MULTAN: The Model Customs Collectorate Multan Air Freight Unit is delivering one of the most convenient international standard services to importers and exporters in the region of South Punjab after its inauguration, while on the other hand AFU is using all available resources to curb smuggling.
This was stated by Assistant Collector Customs AFU Muhammad Ikram during an exclusive interview with Customs Today.
He told that Multan International Airport is one of the adequate flourishes for the provision of customs services in the jurisdiction to business community. He considered Multan International Airport is one of the biggest facilitation station in the country rather than revenue station which is handling almost 130 international flights in the different parts of the world in a week.
He told that only 22 international flights were operated through Multan International Airport before the establishment of international cargo services in the region. Multan International Airport is facilitating importers and exporters of the region with purposeful steps forward along with traveling of passengers. He told that South Punjab is comprised of under-privileged community and majority of labour travelled to Gulf states for earning their bread and butter through their hardship from Multan Airport.
He stated that Air Freight Unit of Multan Customs first priority is to provide outstanding clearance facilities to exporters and importers at their doorstep for the promotion of Customs services and trade activities in the region. This will also generate further revenue in the Multan Customs Collectorate due to timely clearance facilities. The Model of Customs Collectorate Multan has deputed 50 staff members at the international airport for the operation handling of arrival and departure flights. Customs employees are performing their finest services without any discrimination to coming and outgoing passengers at Multan International Airport. The Collectorate established 24/7 passengers facilitation desk at airport to provide best quality services to passengers.
He told that Multan International Airport has started generating revenue but it is marginally less than our expectation due to lack of awareness about provided facilities because importers and exporters preferred Lahore their import and export cargo clearance due to extended services than Multan Airport.
He stressed importers and exporters of the South Punjab to avail finest services for the clearance of their cargo due to enhanced services offered by Multan Customs. He also revealed that Multan Customs has huge potential in growth of export items as exporters are already adopting Multan Customs for the handling of their perishable items including vegetables, fruits, chilled meat and others. The extent of export scope from Multan AFU is increasing day by day with the passage of time due to best facilities of Customs staff.
He told that Multan Air Freight Unit is striving hard against any money laundering and gold smuggling by taking special measures. Assistant Collector Ikram believed that Multan Collectorate has enhanced its efforts to fight against money laundering and he believed customs needs cross smuggling actions in the region along with coordinated of law enforcement agencies.
