The government has decided to end the monopoly of customs appraisers at Karachi by abolishing existing groups, which deal with specific items for assessment of duties/taxes and clearance of imported consignments.
Sources told Business Recorder on Thursday, few appraisers operate under a 'group' dealing with a specific item or chapter of the Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT). In this way, an importer of machinery already knows about concerned appraisers, who would deal with his consignment.
This practice was going on for the last many years, which has given extraordinary powers to appraisers. Obviously, an appraiser is more interested in transfer/posting to a group, which deals with important items as compared to less dutiable products. Sources said the CBR has agreed to the proposal and issued instructions to its customs wing to implement the decision through necessary office order. Details revealed presently, imported consignments were assigned to a specific group of appraisers depending on the type of item. For example, if a vehicle is being imported, it is assigned to a particular group having specific number, who would be responsible for examination of consignments and completion of clearance process.
Sources said this has not only created monopoly of certain appraisers at Karachi, but also enhanced their discretionary powers dealing with the import of items like vehicles, machinery, paper, etc. Secondly, appraisers also try to get transferred and posted in specific groups using their influence.
The CBR has seriously examined the whole situation and decided to takeaway the concept of 'customs group' to curtail powers of these appraisers under the "one customs" project. There is no room for such discretion under the self-assessment regime and the ongoing automation and reforms to minimise interaction between the tax collector and taxpayer, officials maintained.
Sources said once the office order is issued, groups would be abolished and appraisers would be selected for imported consignment on the basis of random selection through computer.
In future, there would be no such group of appraiser to exclusively deal with the machinery or vehicles. Any appraiser could be assigned any consignment for examination after being selected at random. The board has already implemented the random selection of examiners at ports, sources maintained.
When asked about the resistance by custom officials, he said some resistance is there, but tax authorities have taken a conscious decision, which would be implemented. The Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) has made requisite changes in the computer software dealing with the 'one customs project' and the new system would be in place after issuance of the office order.
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