ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar Khan and FBR Chairman Dr. Muhammad Irshad reviewed the performance of the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation the other day.
Sources told Customs Today that the visit was of prime significance keeping in view the recent unprecedented performance of the Directorate General in all fields of responsibilities.
Director General Intelligence and Investigation Shaukat Ali apprised the chairman of the working, core functions and achievements of the Directorate General, especially during the last five month after his joining as the Director General. The focused areas, interalia, included a robust strategy to curb the menace of smuggling, effective monitoring of the goods being cleared from different Customs Stations across the country and unearthing of the money laundering cases.
Shaukat Ali informed the state minister and the chairman that goods seized during the last five month is Rs 3.6 billion which is 52 % higher in comparison to the corresponding period of the last year.
Similarly, evasion of duty and taxes to the tune of Rs 5.1 billion was detected, registering growth of 1195% in comparison to the corresponding period.
Four major cases of money laundering have been detected involving the laundering of a cumulative amount of US$ 20.6 million .Solid evidence relating to laundering of US$ 6.65 million has already been generated by the Directorate General in these cases. The minister of state lauded the efforts of the Directorate General in curbing smuggling and promoting the genuine trade. He categorized the performance of the Directorate General as “an eye opener” for FBR and all its field formations.
Haroon Akhtar reiterated the commitment of the current regime regarding zero tolerance for fiscal frauds including money laundering. He directed the Directorate General to unearth all evidence in AML cases in order to ensure quick prosecution of the persons involved as warranted under the law.
The minister of state assured all levels of cooperation to the Directorate General for completion of all activities within the purview of its mandate. He particularly appreciated the efforts of the Directorate General in maintaining data of customs officers/officials involved in facilitating tax evasion, smuggling and corruption. Chairman, FBR assured the Directorate General for all possible support in keeping up the momentum for anti-smuggling drive, anti-evasion actions, AML activities and vigilance of the Customs operations being carried out on the Customs Stations across the country.
