Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Islamabad on Tuesday destroyed huge quantity of foreign origin liquor, banned medicines, drugs, smuggled cigarettes, pirated CDs and other banned items to mark the International Customs Day.
MCC Islamabad arranged a function at the Islamabad Dry Port, which was chaired by Munir Quershi FBR Member Customs and also attended by senior customs officials including Muhammad Ramzan Bhatti, liaison drug officials of different countries and other senior officials of Inland Revenue Group. The MCC destroyed around 2,516 bottles of foreign liquor, 2,400 kg of charas, 21 kg of heroin and 101 kg of opium.
The collectorate also destroyed 25 cases of pirated CDs, medicines and other pirated goods during the process. The audience witnessed the destruction of liquor and other contraband items at the Islamabad Dry Port.
Addressing the gathering, Nadir Khan Hoti Collector MCC Islamabad said that the customs administration has made every effort to improve border control for checking the illicit trade. The movement of radioactive material and pirated/contraband products has also been effectively checked by the customs at the border.
He also highlighted increased contribution of customs duty in overall collection; role of customs in international trade and efforts made by customs department in effective enforcement of anti-smuggling strategy.
Due to extraordinary efforts of the MCC Islamabad, the collectorate has confiscated huge quantity of contraband and smuggled goods.
Chief Guest Munir Quershi explained the overall significance of the International Customs Day. He said that the MCC Islamabad has seized record contraband and smuggled goods which reflects excellent performance of the customs officials in the field formations.
He said that Pakistan Customs will be celebrating the International Customs Day with the theme Customs & business, improving performance through partnership and appreciate the choice of this theme by WCO for the year 2010 because without co-operation and partnership between the customs and other stakeholders including businesses, no success could be ensured in terms of enlargement in revenue pie of the Government exchequer.
As customs duties' have been an important source of revenue for the Government, the Pakistan Customs has been playing an important role in the economic growth and development. It takes care not only of revenue but also of the trade economic and moral frontiers.
The Pakistan Customs administration has always kept pace with the global developments by modernising its administration and taking timely measures for trade facilitation liberalising tax regime and simplifying customs procedures.
The customs service is facing a daunting task of facilitating trade and enforcing the customs laws, and this requires a high degree of sincerity and devotion to duty.
The Customs Department functions in a rapidly changing international trade environment; we are expected to deliver prompt and efficient service, to facilitate our import and export trade by improving performance and through partnerships at the same time ensuring compliance of our laws, while what has been done so far is a cause of satisfaction, we need to continuously improve and upgrade our system and capabilities to contribute proactively to the growth and efficiency of Pakistan's international trade operations. The Federal Board of Revenue is committed to ensuring that we will continue providing services of the highest order.
The customs department has, in recent years, taken a number of initiatives to reduce processing time and transaction costs. A vast majority of our operations are now on-line and these, among other things, enable both supervisory officers as well as trade to monitor the exact status of their documents, Munir Quershi added.
Director General of Intelligence and Investigation Lutufullah Virk also spoke on the occasion and explained the performance of the directorate during anti-smuggling activities. He also highlighted major cases of seizure by the directorate in recent past.
Later, Chief Guest distributed certificates among the customs staff, who showed best performance in their duties and anti-smuggling operations at airport and dry port.
Shakil Rana deputy superintendent customs, Inam-Ul-Haq superintendent customs and Saqib Sheikh inspector customs were awarded shields for their outstanding performance in anti-smuggling activities for making huge seizures in international bound flights.
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