ISLAMABAD: Customs Sialkot is using all of its resources to curb smuggling menace in the region. Due to effective measures of customs authorities trend of smuggling is witnessing downfall..
These views were expressed by Collector customs Mohammad Ahmad Raza during an exclusive interview with Customs Today.
He said that customs department is facilitating exporters and also encourage them to enhance their exports. He said exporters are backbone of national economy , so we have to provide them every facility. Ahmad Raza said customs staff is performing their duties round the clock at Air Freignt Unit (AFU) and dry port Sialkot to faciitate exporters. He said we made the process of rebate more transparent.
In reply to a question Ahmad Raza said that Sialkot occupies special place between Lahore and Peshawar and we are consentrating to curb smuggling attempts which are being made through land routes. He revealed that customs teams impounds lot of non-duty paid vehicles during the month of March and April and showed excellent performance in the above said period.
He said we are quite optimistic to achieve our revenue target set for current fiscal year. He said we are moving on the right direction to achieve our revenue target set for current fiscal year. Ahmad Raza said that we are going to organize various training sessions for our staff which will enable them to meet the new challenges and improve their performance. He said we are extending full support to our valued exporters. He said that we are encouraging those exporters who establish their business in Karachi to come back to Sialkot and use export facilities here.
He said we launched many anti-smuggling campaings in which we advised shopkeepers not to sell smuggled items. In answer to a question about shortage of staff, Ahmad Raza said that fresh staff is being appointed through Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and hopefully we will solve this issue soon.
He said our Small Medicum Enterprises (SMEs) sector needs encourgement and for this purpose we are providing them our guidance and support, but SME sector needs some major reforms.
