Customs serving as ‘backbone of economy’: official

Chaudhry says the department is curbing smuggling despite limited resources

QUETTA: Quetta Customs Chief Collector Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry on Saturday said that despite being provided limited resources the department contributed Rs13 billion to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in last six months after operations against smuggling of contraband items.

“Even with inadequate resources, the customs department has been performing well and taking strict action against people involved in the smuggling of illegal goods,” the official said while addressing a seminar on International Customs Day in Quetta. He was accompanied by Customs Collector Ashraf Ali.

Chaudhry said that the department was closely monitoring the movement of goods in border areas of Balochistan in order to prevent the smuggling of drugs, non-custom paid vehicles and prohibited edible items.

He also said that the number of checkpoints in remote areas was also increased to address the issue more comprehensively.



“The customs department has installed a system in all border areas for early clearance of goods,” said Chaudhry.

On the Pakistan-Iran Joint Border Commission meeting, he said both countries had pledged to increase bilateral trade.

He pledged facilities for the families of martyrs of customs department. The chief collector termed his department as “backbone of the national economy”.

“During our operations in last six months we collected revenue of Rs13.286 billion, while illegal goods and vehicles worth of Rs1.36 billion were confiscated,” said Collector Ahsraf Ali. He said that the department added Rs22 billion to the national exchequer, which was more than the target set by the FBR.   

In addition, Ali said that one window operation service at Taftan border and currency service at Quetta International Airport was also being launched.

The collector said that further measures were being taken to provide quick and easy facilities to people.

On the occasion, Jumma Khan Badezai and Imran Khan, the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and Industries for Quetta and Chaman, lauded the department’s performance and assured it of their full cooperation for prevention of illegal trade along the border.