ISLAMABAD: The State Ware house Islamabad is reluctant to park costly seized smuggled goods in open yards because of suspension of public auctions due to pandemic of COVID19.
According to details the Collector Islamabad reminded the Chairman CDA (capital development authority) for allotment of land urgently required to build a State warehouse complex building for sake of safety and security of government revenue.
With the reference of letter NoV-Cus/project MCC/01/2019 the Collector of the MCC Islamabad asked the Chairman CDA that during various rounds of meetings on subject of “request for land for Pakistan Customs” in which the MCC Islamabad called for that space for Customs Warehouse complex as graciously agreed in principal by the Chairman CDA.
The sources of MCC Islamabad told Customs Today that Customs Collectorate Islamabad needed twelve acres of land at Kuri (Islamabad territory) for the purpose to built a state owned warehouse along with other requirements related with Customs activities, it added that as a layout plan of the building has been formed and now an early action by the CDA is requested as absence of sufficient warehousing facility is adversely effecting the operations of the department.
Another high official of MCC Islamabad told that state warehouse of MCC Islamabad was applied for governmental land and for preventive measures it has installed surveillance cameras for monitoring of seized smuggled goods and vehicles as it was essential because presently SWH is operating through a private property.
Talking with Customs Today a high official of Customs Department also told that currently because of pandemic of COVID19, section 144 has been imposed all over the country, because of imposition of said section the Customs House Islamabad could not conduct public auctions, so SWH (state ware house) Islamabad has become over-crowded. The MCC Islamabad has requested to CDA (capital development authority) to provide a suitable land to built a SWH with proper stretcher.
Another official told that prevailing condition of SWHs (State ware houses) of Customs Departments especially belonging to MCC (Model Customs Collectorate) Islamabad needed maintenance, the sources informed that currently Anti smuggling staff parked offending vehicles (carrying smuggled goods) and NDP (non duty paid) vehicles in open field because there is not enough available space to park these valuable vehicles, parking in open yards the seized vehicles could be damaged or stolen. These vehicles belong to state revenue and should be protected.