Pursuing pending cases of recovery, adjudication: FBR can generate up to Rs 507 million additional revenue

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) can generate huge amount of customs duty up to Rs 507 million as additional revenue during April-June (2010-2011) by pursuing three major cases of recovery from duty free shops, adjudication of cases of confiscated gold, sliver and currency and disposal of cases of seized mobile phones imported under the garb of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that FBR directed chief collectors of customs to expedite cases involving huge amount of revenue in the remaining period of current fiscal. The customs authorities have noticed that a large number of cases of mobile phones cleared from Air Freight Units of Lahore and Islamabad collectorates are pending finalisation involving FTA concessions. The FBR has directed the concerned collectors of customs to expedite the disposal of these cases and recover Rs 150 million amount, involved therein from the concerned immediately.
Secondly, the FBR has observed that huge quantity of gold, silver and currency worth Rs 142.50 million seized by the collectorates of MCC Lahore and Peshawar is pending the disposal. The FBR has further directed the concerned collectors to depute special teams so that they be disposed of expeditiously after completing the requisite legal and procedural formalities and the said amount be credited into government exchequer immediately.
Thirdly, FBR and the Chief Collector of Customs North have also discussed the cases made out against M/s Duty Free Shops Ltd Lahore and Sambrial involving Rs 214.75 million. The FBR has directed that thorough and professional staff may be deputed to recover the huge amount of government revenue involved therein immediately. The Chief Collector of Customs, North Region has recently discussed issues relating to customs department to generate additional revenue in the form of customs duty.
The Chief Collector of Customs, North Region has directed the concerned collectorates to make extraordinary efforts to achieve the revenue target for the remaining four months of the current financial year, including March 2011. He urged the collectors that besides day-to-day normal routine revenue collection, they should focus on special initiatives including expeditious auctions, recovery of arrears, litigations/adjudications, enforcement of financial instruments, effective anti-smuggling and interdiction of narcotics and contraband goods to achieve the assigned targets.
The Chief Collector informed the outcome of his visits/meetings with the law enforcement agencies and Chief Secretaries of both Punjab and KP province, besides Pakistan Rangers and also discussed in detail the disparity and lopsided prevalent situation in the sanctioned vis-à-vis the working strength of the collectorates which is creating administrative and financial problems and implications. He directed the Collectors to work out and submit complete and realistic staff requirements so as to streamline the entire administration in the North Region, sources added.