In this regard, Directorate of Training Customs Islamabad, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), will fully train 23 new appraising and valuation officers of customs on latest customs laws/regulations to bring them at par with the international customs standards in line with the World Customs Organisation (WCO). A simple but impressive ceremony was held at the Directorate of Training Customs Islamabad, old FBR building, here on Monday. FBR Member Human Resource Management Rozi Khan Burki inaugurated the two-month training course for the said appraising and valuation officers of customs. The ceremony was witnessed by Chief Collector of Customs (North) Sarwat Tahira Habib, Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad Dr Arslan Subuctageen, Collector of Customs MCC Peshawar Qurban Ali and Director Post Clearance Audit Syed Hamid Ali.
These 23 appraising and valuation officers, mostly female officers, have been selected through competitive process having educational qualifications of MA, MPhil and MBA etc. These officers would undergo an extensive training course to get latest knowledge on new customs rules and regulations, automation, WTO regulations, SROs, exemption regime, rules and regulations, valuation methods, WEBOC, Customs Act and rules, tariff regime and customs general orders etc.
The chief guest on the occasion was FBR Member HRM Rozi Khan Burki. He talked about the importance of enhancing the functional capacity of tax administration and for that purpose a change in the present working environment, recruitment, training, career management, performance evaluation, and compensation practices was required to meet and deliver its objectives ie integrity and efficiency through quality training and education.
During the ceremony, Additional Director Training Nelofar Shanaz highlighted the latest techniques and methodology used for the training of new customs officers. The ceremony was also addressed by Chief Collector of Customs (North) Sarwat Tahira Habib, Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad Dr Arslan Subuctageen and FBR Member HRM Rozi Khan Burki.
The officials explained in detail the importance of training, efficiency and professionalism during training sessions. Pakistan Customs Department deals with a diverse range of laws and statutes which require implementation at the import or export stages. Customs operations, therefore, involve dealing with multiple stakeholders from importers, exporters and traders to clearing agents, shipping agents, terminal operators, other government agencies, the judiciary and the Ombudsman's office. From the basic level of a sepoy to the departmental head, public dealing requires a great degree of acumen at every level of the official hierarchy. The Customs work is all about efficiency; efficiency in the clearance of goods, in achieving revenue targets or in the enforcement of law. Officials have to learn to be dexterous in dealing with each stakeholder properly, assigning priorities to different tasks, managing limited resources of human and financial means and making sure that laws are properly implemented, they added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017