MULTAN: In a sweeping restructuring effort by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the jurisdiction of Multan Customs has seen significant changes, with both Multan International Airport and the General Post Office (GPO) now reassigned to Lahore Customs’ jurisdiction.
This adjustment, part of a broader set of Customs reforms, has heightened concerns among officers and employees of Multan Customs, who are already grappling with a series of internal transfers and new operational guidelines.
This jurisdictional shift comes as FBR implements a transformation plan that redefines enforcement boundaries, centralizes anti-smuggling operations, and consolidates roles to reduce redundancy between the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs) and the newly created Enforcement Directorate General.
While officials have stated that these reforms aim to streamline functions and reinforce anti-smuggling efforts, they have led to uncertainty within Multan Customs, as officers adjust to new responsibilities and oversight changes.
As part of this restructuring, Assistant Collector Zaigham Ali has been transferred to Multan International Airport, Deputy Collector Fareed ud Din Masood to Deputy Director Headquarters, and Deputy Collector Maryam Jamila to Dera Ghazi Khan, following the establishment of the Indus Collectorate.
The FBR clarified that while certain regional offices deemed redundant will be closed, enforcement staff will be reallocated to other setups to support anti-smuggling initiatives. The reassignment of Multan International Airport and the GPO, however, underscores the extent of the jurisdictional overhaul affecting Multan Customs.
Sources within Multan Customs have expressed growing concerns over how these changes will impact operational efficiency and personnel roles in the future. As reforms take shape, many officers are left in a state of uncertainty, awaiting clarity on their revised functions within the Customs framework.
The FBR, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its commitment to combating smuggling and enhancing Pakistan’s economic security through this reorganization, emphasizing that the new structure aims to bolster coordination with intelligence agencies and optimize enforcement resources.
