Gross irregularities and large scale malpractices were committed during the regularisation of smuggled vehicles and containers clearance that inflicted a colossal loss to the national kitty. On Sunday the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) expressed extreme displeasure on the abysmal performance of Collector Customs (Appraisement) Lahore Zeba Hai Azhar who miserably failed to achieve the desired results and was unable to check rampant corruption in her area, especially at NLC Thokhar Niaz Baig and Lahore Mughalpura dry port. It was also told that Assistant Collector, NLC, Thokhar Niaz Baig, Muhammad Moazzam Raza patronised a special group of Customs Inspectors Amir Moin, Iftikhar Butter, Amjad Saeed, Ashfaq Hamdani and Arif Naveed who charged duties on various types of vehicles and containers according to their own criteria after receiving bribes, while the other 15 inspectors were sidelined. It was further brought to the chairman’s notice that Muhammad Moazzam Raza, on behalf of the collector also unlawfully collected Rs 1.25 million from his subordinates. The FBR chairman taking serious note decided to take to task all inefficient officers without succumbing to pressure from any quarters. The chairman during his recent meeting with office-bearers of the FPCCI had also promised to transfer all corrupt and inefficient officers.
