The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will introduce measures to facilitate importers at Karachi Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) for speedy processing of goods declarations (GDs).
Sources told Business Recorder on Friday that FBR Member, Facilitation and Taxpayer Education (FATE), Khawar Khurshid Butt, visited Customs House and Regional Tax Office (RTO) at Karachi and Integrated Cargo Container Control (IC3) program at Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to propose facilitation measures for the importers and exporters.
They said that the FBR wanted to take immediate steps to deal with the queue of persons who usually come for clearance of consignments at Karachi. To avoid delays, the board is likely to introduce a modernised ticketing system applicable in developed countries. During his visit to Karachi Customs House, Butt convened meeting with Customs Chief Collector. It was observed that people were standing in queues for getting their documents cleared. From facilitation point of view, there should be some machine installed at ports for issuance of tickets to the visitors.
The board would also install new facilities at taxpayer facilitation centre at Karachi RTO. The complaint handling system and call centres would play an important role in overall facilitation of the business community.
Sources said that the FBR Member also visited the IC3 facility, which helps in reducing scanning cost of its commercial cargoes destined to the United States (US).
Pakistan is not charging any scanning cost from the exporters, against other countries where $80-100 per container is being charged. The implementation of IC3 at PQA has reduced the cost of exports to US. Previously, containers of Pakistan commercial cargo, bound for US, at ports were being scanned at Hong Kong, Colombo and Salala, causing extra financial burden on Pakistan''s exporters.
Sources said that in view of successful experience in Pakistan, some other regional countries would also implement IC3 project. Based on the two-day visit of FATE Member to Karachi, a facilitation strategy would be devised to reduce cost of doing business by both importers and exporters at Karachi.
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