KARACHI: Several officials are already suspended and charge sheet is served on over a dozen more in relation to illegal clearance of containers coming from Afghanistan without Goods Declaration (GD).

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to take action against irregularity, corruption and inefficient elements present in the organisation.

Sources said the case was being
intentionally misdealt with and Customs employees are suspended without due investigation of their involvement, while the main players including NLC and senior officers are protected.

Sources said this high profile case is being treated like Police deals with cases of public riots wherein many are arrested but the responsibility is not fixed on anyone, and all go free.

Sources said the authorities should focus affairs at NLC and those Customs officials whom had the contract of collecting bribes from the vehicles passing through Torkham Customs.

According to an FBR announcement made here on Monday, since July, so far 26 officers and 19 officials have been suspended whereas three employees have been dismissed from service.

Besides, permission has also been sought from the prime minister to initiate action against two senior officers.

Those suspended included employees of Model Customs Collectorate, Quetta, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Gwadar, Karachi, Directorate of Transit Trade, Peshawar and Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation IR, Hyderabad whereas the dismissed employees were posted in Regional Tax Office, Faisalabad.

The FBR is determined to rid the organisation of corrupt and inefficient elements. Prompt action will be taken against the officers and officials found involved in irregularity and inefficiency.

The image of the organisation will be raised and the perception of taxpayers and people about the organisation will be improved so that the taxpayers’ can pay their due taxes in time without any hesitation and suspicion thinking that their paid taxes would be utilised on the progress of the country and welfare of the people.

An Integrity and Performance Management Unit (IPMU) has been established in FBR to address the complaints of the taxpayers against any employee. The complainant can send his complaint through telephone, e-mail and letter, which will be scrutinised and investigated by senior officers.

FBR will continue to put its efforts to raise revenue for the government and will strive to achieve the objectives of the organisation at all costs.