QUETTA: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khan has directed the customs authorities to take action against the officials of the department taking bribe from traders and creating hurdles in transportation of their goods.

The directive was issued during a meeting the FBR chief held with a delegation of the Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in Islamabad, according to a press release issued by the BCCI.

The delegation, led by BCCI President Jamal Tarakai, told Mr Khan that “black sheep” in the customs and other departments stopped merchandise-laden trucks in Chaman and areas connecting Balochistan with Sindh and Punjab to seek bribe.

“The vehicles taking merchandise from Balochistan to Sindh and Punjab are forced to stay in Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Mianwali, Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, Hub and other areas for weeks and sometime months to force owners of the goods to pay bribe,” it alleged.

The FBR chairman talked to the chief collector of customs in Punjab, directing him to take action against officials of his department involved in the corrupt practice.

He praised traders of Balochistan for paying over Rs3 billion in taxes and assured the delegation of his cooperation in promoting business activities in the province.

He said that facilities of international standard would be provided at the Afghan border in Chaman to boost trade.

Also read: FBR gets new head in major shake-up

The delegation asked the FBR chairman to reduce the rate of value-added tax for Balochistan as proposed in a resolution passed by the Senate. The resolution was moved by senators belonging to the province.

Mr Khan said that he would make efforts for a 30 per cent reduction in the tax rate for the province.

The delegation included former chairman of the FBR Tariq Bajwa, vice president of the BCCI Samiullah Baloch and Razzaq Durrani.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015