RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Member Customs of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Muhammad Zahid has said that addition of a state-of-the-art laboratory and library at the Mughalpura dry port would enable customs officials to take timely decision for clearance of goods and save demurrages to importers.

He was speaking at a function organised in connection with inauguration of a newly-established customs laboratory, conference room and library on Saturday. He inaugurated these facilities which have been named after senior officers of the customs in recognition of their services to the department.

Chief Collector (Central Region) Ms Zeba Hai Azhar and Collector Model Collectorate Customs (Appraisement) Lahore Jamil Nasir Khan were also present on the occasion. A good number of former collectors, senior officials, and representatives of LCCI, APtma and customs clearing agents attended the inauguration.

He said high professionalism of the customs official is an established fact and the advice of the officials with a background of customs carry weight in policy-making decisions at the level of federal secretaries. “The customs officials are law-knowing officials and are trained to take prompt decision regarding clearance of goods,” he said. “This quality gives them an edge over others in policymaking decisions at the federal level.”

In his welcome address, Collector Customs Jamil Nasir Khan highlighted the initiatives of the Collectorate. Due to a clear strategy of revenue optimization and control of informal payments, cost of business has considerably decreased, he said. As a result of such initiatives taken for trade facilitation, the Collectorate has posted 36 percent growth in customs duty in FY 2017-18 compared to previous year while overall revenue witnessed growth of 28 percent, the collector informed. He thanked senior management, especially Member (Customs) for supporting his initiatives.

In her speech, Ms Zeba Hai Azhar appreciated the initiatives of the Collectorate. Chief guest Muhammad Zahid emphasized that trade facilitation is one of the basic planks of the policy of the FBR.