Imran Zakir
KARACHI: Pakistan Customs will achieve a revenue target of Rs 2 trillion this year. The Customs Department has managed to save the country from a loss of six billion through its anti-smuggling drive. Revenue of Rs. 50 billion has been collected so far through enforcement and anti-smuggling operations and Rs 100 billion revenue is expected till the end of this year. This was stated by Member Customs FBR Syed Tariq Huda while addressing the media on the occasion of International Customs Day 2021 held at Customs House Karachi on Tuesday where he was the chief guest.
He said that Customs Department has successfully managed to stop the smuggling of $2 billion of mobile phones, $1.5 billion in Afghan transit trade and $2 billion from petroleum & oil products (POL). He said that stopping the smuggling of mobile phones has led to rapid growth of Pakistan’s own mobile phone industry, we will manufacture 20 million mobile phone and we will become the mobile phone exporting country soon.
He said that stopping car smuggling was improving our Automobile industry and Customs has formulated a three-pronged strategy to curb the smuggling of petroleum products. 1,600 centers selling smuggled petroleum products have been sealed and the target is to seal 2,500 illegal selling points of petroleum products by the end of this year. He said that curbing petroleum smuggling was increasing the productive activities of our local refineries which is due to this successful anti-smuggling drive, investment was being made in the tyre, tube, and electronics industry.
Earlier addressing in his welcome address, Muhammad Saqif Saeed, Collector MCC, E & C said that due to an effective customs strategy, the annual loss of Rs2 billion from smuggling to the national economy has been reduced, he said, adding that the port would play a key role in GDP growth and boost trade. He said that despite the difficulties in achieving the revenue targets, the customs officers were playing a vital role in increasing the revenue of the country and curbing illegal trade. He said that Pakistan Customs would fulfill its anti-smuggling task this year despite difficult circumstances.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Collector Customs Enforcement Saifuddin Junejo, Chief Collector Enforcement South said that maintaining supply chain around the world during corona is the theme of World Customs Day this year. Pakistan Customs perform well to maintain supply chain in the country. During lockdown we maintained a nationwide supply of consumer goods and medicines.
He said that supply chain from ports and airports was maintained through preventive measures in boosting economic recovery.
During COVID-19, the Customs provided full facilitation in the activities of import-export while thermal scanners were installed at the main at Customs House gate for screening, while our Airport also prevented from the outbreak. He said that we are also working on illegal petrol pumps and vigilant on all means of transportation routes to curb the smuggling of petroleum products.
At the end WCO meritorious Certificate awarding ceremony held in which outstanding performers services were acknowledged last but not least services of Falcon Association is also discussed.
