The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has dismissed a customs appraising officer from service after disciplinary proceedings found him guilty of inefficiency and misconduct in an LED TV import case that could have caused a significant loss to the national exchequer.
According to an official notification, disciplinary action was initiated against Mr. Asif Masih, an Appraising Officer (BS-16) of the Collectorate of Customs Appraisement, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Karachi. He had already been placed under suspension before the inquiry proceedings began.
Inquiry Establishes Charges of Misconduct
FBR served a charge sheet and statement of allegations to the officer on December 17, 2025. An inquiry was conducted by Mr. Yasser Wahab Kalwar (PCS/BS-19), who examined the allegations and submitted his report on February 18, 2026.
The inquiry officer concluded that the charges of inefficiency and misconduct had been proven. Based on the findings, he recommended the major penalty of removal from service under the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020.
Subsequently, a show-cause notice was issued to the accused officer on March 2, 2026. The officer denied the allegations in his written reply submitted on March 30, 2026, and was later granted a personal hearing on May 19, 2026.
LED TV Import Case Triggered Investigation
During the hearing, the departmental representative informed the authority that Goods Declaration (GD) No. KPPI-HC-12819 dated September 3, 2025, had been assigned to the officer for examination.
A subsequent re-examination of the consignment revealed major discrepancies in the classification, specifications, and quantity of imported goods. The contravention report identified a differential amount of approximately Rs15 million in duties and taxes.
Officials stated that a change in the Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) classification for single stuffed boards used in LED TVs led to the withdrawal of a claimed free trade agreement exemption, resulting in a revenue impact of more than Rs13 million.
FBR Cites Risk of Revenue Loss
The FBR noted that had the re-examination not been conducted, the government could have suffered a substantial financial loss. The authority rejected the officer’s defense that workload pressures and limited examination space contributed to the lapses.
After reviewing all records, inquiry findings, and hearing proceedings, the Member (Administration/HR) concluded that the officer’s conduct constituted gross inefficiency and misconduct.
Right to Appeal Remains Available
Following the findings, FBR imposed the major penalty of removal from service under the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. However, the dismissed officer retains the right to file an appeal before the competent appellate authority within 30 days of the notification.
