ALL the Federal Bureau of Revenue employees are getting double salaries, but the menace of bribe, or what the Customs officials term ‘speed money’ in almost all the field offices of the FBR is still rampant.
Nothing, even feeding of the GDs or calculation of customs duty and taxes in the computer system, can be done without greasing the palms of FBR officials. They don’t hesitate to ask for it but rather consider it their due right. If anyone refuses to pay the bribe which they usually call ‘speed money’, then unnecessary hurdles are created even in executing lawful work.
This practice is in vogue in all Customs offices, in general, and at the Customs House, Karachi, in particular. If one goes to the seaport for examination of import consignments, or visit the Customs House, various groups or the air freight unit for assessment and completion of the GDs, one can see the Customs officials demanding ‘speed money’ without any fear.
If all the declarations of an importer are 100 per cent correct, even then they demand money without which one cannot process or complete the routine work.
The salary of all FBR employees was doubled during the tenure of the former FBR chairman Abdullah Yousaf. It was done with the sole intent to eradicate rampant corruption in FBR field offices, on the one hand, and to improve the position of revenue collection, on the other.
Today all FBR officials are getting double salaries but corruption instead of decreasing has increased. The menace of bribe or ‘speed money’ must be eradicated in the Customs and income tax field offices. Those found guilty must be awarded an exemplary punishment.
It is suggested that the chief collectors concerned and other collectors must pay surprise visits to field offices at least once a week or fortnightly, particularly to check corruption. They must also hold an ‘open darbar’ once a month to hear grievances of importers/clearing agents and to take action on their complaints against Customs officials.
Telephone numbers of the FBR chairman, members, chief collectors and collectors, along with their mail addresses, must be displayed at all field offices where public dealing is carried out so that complaints could be lodged in case of harassment by officials. Similar steps may also be taken in the income tax and sales tax departments.
IMRAN KHANKarachi