FBR Forms “Super Audit Team” to Strengthen Customs GD Examination
Karachi: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has constituted a new “Super Audit Team” at the Directorate General of Reforms & Automation, Customs, Islamabad. The objective of this “Super Audit Team” would be to examine and review each processed Goods Declaration (GDs) under the RMS.
The development follows a complaint that has cropped up with mis-declarations and improper clearance of goods. Chief Collector Jameel Nasir has directed formation of this team in order to avoid corrupt practices such as ‘package deals’ between appraisement officers and traders. It involves the mis-declaration of goods to pass through customs improperly.
For instance, a canola oil shipment was cleared at South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT) under false declaration of residue status. The consignment was cleared without proper examination allegedly against payment of bribes by the traders for clearing under-declared consignments. Samples were taken and tested; the misdeclaration was confirmed. Still, the consignments were cleared on the basis of the importer’s claim for demurrage charges.
To address such issues, the FBR has constituted a team of senior officers from different Collectorates of Karachi Customs. These officials will now work hard to get declared and assessed correctly. The Super Audit Team will also work closer with the Directorate of Reforms & Automation for further general improvement of customs processes.
Super Audit Team members
The team members, who have also been notified formally, belong to various Collectorates of Customs Appraisement (South) Karachi. The officers for the Collectorates are as follows:
Collectorate of Customs Appraisement (West), Karachi
Mr. Naveed Illahi – Collector (Over – All Supervision)
Ms. Ammara Durrani – Additional Collector
Mr. Asif Jamil – Appraising Officer (Assessment)
Mr. Asim Abbas – Appraising Officer (Assessment)
Mr. Naqeebullah – Appraising Officer (Examination)
Mr. Fazal Mehmood Jahangir – Appraising Officer (Examination)
Collectorate of Customs Appraisement (East), Karachi:
Mr. Azhar Husain Merchant Collector Over-All Supervision
Mr. Amjad Aman Laghari Additional Collector
Mr. Faraz Ahmed Appraising Officer Assessment
Mr. Hubban Muhi-Ud-Din Appraising Officer Assessment
Mr. Anees ur Rehman Khoso Appraising Officer Examination
Mr. Sajjad Ali Appraising Officer Examination Collectorat of Customs Appraisement (SAPT), Karachi:
Mr. Muhammad Irfan Wahid Collector Over-All Supervision
Mr. Imran Razzaq Additional Collector
Mr. Adeel Shahab Appraising Officer Assessment
Mr. Altaf Ur Rehman – Appraising Officer (Assessment)
Mr. Ghulam Muhammad Bhutto – Appraising Officer (Examination)
Mr. Arslan Bashir Shafiq – Appraising Officer (Examination)
Collectorate of Customs Appraisement (PMBQ), Karachi:
Mr. Muhammad Riaz – Appraising Officer (Assessment)
Mr. Muhammad Shakeel – Apprising Officer (Examination)
Mr. Tariq Usman – Appprising Officer (Examination)
Mr. Alvis William – Appprising Officer (Examination)
New Process and Expected Impact
The new Super Audit Team will audit perusing approximately 25 average Goods Declarations every day over the four Collectorates at Karachi. Results will be shared on a biweekly basis with Directorate of Reforms & Automation in order to evaluate 2000 Goods Declarations for achieving greater customs clearance and also more transparency within the system.
The rigid checks and balances with accountability may discourage corruption in the customs system. Then there is a suggestion that timely rewards for good performance on part of officers may be effective for better elimination of corruption.
FBR’s venture of improving the process would do well to boost Pakistan’s trade as well as the involvement of the Pakistan customs operations in such a manner that greater confidence is instilled, along with efficiency, for the betterment of the government and honest traders.
