ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The Central Board of Revenue has recommended to the government for appointment of customs counsellors and ministers in Pakistani missions abroad to curb the menace of tax frauds, including over- and under-invoicing.

Informed sources told Dawn the recommendation was sent to the government following the demands of the customs collectors asking for immediate posting of customs officials abroad to combat tax frauds, resulting in huge losses to the national exchequer.

The decision among others was taken during a two-day collectors conference held here recently.

It was recommended that as a first step, customs officials of BS-19-20 should be posted

as customs counsellors and ministers at Pakistani missions in Dubai, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

The sources said that in the next stage these posts should be extended to other Pakistani missions — Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, etc.

It was also recommended that the post of customs counsellor and minister at Brussels be revived to properly represent Pakistan in the World Customs Organization (WCO). The government had abolished these posts about 10 years back.

The tax authorities also recommended to the government for establishment of a vigilance monitoring cell at the CBR to receive complaints from the taxpayers about the corruption of tax officials in the field formation.

The cell would receive the complaints about corruption charges against the tax officials, which after the confirmation would be sent to the higher authorities for necessary actions, added the sources.

Elaborating further, the sources said the main task of the customs counsellors and ministers would be to reduce the widespread under-invoicing causing serious damage to local industries.