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LAHORE, Jan 28 (APP):Pakistan Customs (appraisement) Collector Umar Shafiq said on Wednesday that main objective of reforms in Pakistan Customs is to facilitate the business community and ensure transparency in the system.
However, he added, strict legal action is unavoidable in cases where clear misdeclaration and bad intent are proven.
In a meeting with business community on customs-related issues held here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), he said that cases of importers who submit correct and complete declarations will be given priority and efforts will be made to place them in the Green Channel so that clearance can be granted without examination.
The meeting was attended by LCCI President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol, Vice President Khurram Lodhi, SAARC Chamber Vice President Mian Anjum Nisar, Executive Committee members, Deputy Collector Mehak Majid and Assistant Director Shehzad Khokhar.
In his welcome address, LCCI President said that direct coordination between Lahore Chamber and Pakistan Customs is encouraging and helps in resolving practical issues. He appreciated Pakistan Customs for successful implementation of faceless assessment system, saying that it has helped eliminate irregularities in valuation and practices such as speed money.
He said, the recent decision regarding self-clearance would negatively affect small and medium-sized importers in Lahore, as most SMEs do not have in-house customs experts, therefore, this decision should be reviewed.
Saigol also raised issues related to sampling procedures, value databases, changing product descriptions by examiners without consulting importers, lack of facilitation in review process, restoration of suspended licenses of clearing agents, different HS codes being applied in different cities, FIRs related to assessment issues, delays in appraisal, and the need to allow corrections for minor typing errors.
In his response, Collector Customs Umar Shafiq said that he is a resident of Lahore and considers the city’s development as his own progress. He clarified that the only restriction in the self-clearance policy is that clearing agents are not allowed to use the importer’s user ID, as this practice can be risky for importers.
He said that delays in the examination process are unacceptable, and examiners have now been directed to record their observations in writing and not hold cases unnecessarily. Under this policy, he said, examination and clearance time at Lahore Dry Port has been significantly reduced.
Regarding sampling, he said, the importers or their representatives have the right to ask about the reason, quantity and location of sampling and to receive a written receipt. He assured that Pakistan Customs will fully facilitate importers who conduct business honestly.