ISLAMABAD: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Asif Mahmood Jah has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to rectify the maladministration taking place at Customs check posts across the country, assuring his co-operation in this regard.
As per details, in an investigation initiated by the FTO himself, it was found that multiple complaints regarding harassment leading to corruption had been filed at various Customs check-posts.
The complaints mostly pertained to interception goods moving to their respective destinations after having paid duty taxes, as a matter of routine, by Customs officials without any solid information or approval from the senior hierarchy.
According to the investigation report, this unnecessary checking of duty paid goods was causing hindrance and delay in the smooth flow of duty paid goods and was contrary to the government’s policy of creating ease in doing business (EoDB).
The FTO has pointed out that such counterproductive measures are contrary to law, perverse, arbitrary, biased, involves the exercise of power for corrupt motives and falls within the ambit of maladministration.
The FTO further issued instructions to the chief collectors concerned for strict implementation at field formations, directing them that the vehicles carrying imported fresh and dry fruits cleared from Customs Station of Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP) and Balochistan shall not be checked at any check post located en-route to inland country or by Customs mobile squads.
Authorities have been ordered that these vehicles can only be checked on specific information and that too, after it has been brought in the knowledge of the respective collector.
