KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed all the Model Customs Collectorate and other subordinate functionaries of these collectorates to observe Saturdays and Sundays as normal working days until June 30, 2013.
These directives appeared in order to facilitate the trade and industry for clearance of imports and payment of duty/taxes.
The Chief Collectors have also been directed to coordinate with State Bank of Pakistan and National bank of Pakistan to provide banking facility by all of its designated branches.
The port authorities and operators have also been communicated to synchronize their working accordingly.
Customs officials said that this was a futile exercise and would not result in any significant addition in the revenue collection.
Officials also commented that this was unfair with the Customs employees to continuously work for over a month without any holiday and even without any incentive in the form of overtime or bonus.
Sources said that this exercise was only to portray an impression on the upcoming government about the efficiency and commitment of Board.
It was also known that FBR took this decision on its own to increase the revenue and there was no such request received by the Customs authorities from the trade and industry.