Hyderabad Collector Dr Ahmed Mujtaba Memon vows to maintain customs’ writ in the region
KARACHI: The top most priority of Model Customs Collectorate Hyderabad is to collect due taxes transparently and enforce the writ of law to curb the menace of smuggling. This was stated by Model Customs Collectorate Hyderabad Collector Dr Ahmed Mujtaba Memon during an exclusive interview with Customs Today at his office.
“As a tax collection and law enforcement agency, we strive to collect taxes with due diligence, while ensuring enforcement of all applicable laws and rules. Concurrently, law empowers us to carry out anti-smuggling operations and interdict smuggled goods and initiate criminal proceedings against persons engaged in the crime of smuggling and smuggled goods. In this connection, my full team comprising professionals is putting best of efforts to achieve maximum results,” the collector added.
Responding to a query, the collector informed that in the last few months, the Anti-Smuggling Organisation of the collectorate had confiscated around 20 non-duty paid vehicles and seized vessels containing thousands of litres of smuggled Iranian diesel and other smuggled goods such as textile products, cigarettes and pan parag.
During the interview, Collector Dr Ahmed Mujtaba Memon revealed that the team of the Hyderabad Customs is also working with the authorities concerned of MCC Preventive to dismantle illegal petrol pumps in the vicinity of Sindh province.
To a query, Dr Ahmed Mujtaba Memon stated that strict surveillance was being maintained at all check-posts of the collectorate. “Mobile squads also patrol on main highways and connecting link roads. This dual strategy along with active cooperation with LEAs, especially Sindh Rangers, has made a significant difference and resulted in big seizures.”
Dr Ahmed Mujtaba Memon made it clear that the collectorate has a clear vision regarding uprooting the menace of smuggling, utilising available resources optimally and deploying staff on the basis of their professionalism and commitment.
“The writ of Pakistan Customs as prime agency of the country is being enforced with its true spirit at the level of Hyderabad Collectorate,” he reiterated.
To another query, the collector responded that 80 percent of the total revenue of the collectorate was generated through clearance of imported diesel. However, due to enhanced local refining capacity, the share of imported diesel has declined from 75 percent a year ago to 65 percent. This exogenous and uncontrollable factor is adversely affecting the collectorate’s revenue-generation efforts.
Regarding support from the Adjudication Wing of the department, he appreciated the qualitative and quantitative timely disposal of cases by the Adjudication collector and his subordinate officers. This is complementing the Hyderabad Customs’ overall efforts in discharge of its functions. It was also added by him that more proactive actions had been taken to pursue cases in various legal forums for their early disposal.
Speaking about meeting budgetary targets, he said that recovery of arrears was also being vigorously pursued and in mature cases attachment of units had also been carried out. “This strategy is also producing healthy results and will add to improved revenue collection by the end of this fiscal year 2014-15,” he informed.
He further added that the collectorate is also making arrangements to hold auction of goods in state warehouses as well as bonded warehouses before the end of June to ensure achievement of revenue targets.
