ISLAMABAD: The Airport Security Force (ASF) is not willing to issue all-area-passes to Customs Airport staff. Even the customs staff is unable to move around Rawal lounge, so the customs staff needs to reach domestic flights via Rawal lounge freely for checking of baggage. Without issuing of all-area-passes by the ASF, the customs officials are facing compromising situation on checking purposes.
The customs staff at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad surpassed its assigned target with the amount of Rs0.83million during the month of March of Financial Year 2016-17 under the head of duty taxes on accompanied baggage.
The BBI was assigned Rs2.09million revenue target for month of March whereas it collected Rs2.92million under same head. The customs staff seized 150 kilogram of prohibited pork meat from flight coming from China during March FY2016-17. The meat was burnt.
This was stated by Neghma-e-Teheniat, Deputy Collector BBIA Islamabad, while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today.
She said during March 2016-17 the performance of revenue collection was better as the BBI staff collected surplus revenue against assigned revenue target under the head of duty taxes on accompanied baggage. During the month of March FY2016-17, the customs staff of the BBI airport seized 277 bottles of liquor valued Rs0.554million.
During March, the BBI customs staff seized 240 smuggled mobiles worth Rs2.4million whereas during the same period, the BBI staff seized 75 kilogram of contraband semi-precious stones worth Rs0.3million. During the same period, the BBI customs staff seized 45 sleeves of smuggled gold leaf cigarettes valued Rs0.045million.
During eight months (July to February) of current financial year (FY16-17), the customs staff seized 2247 mobile phones worth Rs32.89million while the Islamabad customs airport staff seized 2997 mobile phones worth Rs63.20million during the same said period of corresponding FY15-16. The above-said seizures were intercepted from passengers’ baggage at the terminal.
Answering a query, the DC airport said the BBIA took major initiatives as it established a canine section for better performance and the BBIA established currency counter for online data feeding. The BBIA established effective monitoring of staff through online CCTV coverage.
She further said the Model Customs Collectorate established body search counters at the BBIA for detection of body concealments. The collectorate also established 24/7 passenger facilitation desk at the airport to provide best quality services to the passengers.
Responding to a query about the comparison between collection and assigned target for FY2015-16 and FY2016-17, she added that during July to February FY2016-17, the customs station BBIA collected revenue of Rs17.27million against assigned revenue collection target of Rs15.47million. During said period, the BBIA achieved 112% collection against assigned target.
During the corresponding Financial Year 2015-16, the BBIA collected revenue of Rs7.56million against the assigned target of Rs12.57million. Due to new initiatives taken by Collector MCC Islamabad Dr Arslan and Chief Collector North Sarwar Tahira Habib, the BBIA showed better performance during the current financial year.
The Deputy Collector BBIA said that during July to February FY16-17, the customs staff deputed at airport seized foreign currency worth Rs seven million while the BBIA staff seized foreign currency worth Rs15.07million during corresponding year of 2015-16. During FY2016-17, airport customs staff seized 3.88 kilograms of heroin powder worth Rs1.80million. During corresponding year 2015-16, the airport customs seized 21.67 kilograms of heroin worth Rs220.50million.
During FY2015-16, the BBIA staff seized 736.410 grams of gold worth Rs3.10million. She said the customs staff needs Body X-Ray equipment for detecting body concealments at the BBIA airport for smooth 24/7 operations.