Action against customs officials

OVER the years, smuggling of goods have been inflicting serious damage to the country and it is heartening to note that present government, after a long delay, has shown some seriousness to curb the menace that undermines local industries and decreases volume of earnings and revenue which is collected through duties and service sectors.
A wide scale sweeping action against high-ranking custom officials found involved in smuggling of valued goods and causing billions of rupees losses to national kitty has been started on the directions of Prime Minister. Under this drive a number of high-ranking officials including four top collectors had been removed from posts due to their failure to control smuggling in various forms including under-declaration of valued goods and evasion of taxes. The total loss incurred due to smuggling every year is in billions and these figures are alarming for a country burdened with debt and inflation. Indeed without the presence and connivance of black sheep and corrupt elements in all our departments, such corrupt and illegal practices cannot take place and present government especially PM Imran Khan deserves appreciation for taking action against corrupt elements and we expect that this campaign against corruption will go ahead without any interruption and those found guilty need to be given exemplary punishment as per law so that nobody in future could dare to hurt the interests of the country.
The fact of matter is that this scourge of smuggling and tax evasion at country’s borders directly has led to increase in prices of essential commodities, thus badly affecting the common man. Quite recently, flour crisis in the country was also attributed to commodity’s smuggling to Afghanistan. We expect that this investigation will also lead to unmasking elements behind this crisis. Apart from ridding the customs from black sheep, it is important to equip the department with latest technology as well as sufficient trained manpower to enhance its efficiency, performance and curb this menace effectively as doing so will have immense benefits for country’s overall economy.