KARACHI: Customs House Karachi is said to have become breeding ground for coronavirus as the Covid-19 positive cases have reached to 68 including two additional collectors and a deputy collector.
However, a top customs officer (BS-22) DG Directorate Transit Trade (DTT) Muhammad Zahid Khokar was fallen prey to this deadly virus on Monday. After the recovery of number of Covid-19 cases, the operations at DTT remained suspended on Monday.
Following an ineffective online payment system, the customs department was unable to maintain Covid-19 SOPs at Customs House that led to rapid spread of coronavirus among the staff.
According to details, the customs department in collaboration with one of the reputed pharmaceutical company conducted antibody tests of whole customs officers and staff working at customs house last week.
The antibody tests of total 618 customs staff were carried out, of them, 68 staff members including two additional collectors and a deputy collector were tested Covid-19 positive, however, coronavirus was found active in the bodies of 99 staff members but their bodies are making antibodies. Meanwhile, 450 customs staff have been declared Covid-19 negative.
When contacted, customs officials confirmed that 68 staff members including two additional collectors and a deputy collector were tested Covid-19 positive and added that they were directed to go into isolation and would only be allowed to resume office after having PCR negative test report.
Meanwhile, they said that 99 staff members, who are coronavirus active but their bodies are making antibodies, were advised self isolation and all logistics had been provided to them for performing duties from home.
Furthermore, they said that 450 customs staff was declared Covid-19 negative but the customs department directed them to observe social distancing strictly and implement SOPs at their workplace.
Commenting on this ghastly situation, Muhammad Arshad Jamal, chairman All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) and secretary general Hum Awam Pakistan expressed his resentment over customs' negligence for not implementing government's SOPs to avert the spread of Covid-19 at Customs House, demanding the customs authorities to improve its online payment system.
He said that following an ineffective online payment system, customs clearing agents had become most vulnerable for Covid-19 attack and if the authorities did not ensure effective online payment system besides implementing SOPs at customs house strictly, the customs clearing agents, who were presently forced to visit customs house just to submit pay orders, could suspend all activities.
He suggested the federal government to place a month curfew in the country to avoid further spread of Covid-19 besides suspending all imports except essential items.
Moreover, he said that NBP should also be directed to designate at least 10 branches in all three major cities: Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad for collecting duty and taxes against the shipments.
Arshad further said that government should allow the imports up to US$25,000 without LC and bank transaction and all consignments should be cleared on profile basis through green channel in order to avoid Covid-19 spread and ease pressure on foreign reserve.
He said that if the imports were restricted only to essential items then there would be no need to carry out examination or yellow channel and added that physical examination or yellow channel activity must be suspended during Covid-19 because it encourages human interaction, causing rapid spread of this deadly virus among customs staff.
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