ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a penalty on Superintendent, Collectorate of Customs (Airports), Lahore for allowing a passenger carrying contraband goods of electronics, etc, through green channel facility in front of the accused officer. According to an order issued by the FBR on Thursday, the disciplinary proceedings were initiated on account of acts of omissions and commissions constituting “inefficiency”, “misconduct” & “corruption” under Rule-3(a)(b)&(c) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020 against Mirza Muhammad Imran Baig, Superintendent (TS-17/under Suspension), Collectorate of Customs (Airports), Lahore. The accused officer appeared in person and Departmental Representative Ms. Simrah Azhar, Assistant Collector appeared (via zoom/video link alongwith relevant record) before the Member (Admn/HR)/ Authority. The DR explained that a passenger carrying contraband goods of electronics etc, was allowed to pass through green channel in front of the accused officer, violating the prescribed procedure. However, on stopping the passenger at gate-out, certain contraband and dutiable items were recovered. The accused admitted that the passenger passed through green channel, when he was busy with security personnel on official matters. However, he claimed that just after passing through green channel, the passenger was stopped and intercepted by the Sepoy of his Shift and not by the Deputy Collector, as claimed by the DR. The accused also informed that it is not humanly possible for the Shift Incharge to check and stop each and every passenger, therefore, the question of negligence on his part does not arise. After examining the relevant record, inquiry report, written and oral submissions made by the accused officer and the DR, it has been observed that admittedly a passenger carrying contraband goods passed through the green channel and the accused officer being Shift Incharge failed to stop the passenger despite standing near the passenger. As proved during the inquiry proceedings, the passenger was stopped at exit point by another Customs Inspector Page 1of3 and on examination of his luggage, electronics items involving duty/taxes and other contraband goods were recovered. Perusal of the CCTV footage reveals that the accused was also standing there and the passenger was not stopped by him or his Sepoy either for checking or to divert him through ‘red channel’. Although no malafide intention or charge of corruption could be proven, however, charge of inefficiency and negligence stands proved for which he deserves penalty, as recommended by the Inquiry Officer. Member (Admn/HR), FBR therefore, decided to impose major penalty of “Reduction to lower post and pay scale from the substantive or regular post, for a period of one year” with immediate effect. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026