Tariff harmonisation: Customs urged to draft mechanism to monitor shipping agents

Zubair Tufail, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has said Pakistan Customs should draft a mechanism to monitor shipping agents in order to harmonise shipping tariffs. He was speaking at a seminar on "Data Analysis for Effective Border Management' organised by the All Pakistan Customs Clearing Agents (APCAA) to celebrate International Customs Day at the Federation House the other day.
He said that examination should not only be minimised but also be done on random basis and the customs department should also increase the number of scanners for the purpose.
He said that Pakistan despite insisting China for developing a mechanism for data sharing for last several years was still unable to materialise the said proposal, which costing billions of rupees revenue loss; urging the authority concerned to do more for its effective implementation.
Moreover, he said that government should also sign an agreement with Iran for efficient border management to curb smuggling from Iran borders, providing serious financial shocks to the kitty.
S.M Muneer Chief Executive Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said that customs department should analyse data (trade related information) under uniform system, which would help eradicating smuggling and under-invoicing menace.
He said that TDAP, which had now stable financial position, was presently organising 146 exhibitions and claimed to have eliminated Rs 13 billion financial corruption since assuming the charge as CE TDAP.
He said that all economic indicators were positive but exports had been declined by 14 per cent, due to international pressure.
Moreover, he lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir for announcing incentive package for the trade and added that export figures had now witnessed 6 per cent growth last month. Meanwhile, Muhammad Zahid Khokar Chief Collector Enforcement said that customs department had learnt from its mistakes committed while handling Afghan Transit Trade and added that they had now sent a detailed work plan to Islamabad for effective handling of CPEC related cargos.
He also urged the authority concerned that immigration powers should also be transferred to the customs department as per international practices and added that customs department should be more strengthened for effective border management.
APCAA Chairman Amjad Chaudhry and senior vice chairman Arshad Jamal in their separate speeches highlighted the role of clearing agents in customs operations and added that APCAA had created a history by celebrating International Customs Day in the world.
Earlier, customs officers from Afghan Transit Trade, Directorate General Customs Valuation and Customs Reforms and Automation and Arshad from APCAA gave detailed electronic presentations on their respective subjects. A large number of customs officials, businessmen and clearing agents were present on the occasion.