Quetta: Chief Collector Customs Balochistan Abdul Qadir Memon said that the Customs Collectorate has collected approximately Rs 60 billion in revenue from Balochistan in the last 6 months of the current year and deposited it in the national exchequer. Balochistan cannot progress without curbing smuggling, trade has been closed from Chaman due to the sit-in of a few thousand people, causing a loss of Rs 10 crore daily.
He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held at the Customs Office Quetta on the occasion of World Customs Day. On this occasion, Federal Tax Ombudsman Balochistan Incharge Tauseef Ahmed Qureshi, Collector Customs Enforcement Quetta Muhammad Ismail, President Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Achakzai and others also addressed.
Chief Collector Customs Balochistan Abdul Qadir Memon said that in the current financial year, Customs officials and law enforcement agencies have jointly carried out operations against smuggling in the province and so far Rs 16 billion, while in the last 6 months, Customs officials have collected various duties and taxes. Rs 60 billion has been collected and deposited in the national exchequer.
He said that Customs alone cannot do anything against smuggling, for this every person including law enforcement agencies and traders have to play their role. He said that smuggling is the biggest reason for Balochistan’s backwardness and Balochistan cannot progress without curbing smuggling. Legal trade will increase with the curbing of smuggling and legal trade and business activities will increase the tax collection record.
The Chief Customs Collector said that all stakeholders have vowed to end smuggling and those involved in smuggling should come to legal trade. We cannot allow anyone to smuggle illegally in any way. Trade has been closed from Chaman due to the sit-in of a few thousand people. Due to the closure of trade in Chaman, the country is losing Rs 10 crore daily. Legal documents are required for import and export at all other borders of the country, so legal documents should be used for import and export at all crossing points including Chaman border.
He said that after the closure of Chaman border, consultation is underway to open trade from alternative crossing points. He said that Taftan Collectorate has been made a separate Collectorate. Taftan’s collector will now sit in Taftan. Khuzdar Customs has been detached from Quetta Collectorate. Similarly, FBR is being divided into two parts. Customs and Income Tax are being separated, which will facilitate the people and the people. Customs and traders’ leaders also addressed the ceremony. Shields and certificates of appreciation were distributed among the best performers in the ceremony.