ATT cargoes: Physical inspection sought

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has asked the Ministry of Finance to allow physical inspection of all transit trade cargoes on selectivity basis, Business Recorder has learnt. Sources said that the board has made the proposal on the recommendations of the committee investigating ISAF container scam.
They said the FBR in its proposal has urged the authorities to make only customs seals admissible for the movement of all transit trade cargoes under Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) from the point of entry (Karachi port or port Qasim) to the point of exit (Torkham and Chaman).
They said the board is striving to get approval for inspecting all transit cargoes as the revenue body is of the view that all transit cargoes should be inspected at Karachi on selectivity basis and if any discrepancy is found in the cargo with respect to the documents submitted, legal action should be initiated against the responsible person and the suspicious cargo should be screened out for detailed examination at Karachi or Bin Qasim port.
They said the restriction on the movement of Less Container Load (LCL) at ordinary trucks has also been recommended and, for the purpose, the cargo under ATTA should be imported in Full Container Load (FCL) or it should be containerised at Karachi port before departure.
The revenue body has also stressed the need of having proper monitoring of each cargo container en route Torkham and Chaman at the designated check posts on route from Karachi to Peshawar besides re-examining the same at Torkham and Chaman to verify the veracity of the cargo information communicated by Karachi and Bin Qasim ports during departure.
Sources said the FBR was in favour to put the responsibility of issuing cross border certificate on the shoulders of collectors, who are performing duties at the points of entry and exit of transit trade cargoes on weekly basis, saying that each collector at point of entry of ATT cargo and at point of exit should furnish cross border certificate on weekly basis to the board besides co-ordinating with one another for acknowledging receipt of ATT container at Torkham and Chaman to avoid such scam in future.