ISLAMABAD: The improvement of infrastructure and trade facilitation at the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa (KP) and MCC Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) are the first priorities of the chief collector office (North). The upgrade of port facilities at the GB and development of traders’ E-facilitation cell at the GB are important to get financial benefits through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
This was stated by Chief Collector North Sarwat Tahira Habib while talking to Customs Today during an exclusive interview at the chief collector office on Tuesday.
She said the Budget 2017-18 was good enough by keeping the new amendments in view with respect to the Customs Act. She told CT that she had made serious efforts for development of North Region like GB and KPK and MCC Islamabad. During the last two Financial Years 2015-16 and 2016-17, she visited Finance Division and Planning Commission (PC) many times and reminded the authorities concerned of the approval of development work at the above said customs stations.
Talking about the GB, she said the chief collector north proposed that “it is essential to build an E-Facilitation Centre for electronic filing of Goods Declaration (GD) under the WeBOC whereas chief collector office also proposed the construction of transit accommodation for customs officials at Sost for trade facilitation”.
She also said she purposed the federal government for approval of construction of RCC boundary wall for Customs House at Gilgit for which funds were released and the work started in May FY2016-17. She also reminded of the proposal by chief collector office for construction of Customs House at Gilgit-Baltistan.
Replying to a query regarding the MCC Islamabad, She stated that the chief collector office has asked the finance and planning commission for allocation of funds for construction of Anti-Smuggling Mobile Staff Office and a residence at Hazro, District Attock, MCC Islamabad. She added that she also initiated the allotment of 12 acre land for Customs House-ll at Islamabad by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
Regarding the development work at the MCC Peshawar, the chief collector said the office has demanded funds for the construction of category-ll and lll flats at the Customs House Peshawar. The chief collector office also asked for allocation of funds for reconstruction of an anti-smuggling office and a state warehouse at the Customs Circle Mardan.
She further said the construction of boundary wall for Customs Complex at Burki (Kurram Agency) and purchase of land for customs state warehouse (Customs Division) Hazara have also been proposed by her. The repair of Salt House at Kohat has been initiated by her and this building has been declared a national heritage.
The chief collector told CT that she had initiated the construction of offices and allied facilities at the Customs House Peshawar whereas north office had asked the federal government to release funds for repair and maintenance work at the Customs Check-Post Ramak Dera Ismiel (DI) Khan, Customs Tunnel Check-Post Kohat, Circle Office DI Khan, Circle Office Bannu and reconstruction of Customs Office Building and Check-Post Darra Tang (Lakki Marwat).
In response to her two-year long struggle, the government has released funds of Rs21.625million in the budget of FY17-18 for construction of boundary wall around Customs land at Chimash Das Gilgit. The government has also allocated funds of Rs23.100million for PC-11 consultancy services for Model Customs Collectorate Gilgit-Baltistan whereas the federal government has also approved Rs57.00million for purchase of land for establishing CECP trade facilitation at Gilgit.
She said few of above said projects are in the pipeline and she is personally pursuing them. Sooner or later, the above said projects will be completed as they are important to earn more revenue and promote bona fide trade.