PCA arranges seminar on 'Customs Post Clearance Audit'

Directorate General of Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Islamabad organised a seminar on 'Customs Post Clearance Audit' at FPCCI auditorium here on Thursday. The seminar, which was aimed at to creating awareness about post clearance audit among trade representatives, was attended by the representatives of FPCCI, Karachi Chamber, Karachi Customs Agents Association and reputed importers and exporters.
Presiding over the seminar, Sultan Ahmed Chawla, President FPCCI has lauded the efforts of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in introducing the function of post clearance audit in Pakistan Customs and hoped that it will enhance facilitation for bona fide importers and exporters.
A detailed presentation was given by Wajid Ali additional director, PCA Karachi, highlighting the concept and benefits of PCA and development of Directorate General of PCA in Pakistan. The importance of post clearance audit in trade facilitation was explained in detail. The co-operation extended by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) was acknowledged.
JICA was represented in the seminar by Nozumo Ono, who was also given a shield by Directorate of Post Clearance Audit. Nozumo Ono thanked the Directorate General of PCA and briefly explained the measures taken by JICA for human resource development of PCA. He informed that JICA would continue to support FBR in further development of PCA and announced that another batch of PCA officers will proceed to Japan for study visit in February, 2011. A shield was also presented to Sultan Ahmed Chawla, President FPCCI.
In the question/answer session, various queries regarding detections made by PCA in the domain of undervaluation, appeal process, applicability of PCA to exports and One Custom and role of PCA in providing benefits to importers and exporters were raised and replied satisfactorily.
The following suggestions were also made by participants:
-- Screening of doubtful user IDs by PCA may be done.
-- An Authorised Economic Operators Programme may be introduced in which importers/exporters may be given option for applying after voluntary audit by PCA.
-- Importers may be given option at the time of filing of goods declaration to clear their consignments without any customs check subject to audit by PCA and PCA may extend its role in trade mark violations.