Karachi, August 25, 2023 – In a significant development, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken decisive action against corruption within its ranks by dismissing three customs officials for their involvement in a major clearance scam.
The officials, holding the rank of Inspector in Pakistan Customs at BS-16, have been identified as Aziz-ur-Rehman, Usman Ali, and Ms. Sehrish Nazir.
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The case in question dates back to June 16, 2020, when the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation – Customs, Rawalpindi, conducted a raid on the Air Freight Unit (AFU) of the collectorate of Customs in Islamabad. During the operation, a consignment containing high-value items, including smart mobile phones, wristwatches, wrist bands, cosmetics, and various imported goods, was seized.
Following the raid, the then Collector of Customs, Islamabad, ordered a fact-finding inquiry. The investigation revealed alarming irregularities. Apart from the consignment seized during the raid, it was discovered that there were eight additional goods declarations (GDs) that had been cleared during the financial year 2019-2020. These GDs were filed in the name of the Agha Khan Foundation and falsely declared as ‘Helicopter Parts,’ resulting in the evasion of duty and taxes.
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However, when approached by the collectorate, the Agha Khan Foundation denied importing the said consignments and asserted that their name had been misused by a clearing agent. This revelation indicated a clear case of fraud and connivance.
Further scrutiny of the case exposed that the clearing agent had bypassed several standard operating procedures in the clearance of goods declarations. The accused customs officials and others had facilitated the clearance of these declarations without payment of duty and taxes amounting to a staggering Rs 6.79 billion and Rs 152.54 million.
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The adjudicating authority involved in the case concluded that such a massive scam could not have occurred without the active involvement and complicity of customs officials.
The FBR’s decision to dismiss the three customs officials underscores its commitment to combating corruption and ensuring the integrity of customs processes. It also serves as a warning to those within the organization who might be tempted to engage in fraudulent activities. This action is a step toward upholding transparency and accountability within Pakistan’s revenue collection system.
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