Seized gold, silver and foreign currency: collectors seek to achieve fiscal year 2011 target

The customs authorities of Peshawar and Islamabad have deposited huge quantity of gold involving an amount of Rs 60 million from state warehouses to the Pakistan Mint Department and other collectors would ensure expeditious disposal of pending cases for recovery of revenue involved in seized gold, silver and foreign currency by the end of current fiscal year (2010-11).
Sources told Business Recorder on Friday that an important Collectors'' of Customs conference chaired by Aftab Anwar Baloch Chief Collector of Customs, North Region was held here on Friday at the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad to take key decisions for increasing customs duty collection by the end of current fiscal. The collectors jointly evolved a strategy to achieve the target assigned by the FBR for the financial year 2010-11.
According to sources, Collector MCC Islamabad informed that gold lying in the State Warehouse has also been deposited in the Pakistan Mint and assured that Rs 40 Million will be deposited in the government exchequer before the close of current fiscal. Moreover, Collector MCC Peshawar informed that gold lying in the State Warehouse has also been deposited in the Pakistan Mint. The Collector assured the Chief Collector that Rs 20 Million will be deposited in the government exchequer before the close of 2010-11.
Sources said that the second Collector''s Conference of the North Region was held to take important decisions for increasing revenue collection and taking anti-smuggling measures. Collector Islamabad informed that the revenue amounting to Rs 106.00 million will be recovered before June 30, 2011.
In order to ensure speedy payment of refunds under the Expeditious Refund System (ERS), sources said that Chief Collector directed that exercise of feeding of Mate Receipts at AFU/ Dry Ports be completed by May 31, 2011 and Collector MCC Lahore was directed to submit a report in this regard by June 1, 2011.
The conference decided that in cases involving duties of more than of Rs 5 million, the concerned Deputy/Assistant Collector shall personally attend the hearings in the tribunals to get early decisions. Collectors were also advised to scrutinise the high revenue cases pending in the Appellate Tribunal and personal efforts be made to get the same decided expeditiously so that revenue blocked in these cases be realised before June 30, 2011.
Taking another key decision, sources said that the Chief Collector also advised the Collectors to issue instructions to all adjudicating officers under their jurisdiction to give priority in deciding the case involving higher amount of revenue so that the revenue involved therein be realised before the close of the current fiscal year. The Chief Collector pointed out that although the pace of revenue collection upto date is satisfactory however, further efforts are to be re double to achieve both the revenue and Anti Smuggling targets assigned to them. All Collectors assured the Chief Collector that the targets assigned to them shall be met by the due date, sources added.
Sources said that the Chief Collector directed that all Collectors should depute the concerned officers to meet Member Tribunals and Special Judge Customs requesting for expeditious disposal of pending cases so that the revenue involved in seized Gold, Silver and Foreign Currency can also be realised before the close of the current fiscal 2010-11.
The Chief Collector desired to have meeting with departmental representatives in Appellate Tribunal to formulate a strategy for the speedy disposal of the pending cases involving high revenue of MCCs in North Region. It was noticed that a number of disciplinary cases are pending finalisation beyond stipulated time frame. Collectors were directed to ensure that all the pending disciplinary cases are finalised within the stipulated time period under E&D Rules and under RSO 2000 and report thereof be sent to Chief Collector office.
It was also decided that the Customs Audit of Duty and Tax Remission for Export (DTRE) scheme and state warehouses in each Collectorate be completed forth with and a detailed report along with findings be sent to the Chief Collector office by May 31, 2011.
Sources said as 100 percent e-filing at AFU, Lahore was reported to be successful; it was decided that e-filing be introduced in all custom stations of MCC Lahore. The Chief Collector was informed by Director Customs Pral that automated marking of export GDs is in operation.
All the Collectors of North Region were directed to co-ordinate with the Chief Office intimating the number of auctions planned to be held before 30.06.2011. Mr Abbas Ali Babar, Deputy Collector to prepare and issue a consolidated Auction Schedule for the North Region in consultation with the Collectors.
This exercise will ensure that there is no simultaneous holding of auction on the same date in different MCCs of North Region. A consolidated Auction schedule of North Region shall be issued by the Chief Collector office, which shall also be circulated through electronic and print media and uploaded on the FBR website. Sources said that a brief review and analysis of performance of the North Region was highlighted during the conference.