KARACHI: The Faceless Clearance System introduced by Pakistan Customs on December 15 last year with the objective of ensuring transparency and eliminating physical interaction has come under serious scrutiny as corruption scandals continue to surface. Within weeks of its launch, complaints of bribery and misuse of authority emerged, and since then dozens of officers have been suspended on corruption charges. Despite the department’s claims of automation and transparency, reports indicate that corruption has escalated rather than declined — transactions that previously required Rs10,000 are now reportedly being settled in hundreds of thousands of rupees. Post clearance audit findings have already exposed loopholes and irregularities in the digital clearance regime. To curb malpractice and improve governance, Chief Collector Jamil Nasir was replaced by Wajid Ali with the mandate to facilitate trade and strengthen institutional discipline, however corrupt practices within the system continue to persist. In the latest crackdown, Chief Collector Wajid Ali has suspended 19 officials from the Central Examination Unit (CEU) and Central Appraisement Unit on allegations of bribery, misconduct, and facilitation of illegal clearance. Those suspended include Inspectors/IOs Muhammad Jawad Rafiq, Muhammad Noman Ashraf, Usama Tariq, Muhammad Adnan Ashraf, Muhammad Ali Aslam, and Appraising Officers Waheed-ur-Rehman, Nazish Noor, Tayyab Hussain, and Ehtisham Faheem. Sources confirm that most suspensions were initiated on the basis of complaints filed by customs agents and traders, although several officials previously suspended have later been reinstated upon failure to establish charges. Chief Collector Wajid Ali, known for his strict administrative approach, has reiterated a zero-tolerance stance against corruption, negligence, and misconduct, asserting that no officer involved in malpractice will be spared and that transparency, merit, and discipline will be ensured at all levels within Pakistan Customs
