Last Hope
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Yes, its one of those times when we share a little story about something that recently happened with us.
About four months ago, my brother sent me a glide cam using the United States Postal Service which was supposed to be delivered to me within 2 weeks. Somehow, it got lost in transition and after around three months I got a call from our very own Pakistan Post Customs office asking me to come and collect my package.
I was overwhelmed with joy as I had been waiting for this package for a considerably long time and because of the sudden hope of finally getting my hands on this much needed camera accessory. I was in university at that time and I immediately excused myself from class and rushed straight to the customs office to collect my package.
The interesting part starts here. As soon as they found my package, they asked me to sit tight as they started 'calculating' the customs duty on my package. I quietly waited until the clerk handed me over a flimsy piece of paper with a total tax amount of 40,000 PKR (on a 50,000 PKR product). Since I was extremely surprised (and sort of frustrated) as to how the customs duty on my item could be nearly 80% of the original item's worth, I politely asked the clerk to A. Recheck that amount, and B. To show me the document which said exactly what the duty would amount to on this particular item. The clerk literally started screaming at me for minding my own business and to stop asking questions because "Bakhi sub ka dimagh kharab nai hai jo poochay baghair tax day jaatay hain".
At this, I completely lost my temper since I couldn't believe how, after a very annoying wait of 3 months, I had to go through this costumer service at the hands of Pakistan Post. I still kept calm since if I didn't, I could virtually say goodbye to my stuff. I picked up the reciept and told the clerk I'll check the taxes online and return the next day. At this he jumped forward, snatched the reciept and tore it into two pieces saying he couldn't give me a hand written reciept because "this wasn't standard protocol". At explaining that I wanted to run this by my father who wouldn't be too willing to dish out 40,000 rupees just like that he said "Oh Jee, Jiss ko daikhni hai idher aa ker daikh lay". To top it all off, right in the middle of this, a 40ish year old lady came into the office, took a huge carton and left without anyone checking its contents because they had 'already recieved a call from the headoffice'.
By now I had almost completely lost it but I was pretty adament. I stuck around and asked to see the higher management until the person in charge who kept addressing me as "tu","teray","tujhay" asked me to sit down and told me that there's a way he can bring the price down, as long as I didn't expect a tax reciept made.
Suddenly my eyes started shining with hope. I quickly took my phone out, pretending to make a phone call turned on the voice recorder and repeated what he said asking if that was what he meant. After getting an affirmative, I politely thanked everyone and told them I'll return the next day to collect my item.
I went home, I told my sister (who happens to be a lawyer) everything and she quickly checked the standard laws regarding bribes, as well as the protocols of government offices. I found out that these guys had broken nearly 4 of them and if found guilty, they could be liable to 50,000 PKR in fines and up to 2 years in prison. I returned the next day with the details and asked them to finalize my reciept while I, very politely, told the supervision about my little findings. It was the best feeling to see his face slowly turning white as I read out all the laws and the best part was where I told him about how I had recorded him offering me a bribe.
All of a sudden the world had changed, the same people were now offering me tea and calling me Sir and my tax payment was changed to the original 9,000 PKR that it was supposed to be. I paid my required amount and made sure they filed the tax receipt.
Just before leaving, I turned to the supervisor and said, "Aap ko laga tha bacha hai, baywaqoof bun jaye ga. Ye yaad rakhiye ga, Yahee bacha aapka system badlay ga."
We have the laws, we have the system. We just don't use it. Trust the system and you'll find yourself living in a much more civilized Pakistan.
About four months ago, my brother sent me a glide cam using the United States Postal Service which was supposed to be delivered to me within 2 weeks. Somehow, it got lost in transition and after around three months I got a call from our very own Pakistan Post Customs office asking me to come and collect my package.
I was overwhelmed with joy as I had been waiting for this package for a considerably long time and because of the sudden hope of finally getting my hands on this much needed camera accessory. I was in university at that time and I immediately excused myself from class and rushed straight to the customs office to collect my package.
The interesting part starts here. As soon as they found my package, they asked me to sit tight as they started 'calculating' the customs duty on my package. I quietly waited until the clerk handed me over a flimsy piece of paper with a total tax amount of 40,000 PKR (on a 50,000 PKR product). Since I was extremely surprised (and sort of frustrated) as to how the customs duty on my item could be nearly 80% of the original item's worth, I politely asked the clerk to A. Recheck that amount, and B. To show me the document which said exactly what the duty would amount to on this particular item. The clerk literally started screaming at me for minding my own business and to stop asking questions because "Bakhi sub ka dimagh kharab nai hai jo poochay baghair tax day jaatay hain".
At this, I completely lost my temper since I couldn't believe how, after a very annoying wait of 3 months, I had to go through this costumer service at the hands of Pakistan Post. I still kept calm since if I didn't, I could virtually say goodbye to my stuff. I picked up the reciept and told the clerk I'll check the taxes online and return the next day. At this he jumped forward, snatched the reciept and tore it into two pieces saying he couldn't give me a hand written reciept because "this wasn't standard protocol". At explaining that I wanted to run this by my father who wouldn't be too willing to dish out 40,000 rupees just like that he said "Oh Jee, Jiss ko daikhni hai idher aa ker daikh lay". To top it all off, right in the middle of this, a 40ish year old lady came into the office, took a huge carton and left without anyone checking its contents because they had 'already recieved a call from the headoffice'.
By now I had almost completely lost it but I was pretty adament. I stuck around and asked to see the higher management until the person in charge who kept addressing me as "tu","teray","tujhay" asked me to sit down and told me that there's a way he can bring the price down, as long as I didn't expect a tax reciept made.
Suddenly my eyes started shining with hope. I quickly took my phone out, pretending to make a phone call turned on the voice recorder and repeated what he said asking if that was what he meant. After getting an affirmative, I politely thanked everyone and told them I'll return the next day to collect my item.
I went home, I told my sister (who happens to be a lawyer) everything and she quickly checked the standard laws regarding bribes, as well as the protocols of government offices. I found out that these guys had broken nearly 4 of them and if found guilty, they could be liable to 50,000 PKR in fines and up to 2 years in prison. I returned the next day with the details and asked them to finalize my reciept while I, very politely, told the supervision about my little findings. It was the best feeling to see his face slowly turning white as I read out all the laws and the best part was where I told him about how I had recorded him offering me a bribe.
All of a sudden the world had changed, the same people were now offering me tea and calling me Sir and my tax payment was changed to the original 9,000 PKR that it was supposed to be. I paid my required amount and made sure they filed the tax receipt.
Just before leaving, I turned to the supervisor and said, "Aap ko laga tha bacha hai, baywaqoof bun jaye ga. Ye yaad rakhiye ga, Yahee bacha aapka system badlay ga."
We have the laws, we have the system. We just don't use it. Trust the system and you'll find yourself living in a much more civilized Pakistan.
