The existing system in the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) could not ignore anyone from business community and the Customs agent group seeking to register complaints or resolve disputes.
This was stated by Member, Customs, CBR, Shahid Rahim Shaikh, late on Friday night at a dinner hosted by Karachi Customs Agents Group, where he was chief guest.
The existing system of Customs Administrative Reform (CARE) has some problems on both sides, which include the KCAG and the CARE staff. "But the business of naming and gaming should end now," he added.
"The constructive change in any system is a hard work, and we have streamlined our system as it needed active human resource that obviously could work on good salaries as the new system is a continuos process of training," he said.
Shahid said, "We have to start with it (CARE), as we were already far behind in the use of technologies to handle speedy handling of cargoes."
He said:" There is some corruption in Customs, but the agents should take stand to stop giving bribes or 'speed money' to the customs staff, whatever the consequence are in this regard. If the agents enter into demurrage period, they (customs agents) must pay demurrage to discourage corruption in the department."
He said that the old days of manual working in Customs were over and replaced with computer systems, and "everything is on virtual base".
He asked the KCAG for self-accountability that should access customs agents. He said that members of KCAG should learn the new computerised system as the agents (KCAG) are service providers not the renters, and learning is everything for them (agents) with new technologies to handle things in a better way.
Secondly, the agents (KCAG) should learn and try to practise ethics of working," he said, adding that "we need to change our attitude to learn".
He asked the KCAG to come up with suggestions that would help to further improve the working environment and benefit the national trade.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, KCAG Secretary General Muhammad Arshad Jamal said that customs agents were facing immense pressure from the CARE staff to give them 'speed money'. This has also created a working negative environment and is hurdling smooth clearance of cargoes, he added.
Jamal said that the previous practice of customs officials allowed about 80 percent of consignments cleared without any problem. A portion of 20 percent cargo had problems like misdeclaration and some other reasons. But the CARE unit was creating hurdles in such clearance of 80 percent portion, he added.
He proposed an amount of Rs 250 as 'service charge' to Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement) or CARE unit which they were also ready to pay, if it would help the system to avoid 'bribe' and facilitate smooth working flow.
He said that the KCAG was ready to organise seminar, with the help of customs, to try to elaborate Section 25 to educate agents (KCAG).
KCAG managing committee member Tahir Mehmood said that exports procedures were different from imports and both agents and exporters could not afford delay in shipments. The customs could accommodate both by implementing manual system, simultaneously working with CARE, for a period of one month to streamline and get training on it, he added.
The president of KCAG also spoke on the occasion. A large number of Customs officials and KCAG members attended the dinner.
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