The image of the lazy and corrupt customs official may be the butt of jokes among businessmen, but the government has finally started laughing at the stereotype. After hearing a spate of old complaints at an industry gathering, the senior-most customs official in the country decided to crack a joke of his own. Central Board of Excise and Customs Chairman Najib Shah narrated the tale of a doctor, a lawyer and a customs official, who were travelling by boat in shark-infested waters. After the vessel capsized, the doctor and the lawyer fell prey to the sharks while the customs official was spared. Apparently, the sharks wanted to extend professional courtesy, Shah quipped.
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