FBR leadership reviews enforcement, trade facilitation during Quetta visit

Quetta: Senior officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) visited Customs House Quetta on January 8 and 9 to review enforcement performance, strengthen coordination with law enforcement agencies, and address trade facilitation issues in Balochistan.

The delegation was led by Syed Shakeel Shah, Member (Customs Operations), and included Basit Maqsood Abbasi, Chief Collector Customs Enforcement, Islamabad.

They were received by Masood Ahmed, Chief Collector Customs (Appraisement), Balochistan; Karam Elahi, Collector Customs (Enforcement), Quetta; Daud Pirzado, Collector Customs (Appraisement), Quetta and Taftan; and Fazle Samad, Collector Customs (Enforcement), Gaddani, along with senior officers from Customs formations.

During a detailed briefing, Masood Ahmed highlighted trade patterns in Balochistan and challenges faced by the business community. Karam Elahi briefed the delegation on intelligence-based operations and sustained anti-smuggling drives, outlining revenue gains achieved through enhanced enforcement. Fazle Samad shared details of enforcement actions and recoveries made within the Gaddani jurisdiction.

Also Read: FBR conducts tax awareness outreach seminar in Karachi

A delegation from the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry also met the senior leadership and raised concerns related to cross-border trade and clearance processes. The visiting officials issued immediate directions to address the issues raised.

As part of the visit, the senior FBR leadership inaugurated two newly established Customs Enforcement sections at Customs House Quetta and planted saplings on the premises, underscoring the organisation’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Pakistan Army Corps Commander Quetta and held an interactive session with senior officials of law enforcement agencies, including the Inspector General Frontier Corps (North and South) and the Director General Pakistan Coast Guards. Discussions focused on improving border management, strengthening inter-agency coordination, facilitating legitimate trade, and intensifying joint efforts to curb smuggling.

At the conclusion of the visit, the senior FBR officials commended the performance of Pakistan Customs formations in Balochistan, noting their role in strengthening enforcement and contributing to improved revenue outcomes.