MULTAN: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Customs Zahid Khokar and Customs Central Region Chief Collector Zeba Hai Azhar have visited Multan Customs House to review revenue collection measures.
Member Customs Zahid Khokar also inaugurated the newly renovated Conference Room of the Multan Customs House along with Central Region Chief Collector Zeba Hai Azhar.
On this occasion, Collector Saud Imran, Additional Collector Asdaq Afzal Sensera, Deputy Collector Saad Ata Rabbani, Assistant Collector Zohaib Sandhila, Assistant Collector Muhammad Ikram were also present along with their staff at Customs House.
After the inauguration of Conference Room, Collector Saud Imran informed Member Custom Zahid Khokhar and Chief Collector Zeba Hai Azhar that Multan Customs has successfully accomplished the assigned revenue collection target due to ceaseless efforts made by officers and entire team during economic year 2016-17.
Collector told that Collectorate collected Rs.862 million under the head of customs duty up to 24th August while the Collectorate was able to collect only Rs475 million in the corresponding period 2016-17. Multan Customs has collected Rs5594 million including customs duty, sales tax, income tax and federal excise duty (FED) in the existing fiscal year 2017-18. Collector told that Multan Customs has posted almost 175 % growths in the July and August of existing fiscal year due to effective measures adopted by Collectorate in the revenue collection. But Multan Customs Collectorate has collected only Rs2733 million in the matching period of fiscal year 2016-17.
The Customs Collectorate Multan has placed their complete focus on revenue generation by devising encouraging strategy. The Customs Collectorate Multan has surpassed all assigned targets of revenue due to their continuous efforts.
Multan Customs has planned aggressive strategy against smuggling in the jurisdiction and huge quantity of smuggled vehicles and goods were seized during different actions. Anti-Smuggling Organization made 26 seizure cases worth Rs77.4 million during July and up to 24th August. The Customs collectorate Multan has seized 20 various foreign origin vehicles of worth Rs.40.6 million and miscellaneous goods of worth Rs.36.8 million during the on-going fiscal year 2017-18. Mutual efforts are required to curb the menace of smuggling in the region and Multan Customs is extending their coordinating with law enforcement agencies to curb smuggling in the region. Collector told that elimination of smuggling in the jurisdiction will promote legitimate trade and it will generate further revenue for the Collectorate.
Multan Customs has enhanced the surveillance at the Multan International Airport and other suspected areas of the jurisdiction to thwart any smuggling attempt.
Collector Saud Imran informed them that 98 % of Multan Customs imports clearances consist of High Speed Diesel (HSD) products and enlighten its immense importance for the region due to strategic locality.
He expressed that Multan Customs is focusing to promote their import clearances other than oil imports from Multan Dry Port in order to generate more revenue
Chief Collector Zeba Hai Azhar and Member Customs Zahid Khokar also visited PARCO Oil Refinery utilized for High Speed Diesel clearances. During their visit to PARCO they were briefed about transportation of petroleum products from Karachi to Mehmod Kot near Multan.
PARCO pipeline is a unique system which includes a network functioning up to Mehmood Kot near a distance of 864 kilometers. PARCO delivers the products at Mehmood Kot through a pipeline and oil marketing companies taken oil after refining. Member Customs Zahid Khokar and Centre Region Chief Collector Zeba Hai Azhar have asked Multan Collectorate to enhance 25 % clearances of High Speed Diesel for generation of more revenue in future. Member Customs and Chief Collector also visited various sections of Customs Collectorate Multan including general branch, DTRE, audit, anti-smuggling organization and others on their visit.
Member Customs Zahid Khokar and Chief Collector Zeba Hai Azhar appreciated the effective performance of Multan Customs and their future plans.
Collector Saud Imran presented honorary shields to chief collector and Member Customs on this occasion.