Regularisation of non-duty paid vehicles: customs officials accused of getting undue gains

A much publicised amnesty scheme for regularisation of non-duty paid smuggled vehicles, which remains unable to yield desired results for the government so far, is said to have provided a lucrative opportunity to certain Customs officials to get undue gains; it is learnt here on Friday.
The board had earlier targeted to get at least 100,000 vehicles registered besides generating around Rs 20 billion revenue through amnesty scheme. But the official estimates posted on FBR's website reveal that the board has so far fetched only Rs 3 billion approximately through legitimising only 10,000 vehicles across the country.
According to a notification issued for regularisation of non-duty paid smuggled vehicles, motor vehicles having non-tampered engine or chassis numbers, which have been seized or voluntarily presented to Customs on or before the March 31 2013 shall be allowed release on payment of redemption fine along with duty and taxes.
Officials requesting anonymity disclosed that applicants are allowed to submit their applications for regularisation of non-duty paid smuggled vehicles at any FBR office but no applicant is granted amnesty without physical inspection of the vehicle. Contrary to the said directives, this correspondent during his visit to the Customs House, came to know that certain officers posted for regularization of non-duty paid smuggled vehicles in appraisement Collectorate are allegedly in granting tax amnesty to the smuggled vehicles without physical inspection against undue gains.
The concerned department is said to have fixed the rates of kickbacks to regularise smuggled vehicles without physical examination. The exercise of physical inspection of the vehicle is only being taken place when no settlement is made between the officers and the applicants.
The officers posted in appraisement Collectorate are accused of asking Rs 50, 000 for regularising Karachi based smuggled vehicle without inspection and Rs 150, 000 for the vehicle plying outside the city. When contacted, Dr Zulfiqar Malik collector appraisement expressed his ignorance about that alleged illicit activity being taken place in the Collectorate.
He said that department has so far not received any such complaint. He assured that the department would take action against the officer in case of receiving any complaint. He said that department has so far fetched Rs 470 million through regularising 1600 smuggled vehicles.