LAHORE: Pakistan Customs is in dire need of fresh blood to rejuvenate it as staff shortage has hampered adversely the efforts to root out smuggling and ensure effective field enforcement.
Soft-spoken Central Region Chief Collector of Customs Rozi Khan Burki stated this while sharing his thoughts with Customs Today during an exclusive interview here at Customs House.
Mr Burki pointed out that the indigenously established WeBoc system for customs stood testimony to the talent, skills and competence of Pakistani nation. He informed that concrete measures were being taken to overcome under-invoicing.
The Chief Collector Customs maintained that the present era was the age of communication and better communication system could result in better output, adding that through modernization of communication systems, the Pakistan Customs had sorted out so many difficulties.
“WeBoc, an automation system developed for the customs, has turned out to be a milestone in bringing about revolutionary changes in the execution of routine affairs. The system is an indigenous one which speaks volumes about the competence of our people. That is the reason that our automated system is far better and advanced as compared to the Indian automation system,” Mr Burki elaborated.
To a question about revenue target, the Chief Collector Customs informed, “We have been tasked with an additional 28 percent target as compared to the last year.
Burki was of the view that so far as Lahore collectortate was concerned, it would be able to achieve the set target despite numerous challenges. However, Multan and Faisalabad which largely depend on oil import, may fall short due to drastic reduction in imported oil’s clearance at these two collectorates,” he expressed his apprehension.
“Till the last fiscal year the ratio of imported and indigenous oil was 80 and 20 percent respectively; however, the ratio of imported oil has plummet to 50 percent while local oil consumption has increased to 50 percent, creating a gap of 30 percent,” he explained.
Giving his input on mis-declaration and under-invoicing of goods, the Chief Collector Customs disclosed that there was no question of mis-declaration of goods as the board had taken far-reaching measures. “Let me tell you that the Customs determines prices of goods up to 80 percent before hand and that’s why mis-declaration of goods is not as easy today as has been in yesteryears,” Mr Burki declared.
“One thing more which I must want to highlight that to overcome under-invoicing, the department imposes penalties up to Rs5,000 for the unavailability of invoice at container which is insufficient and the importer don’t care for it. However, now it has been proposed to raise the fine amount for the unavailability of invoice at the time of examination of containers up to Rs35,000, which hopefully will enable the department to overcome the problem,” he detailed.
To a question about elimination of smuggling, the chief collector declared that until the Customs Department evolved a full-fledged anti-smuggling force, it was difficult to uproot the menace.
“Since 1994, the department has not recruited even a single constable in the anti-smuggling unit and most of the constables and inspector have grown old. Then clerical staff’s promotion as inspector is also an issue as clerical staff can never discharge the duties as a fully trained inspector,” the chief collector elaborated, adding that anti-smuggling unit officials were not as equipped with modern weaponry and ammunition system as the smugglers were.
“Inefficient and old anti-smuggling unit officials needed to be replaced with t energetic and educated youth,” he emphasized, adding that work on a proposal for phasing in fresh blood in the department was in progress. “Look, the new recruitment will enable the department to tackle the menace of smuggling in a better manner,” hoped Rozi Khan Burki.
Talking about cross-border trade with India, he stressed the need for developing infrastructure on modern lines, saying that unfortunately checking-point at Wagah Border lacked capacity to cater to the needs of Pakistan and India trade.
“Proposals on improving infrastructure and opening of extra gates at the border in collaboration with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are being considered and it is expected that things will change for better as a result of the measures being adopted by the Commerce and Defense ministries, Mr Burki expressed his optimism.
He disclosed that the ban on recruitments had affected performance of the Customs Department adversely and the lack of workforce had been hampering anti-smuggling efforts and effective field enforcement.
“There was times when Customs was among the most efficient and effective institutions of the country but now it has lost its credibility due to acute shortage of smart and educated officers since 1994,” he regretted.
He wished that ‘fresh blood’ must be injected into the Customs Department to rejuvenate it and help it regain its lost glory.
Profile
Chief Collector of Customs (Central Region) Rozi Khan Burki obtained his Master’s degree in Political Science and did MSc in Defense and Strategic Studies from National Defense University. He joined the Customs Department in 1982 and served throughout the country on various important assignments including Collector Customs Quetta, Collector Customs Peshawar, second secretary and secretary in Federal Board of Revenue. He, recently, was posted to Punjab as Chief Collector Customs (Central Region) at Customs House Lahore. According to the chief collector, it is, indeed, a unique experience for him to work in Lahore as chief collector customs.
