PESHAWAR: The Collectorate of Customs and Taxation Peshawar has effectively checked under-invoicing of goods at border crossings and increased tax collection by 30 percent after the introduction of WeBOC system as compared to the tax realisation during the past three years.
This was stated by Collector Customs Peshawar Muhammad Aamir while giving an exclusive interview with Customs Today.
“Due to WeBOC system, an official can check online what is going on in the transit stations located in different regions of KP and FATA. This system facilitates clearance of goods and saves trouble for traders as well as the officials of the Custom Department”, he said.
“Through this system, we can also keep check on our staff, pending GDs and can also block a case file if there is any ambiguity in assessment of goods or anything else”, he said.
In order to check corrupt practices and corruption in the customs Collectorate, Muhammad Aamir said that Peshawar Customs Department took a revolutionary step to establish an Assessment Hall through the WeBOC system. “With the help of this centralized assessment, different officials will examine and appraise the goods pending clearance”, he added.
Muhammad Aamir further said that they had also activated the anti smuggling squad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who seized goods worth Rs 220 million as compared to only Rs 60 million in the corresponding period last year, showing a significant increase in checking smuggling of illegal goods.
“We made the coordination and communication more effective among sister agencies, including police, FC and Anti Narcotics Force, and chamber in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in order to counter smuggling and illegal trade in the province” Aamir said.
“We raised our voice against smuggling and in this regard officials of customs held several meetings with the political administrations and Frontier Corps officials. The Corps Commander expressed concern over smuggling between Torkham and Peshawar and vowed to take action against elements involved in this illegal trade,” said Aamir.
He added that he suspended Inspectors and Deputy Superintendents who were found involved in under invoicing at Torkham Station causing huge loss to government exchequer.
“Customs Peshawar also wrote a letter to Federal Board of Revenue to shift the Dry Port from Hayatabad to Azakhel region for increasing the capacity of KP Dry Port.
He said that Customs Department facing difficulties at Torkhat Station, however, “we streamlined problems to enhance the import activities on the station and these problems will be solved soon, he informed.
“Peshawar Customs also start audit of manufacturing bonds and in this regards Peshawar Customs also informed the concerned Collectorate that their manufacturing bonds are not working properly” he said.
He revealed that Peshawar Customs Department also detected violation in importing arms of air force which later they bring it into the notice of concerned Collectrate who appreciate the efforts of Customs Department Peshawar.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Customs running two systems to facilitate the traders, manual and weBOC system. He continued that weBOC is running in two stations at KP and soon they will start it in other stations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Muhammad Aamir has completed his B.Sc Civil Engineering from his home city, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore and after graduation, Mr. Aamir completed masters in Public Finance from Tokyo Japan.
Mr. Aamer joins civil services in 1993. He served in all tax fields like Customs, Sales, Tax and Central Excise. He also served at filed formation as well as in Federal Board of Revenue.
He remained as Commercial Councilor at Consulate General of Pakistan, New York, USA in 2007 for five years.
In 2014 Mr. Aamer was Collector of Customs, Gilgit Baltistan and in 2015 he becomes Collector of Customs, Peshawar.