Karachi: In a move initiated by Chief Collector Appraisement South, Nasir Jameel, a total of 51 BS-16 officers have been deployed at the Central Examination Unit (CEU). However, only 11 of them are appraising officers with relevant experience, while the remaining personnel consist of 10 preventive officers and 30 intelligence officers, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the selection process.
An official source within Pakistan Customs has expressed alarm over the ongoing structural changes, stating that the institution has been severely disrupted under the guise of reforms. The official criticized the operational framework, asserting that key positions—including Member Customs Operations, collectors, and additional collectors—have been rendered ineffective, functioning merely in a nominal capacity. More concerning is the unprecedented situation where junior officers have been assigned senior roles, leading to a reversal in the chain of command across the country.
Faceless Customs Assessment Faces Scrutiny
Following the implementation of the Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system, an SRO was issued to appoint a Collector HQ, yet the position remained unfilled for five months, enabling Nasir Jameel to exercise unchecked authority. A Collector HQ has now been appointed, but concerns persist regarding the efficacy of FCA.
A report by Ashad Jawad has declared the FCA initiative a failure. Report by the Directorate General of Customs Risk Management (RMS) has exposed critical shortcomings in the Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system, revealing worsening clearance delays, declining revenue, and systemic inefficiencies.
Subsequently, a Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) team, led by Director Sheeraz Ahmed, Additional Director Nauman Tashfeen, and Appraising Officers Imran Saifi and Mujahid Iqbal, has commenced an audit into FCA’s operations.
Calls are mounting for the inclusion of seasoned officers such as Senior Preventive Officer Malak Hashim, Appraising Officers Riaz Khan and Ilyas Gichki, and others with relevant expertise to strengthen the audit team. Additionally, Additional Collector Ghulam Nabi Kamboh and Assistant Collectors Tariq Aziz and Taufiq Shaikh are viewed as crucial assets for their extensive experience in assessment procedures.
Audit Under Time Constraints
The PCA team is facing significant challenges, given the sheer scale of the audit—over 200,000 Goods Declarations (GDs) are under review, with numerous irregularities already detected. The compressed timeframe and limited staff availability have exacerbated operational difficulties, increasing pressure on the audit team.
Contentious Reward System Fuels Discontent
A key issue stirring unrest among appraising officers is the flawed reward distribution system. Officers argue that rewards have been allocated based on personal preferences rather than performance or revenue recovery. The current classification system categorizes officers into A, B, C, and D groups, but recent adjustments have seen officers from lower-ranked categories upgraded, while those from higher categories have been demoted, sparking allegations of favoritism.
Experts insist that instituting a transparent reward system—where incentives are directly linked to government revenue recovery—would not only curb corruption but also boost morale within the department. Proponents argue that a fixed percentage of recovered revenue should be allocated as rewards to deserving officers.
Despite being a cornerstone of Pakistan Customs operations, the Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) unit remains largely undervalued. PCA officers, despite their instrumental role in securing government revenue, receive no structured incentives, raising questions about the department’s commitment to operational integrity.
As scrutiny intensifies, stakeholders are urging authorities to implement procedural reforms that ensure merit-based assessments, equitable rewards, and a robust framework for sustaining Customs’ operational efficiency.