Customs agents at Port Qasim assured of ACP facility

The Collector of Customs, Port Qasim, has assured the customs agents that all importers, enjoying automated clearance facility (ACP) at the Customs House, will be provided the same facility at the PQ and there is no need to file a separate application.
The assurance was given by Port Qasim Customs Collector Amir Khan Marwat to Karachi Customs Agents Group (KCAG) President Farrukh Saleem at a meeting held to discuss problems faced by clearing agents at the PQ.
He further said that in most of the cases, the evidence of Customs House in valuation of import consignments was accepted. However, there were instances when the Collectorate had its own higher evidence, hence the goods were assessed in accordance with the parameters of Section 25 of the Customs Act.
The KCAG complained that the work of extending income tax exemption was being done manually at the PQ Collectorate. It should be computerised and the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (Pral) might be asked to update the software on income tax exemption, they demanded.
It was agreed that both the concerned assistant collectors would work out the possibility of extending income tax exemption on the basis of exemption certificate issued by the concerned appraising officer.
The KCAG President drew the Collector's attention to the possible irregularities in the clearance of steel, and said that the duty was leviable on the prime quality of steel at the rate of five percent to 10 percent, whereas the secondary quality steel had 25 percent duty. But, he pointed out, the importers might tend to misdeclare the value of secondary quality of steel.
Farrukh Saleem stated that he had submitted solution of the problem to Karachi Customs House, while the Collector asked him to send a copy of the same.
The KCAG demanded that the duty and taxes, payable on ex-bond goods declaration (GDs), might be allowed to be deposited in the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) branches at Karachi, including the Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) to save time and energy of the clearing agents.
However, the Account Section opined the revenue collection figures were reconciled with the NBP branch at the PQ on a daily basis. The process of reconciliation will be difficult in case the importers are allowed to deposit duty and taxes at the NBP branches at Karachi.
The Collector assured the KCAG that the time for receiving the GDs at the PQ would be enhanced to 5 pm from the existing 3 pm provided the same was extended at the Karachi Custom House.
The KCAG team at the meeting included, among others, General Secretary Arif Siddiqui and Vice-President Nasir Hussain.