KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has suspended 41 customs officials for three months after having evidence of their involvement in the illegal clearance of 117 exports containers of Afghanistan under Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).

The corruption scandal had been detected by then DG Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (DGI&I), Customs FBR late Muhammad Zahid Khokar, who forwarded a report to FBR headquarters for further action.

The report stated that some 117 containers, came from Afghanistan under ATT for exports, got cleared inadmissibly in connivance with these customs officials, providing serious financial shocks to the national kitty.

The FBR in the light of this report, constituted an inquiry team to conduct thorough investigation in the case in order to take responsible customs officials to task.

The investigation team after carrying out detailed inquiry in this case now confirmed the involvement of these 41 customs officials in the illegal clearance of 117 exports containers of Afghanistan under ATT.

Reacting on the findings of investigation team, the FBR has issued two separate notifications, suspending 41 customs officials including 24 officers and 17 sepoys for three months with immediate effect.

Around 17 customs officials are from Peshawar collectorate, nine are from Quetta collectorate, three of them are from Karachi airport collectorate, four customs officials are from Multan collectorate, three from Hyderabad collectorate & four customs officials are from Gwadar collectorate.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020