Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi directed Customs Intelligence on Monday to intensify operations against smugglers, warehouses storing smuggled goods, outlets openly selling smuggled items and check revenue leakage through ports. Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that the FBR chairman visited Directorate General of intelligence and Investigation (Customs) to get briefing on anti-smuggling activities.
Senior officials of the agency briefed the chairman on the anti-smuggling actions and future strategy in this regard. Overall briefing was focused on working of the directorate. Tax authorities reviewed the agency's performance and directed them to focus their energies on anti-smuggling and check any possible evasion through ports, sources said.
Shabbar Zaidi has also directed the agency to effectively implement the anti-smuggling strategy at ports. On Monday, the FBR took action against several customs officers. Meanwhile, the FBR had completed disciplinary proceedings under Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 against Nasir Iqbal, Inspector (BS-16) (posted as Examining Officer) in Model Customs Collectorate (Appraisement-West), Karachi.
The FBR has also imposed major penalty of "Compulsory Retirement" upon Rao Muhammad Aslam, Appraising Officer (BS-16), Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement-East, Karachi under rule 4(1)(b)(ii) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 with immediate effect.
In another case, the FBR also imposed the major penalty of "Reduction to the lower post of Appraising Officer" upon Amir Ahmad Samoo, Principal Appraiser under rule 4(1)(b)(i) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 with immediate effect.
His Performance Allowance shall be stopped for one year from the date of award of penalty as provided in Para 7(iii) of the Performance Allowance Guidelines, 2015 and he will have to appear afresh for restoration of the same. The FBR also imposed the major penalty of "Reduction to the lower post of UDC" upon Qamar Jamal, Appraising Officer under rule 4(1)(b)(i) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 with immediate effect. His Performance Allowance shall be stopped for one year from the date of award of penalty as provided in Para 7(iii) of the Performance Allowance Guidelines, 2015 and he will have to appear afresh for restoration of the same.
In exercise of powers conferred under Rule 5(1) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules 1973, the Competent Authority has placed Gul Sher Ahmed Zehri, Inspector (BS-16), Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Quetta, under suspension with immediate effect for a period of three months.