especially PA Ibrahim Khan at R&D Port Qasim.
Meanwhile, importers have approached Federal Board of Revenue against blackmailing by few customs officials at R&D Port Qasim, especially Principal Appraiser Ibrahim Khan.
Importers told Customs Today that blackmailing by Principal Appraiser Ibrahim Khan is increasing day by day due to which their businesses are suffering huge losses.
“This is intolerable. We cannot survive in these circumstances. Even we are thinking to shift our businesses to UAE to secure our children’s livelihood. We are fulfilling all the legal requirements. We are paying taxes to Customs and FBR on time. After paying the taxes, it is impossible to pay huge amounts to the blackmailers”, importers uttered with immense despair.
“PA Ibrahim Khan was found involved in smuggling cases. He had a bad repute and track record. Such persons should not be allowed to work again to upset the genuine importers,” importers demanded.
Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Dr Muhammad Irshad has taken serious notice of the importers’ complaints of blackmailing by few Customs officials, especially Principal Appraiser Ibrahim Khan, deputed at R&D Port Qasim and directed the authorities concerned to investigate the matter and report him urgently.
He said corruption and corrupt officials will not be tolerated, “if any official found involved in such kind of activities, he/she shall be punished as per relevant laws.”
“There is no room in Federal Board of Revenue for those persons who are stigma on the face of our institution,” he added.
Recently, several incidents of blackmailing have been reported by importers against few Customs officials deputed at R&D Port Qasim.
Sources made shocking revelations about the sufferings of several importers due to the blackmailing of few black sheep in the Customs Department, especially Principal Appraiser Ibrahim Khan at R&D Port Qasim.
Talking about the tactics of blackmailing, importers said Principal Appraiser Ibrahim Khan and his team are used to call to importers to demand money. They also threaten these importers to face dire consequences in shape of marking inquiry against them.
Sources further revealed that this Principal Appraiser, Ibrahim Khan, has already a bad track record. An FIR was also lodged against him in December 2016 in a smuggling case, in which he along with few other staff members found involved in smuggling of miscellaneous goods in the garb of iron/steel scrap and inflicted colossal loss to public exchequer.
Earlier, importers appealed to FBR Chairman Dr Irshad, Member Customs Zahid Khokhar, Chief Collectors and Collector Port Qasim Saeed Akram to look into the issue of blackmailing and address the grievances of the importers at the earliest. They also demanded to launch inquiry against the few officials of Customs deputed at R&D Port Qasim, especially PA Ibrahim Khan, to avoid huge losses to the national exchequer.
The FBR chairman took serious notice after the news published on Customs Today website. The chairman also directed the authorities concerned to take strict action against those elements who are misusing powers.
