PESHAWAR: Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Dr Irshad Khan visited the MCC Peshawar in order to praise the officials of Pakistan Customs in an event arranged by Collector Qurban Ali Khan in Peshawar.
The event was arranged at the MCC Peshawar in which Deputy Collectors and Additional Collectors participated in good numbers. The event was also attended by directors at Pakistan Customs along with the staff from different Customs Stations.
Addressing the gathering, Chairman FBR said Pakistan Customs is a vital wing of the FBR to collect tax and curb smuggling during hard and fast times. Decline in revenue collection is a curb and the MCC Peshawar has a history to surpass the assigned targets. Due to unfriendly situation on borders with Afghanistan and Iran, MCC Peshawar suffered losses, he added.
He further said that steps will be taken to enhance the business and trade through Torkham Transit Route. He added that the FBR will take the matter seriously to open Customs Stations at different parts of the FATA and Khyber PakhtunKhwa.
He further said the new Customs Stations will also be established in KP province in order to facilitate the traders.
He also appreciated the steps taken by the MCC Peshawar to contain the smuggling on the busiest trading route of Pakistan with Afghanistan.
Chairman FBR also responded to questions in which he said the FBR officers have nothing hard to do with investigation by the JIT. He termed it a case to be solved by the responsible people rather than by institutions.
The gathering was also addressed by Collector Customs at MCC Peshawar who said Pakistan Customs serves as an economic guardian of the borders to stop trade of contraband goods and promote trade of tax paid products.
He said MCC Peshawar missed the required target in May FY2016-17 for which issues have been discussed to eliminate every threat which may damage collection of more revenue.
The closure of various customs stations has caused government loss and need has been felt to establish new customs stations at different parts of KP Province, he stressed.