ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Central Board of Revenue Chairman M. Abdullah Yousuf on Monday asked collectors of customs to carry out a study for evolving strategy to reduce the menace of under-valuation and misdeclaration.

He was speaking at a quarterly conference of collectors of customs. Mr Yousuf said that major problems confronting with customs were under-valuation and misdeclaration. He asked the collectors to submit reports on the efforts made so far in this regard. “We have to do much more than what we have already done.”

The CBR chief told the collectors that their job was not to simply sit in the office. He asked them to conduct a detailed research and suggest ways and means to improve the system and check leakages.

Mr Yousuf touched upon a number of issues confronting with the customs department, including replication of CARE in other collectorates across the country, smuggling, standardization, the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT), disposal of confiscated liquor, arms and ammunition and narcotics, installation of scanners at ports and decentralization of the authority.

About the ATT, Mr Yusuf observed that the system was still not working ideally. He asked the collectors to address all genuine complaints in this regard. The CBR chief also directed Customs Intelligence director general Maj-Gen (retd) Usman Shah to study the issue thoroughly and submit a comprehensive report on it so that necessary steps could be taken to make the system transparent.

Talking about the confiscated liquor, arms and ammunition, vehicles and narcotics, he directed the collectors to dispose them of as per rules and regulations but without any further loss of time.

Referring to the working of CBR officers and field formations, Mr Yousuf maintained that in future, integrity and efficiency of the officers would be given due weightage in promotions, particularly from BS-18 to BS-19.

Regarding the implementation of customs reforms, the CBR chairman stressed upon the need for imparting basic training and learning to the officers and staff.

Member customs Shahid Rahim Sheikh highlighted the achievements in the collection of customs duty in the first quarter of this year and outlined the strategy to meet the annual targets.