KARACHI: ‘Lapoos’ (unauthorised persons) are a threat to the sensitive and confidential data of the Customs Department, it is learnt here.
Sources informed Customs Today that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has confirmed reports that the ‘lapoos’, working openly in Custom House, are transferring some sensitive information to the unauthorised persons by using IDs and password of the customs officials and officers just for their personnel gains.
They further informed that the officials of the FBR have solid evidences, collected by their sources that the lapoos are involved in minting money by transferring secret and sensitive information to unauthorised persons which can cause damage to the organisation to some extent.
“The FBR officials while keeping such threats in view have issued strict directives to all authorities concerned of Pakistan Customs in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and other custom stations to take action against ‘lapoos’ and restrict their entry into the custom house and other custom stations immediately”, sources added.
They further revealed that the FBR has decided to take decisive action against those ‘lapoos’ who are working in the premises of Custom House, Karachi and other custom stations of the country by using Smart Cards of clearing agents’ association and also directed those clearing agents’ association not to issue their association cards to any of the unauthorized persons.
Sources further disclosed that the FBR authorities concerned have also directed the customs officials and officers to disown those unauthorized persons (call lapoos) immediately, who are working in their offices and using their personal IDs and password in order to access the import data.
“The FBR authorities concerned have also warned the customs officials and officers that strict departmental action would be taken against those who are involved in taking assistance of lapoos in their daily assignments”, sources asserted.
