ISLAMABAD: Model Customs Collectorate, Peshawar will definitely achieve its revenue target for second quarter of current financial year 2016-17, as hectic efforts are being made to realise the target.
This was said by Additional Collector Fazal-e-Samad during an interview with Customs Today, adding that auction of non-duty paid vehicles, gold, currency and other goods was giving special attention to generate more revenue.
The collectorate also tightened checking of cargo and passengers at Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar and at border along with Afghanistan, he said, adding that the collectorate showing better performance in order achieve maximum growth.
He said that the department was trying to auction recently seized gold this month if the case, which is under trial in Customs Adjudication, was decided this month. He informed that the value of the gold has been estimated at Rs 50 million.
In order to meet the revenue targets, auction of non-duty paid vehicles and other smuggled goods will be held once or twice in December 2016, he said, adding that the Peshawar Customs will have to collect maximum revenue to surpass the target of second quarter.
Samad said that reinforcement of Peshawar airport has almost been completed, adding that during last week he visited the airport thrice to examine the preparation and preventive measures to curb smuggling of gold and currency.
He further said that customs officials have tightened the checking passenger and cargo in arrival and departure lounges at the airport, adding that vigilance has also been enhanced at border along with Afghanistan in order to curb smuggling.
Besides issuance of directions to field staff for strict vigilance over the illegal movement of currency and gold, both the additional collector and collector repeatedly visited airport and other field formations to guide and brief the staff concerned on the subject, he said.
Moreover, the customs has also deployed squad to keep check on movement of currency and gold, adding that collectorate’s efforts in this regard were evident from the fact that it seized a huge quanitity of gold and currency of different countries equivalent to Rs 50.912 million during the last six months.
He highlighted that the customs in a recent action at the Peshawar airport arrested accused person, Nasir Hussain of Peshawar, who had arrived from Dubai via PK-284. During body search the officials recovered eight kilogramme gold (720 tola), which was concealed in his belt and shoes. It was stated that the estimated cost of the gold was Rs 32.4 million.
He further informed that Collector Qurban Ali has issued special directions for preventive department to impound non-duty paid vehicles and smuggling of other items in order to save national kitty.
