KARACHI: The entire regime of Pakistan Customs-FBR on Monday observed “World Customs Day” with the theme “Coordinated Border Management an inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders”.
The Pakistan Customs Karachi Region on that occasion organized a number of programs in order to observe the “World Customs Day with great zeal and fervor.
In this regard, a mass destruction ceremony of contraband items including liquor, beer bottles, charas, Indian ghutka, heroin, foreign origin cigarettes, medicines was held at National Highway near ghaghar phatak (on sea coast).
The Chief Collector Enforcement-South Muhammad Nazim Saleem, Collector MCC Preventive Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Additional Collector MCC Preventive Feroz Alam Junejo, Director ANF Sindh Region Muhammad Abuzar, high officials of Pakistan Rangers, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Coast Guard and officials of Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation were also present on the occasion.
On the occasion, the Pakistan Customs authorities set ablaze 89516 bottles of liquor, 171262 cans of beer bottles, 164 Kilogram of Charas, 475000pouches (1880Kg) of Indian ghutka, 136.20kg of heroin, 750cartons of detergent powder, 625 bags of black tea, 828000 Zipper locks, 40 bags of ‘Doda’, thousands of packets of foreign origin cigarettes and other contraband items including medicines.
It was a historic destruction ceremony as record of contraband items were set ablaze in the history of Pakistan Customs Karachi Region.
Speaking to the ceremony, Chief Collector Enforcement-South Muhammad Nazim Saleem, who also acted as chief guest said that the theme of the “World Customs Day” of the year-2015 was very relevant for all Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) and Pakistan Customs being a major agency was discharging its duties with great zeal and enthusiasm.
Chief Collector Enforcement-South further informed the media that he had held meetings in recent days with the high officers of LEAs including Pakistan Rangers, Frontier Constabulary, IG Baluchistan and others in order to seek effective intelligence assistance for eliminating the smuggling activities in South Region.
However, Chief Collector Enforcement-South admitted that the LEAs have not achieved the desirable results due to the lack of intelligence coordination.
He further apprised the media that the Pakistan Customs has recently dismantled around 30 illegal petrol pumps in the jurisdiction of MCC Hyderabad, MCC Sukkur, MCC Mirpurkhas and in interior Sindh with the cooperation of Pakistan Rangers and other LEAs.
“We have been able to seize record quantity of illicit items with active support of LEAs”, he added.
Chief Collector further claimed that the Pakistan Customs is being improved the connection with border and inside the border forces in order to uprooting the smuggling activities.
Nazim Saleem further said that the international community including USAID, UNDCP and US Embassy are directly contributing with Pakistan Customs in order to fulfill their requirements in connection with the resources required for carrying out anti-smuggling activities.
On the occasion, Chief Collector Enforcement-South commended the efforts of operational officers of Pakistan Customs, who took part in anti-smuggling operations and hoped that the efforts of those Customs officials will continue in the larger interest of the country.
Talking to media, Chief Collector Enforcement-South Muhammad Nazim Saleem said that the Pakistan Customs is facing shortage of logistic support, latest detecting technology, equipment, man power and sniffing dogs while smugglers have lethal weapons through which they can carry out their illicit activities.
To a query, Nazim Saleem said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is well aware by the shortage of latest technology and manpower and the Board would overcome the prevailing crises within three to four months, as it planned to recruit fresh blood in the organization in order to strengthen Pakistan Customs.
Collector MCC Preventive S M Tariq Huda while speaking on the occasion said that big gaps are to be bridged in order to make Pakistan “a free alcoholic society”.
Additional Collector (ADC) MCC Preventive Feroz Alam Junejo in his welcome address said that the Pakistan Customs is observed “World Customs Day” every year on Jan-26 with great zeal and enthusiasm in order to commemorate Council Meeting held at 26-Jan-1953 after World War-II in which 17 countries were participated and Pakistan was one among those countries.
“The purpose of the day is to evolve a well-coordinated strategy among the countries in order to run the Customs affairs effectively”, he added.
FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa and Member Customs Nisar Muhammad Ali Khan were due in Karachi for attending the ceremonies in connection with “World Customs Day”, but they could not attend those ceremonies due to some other appointments in Islamabad.
The representatives of different embassies including France, United States, Germany and Iran were also present on that occasion for witnessing the activities carried out by Pakistan Customs on “World Customs Day”.
Earlier, on the day, a seminar on theme “Coordinated Border Management an inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders was organized by the Directorate General of Training and Research at DGTR Building.
Former Member Customs Abrar Hussain Naqvi was acted as Chief Guest on the occasion while Chief Collector Appraisement-South Nasir Masroor, Chief Collector Enforcement-South Muhammad Nazim Saleem, Director DGTR Ghulam Ahmed, Collector MCC Preventive S M Tariq Huda and other high officers of Pakistan Customs were present on the occasion.
Chief Guest Abrar Hussain Naqvi said that the integrated computerized system at the final stage of its implementation and it would helps in eliminating mis-declaration and other fiscal fraud.
On the occasion, Naqvi congratulated Director DGTR Ghulam Ahmed for launching Customs Journal.
Ghulam Ahmad, Director DGTR while addressing the participants of the seminar said that the purpose of launching Customs Journal is to compete with the international trade in recent days, adding that the World Bank was a key stakeholder in launching the Customs Journal.
He further claimed that the next issue of Customs Journal which will publish in the April-2015 would up to the mark.
Later, the Chief Guest Abrar Hussain Naqvi along with the Chief Collectors-Enforcement and Appraisement-South distributed shields and best performance certificates among the officers and officials of Pakistan Customs.
The shields and Customs souvenirs were also awarded to World Bank (WB), Pakistan Navy, Karachi Port Trust officials and retired officials of Pakistan Customs.
A flag hoisting ceremony was also held at Custom House Karachi which was administered by the Chief Collector Appraisement-South Muhammad Nazim Saleem.
On the occasion, the Customs officials also displayed parade which was witnessed by the senior officers and officials of Pakistan Customs.