PESHAWAR: Deputy Collector Model Customs Collectorate Peshawar, Mohammad Amin, has said that the new Azakhel Dry Port that has both railway and road access, will be made operational for traders after four months
In an exclusive interview with Customs Today, he said that Peshawar Customs collected the highest customs duty from Torkham Border and Peshawar Dry Port during the last fiscal year 2014-15 that was Rs 4.5 billion, adding that target assigned by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) under all heads had also been achieved by the department. During the first quarter of the fiscal year 2015-16, the target has also been achieved, he said.
The Peshawar Customs has shortage of staff as no recruitment has been making since 1995, adding that now the FBR has started hiring officers through federal public service commission (FPSC) and national testing service (NTS), which will ultimately improve the performance of the department, Amin stated.
He said that under amnesty scheme, a number of vehicles has been registered, adding that vehicles’ smuggling into Pakistan has now been minimised through strict enforcement of customs law.
“We are in touch with Afghan authorities to solve problems of Pakistani exporters and importers,” he said, adding that customs facilitation centers were present in all division of the province to address the complaints of the applicants if any.
Responding to a question, Deputy Collector Mohammad Amin said that Urdu translation of Customs Act, 1969 will definitely help raising awareness.
