Chief Collector Customs (South) visits KATI ‘Efforts on to solve problems of business community on priority’

KARACHI: Chief Collector Customs (South) Ashad Javed has said that the industry is currently going through a difficult time, it is understood, from time to time the business community keeps informing about the problems of FBR. Efforts are being made to solve the problems of the business community on a priority basis.

He expressed these views on the occasion of his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).

He said the State Bank has directed to file EIF/FIB on zero for a third party. He said that the clearance process of importers at the port is being made easier and faster. There are rules on bringing foreign currency into the country.

He added that we will consider the suggestions made by KATI on a priority basis.

KATI President Faraz-ur-Rehman said that the green channel exporters have to bear the consequences of the mistakes made by the black sheep in Customs. It seems that we are not serving the country but harming it.

President KATI said that delays in examination and processing are causing more damage to importers. De-tensioning problems are increasing at the port which should be simplified.

He said that the shipping companies should be brought under the regulatory body. There should be a maximum cap of maximum 5 lac US dollars on an average container price of 2.5 lac US dollars, while the shipping companies charge a commission of one crore rupees per container.

The Collector of Customs is requested to consult on a personal basis to resolve these issues. Faraz-ur-Rehman said that the shipping companies have established a monopoly, and during the current worsening economic crisis, they are being fined $ 125 per day for detention charges.

Demurrage and de-tension are being imposed on official holidays as well, which is beyond comprehension.

President KATI added the Customs system should be simple and online whereas single window operation should be done for the convenience of exporters.

Fawad Sheikh, Chairman of KATI’s Standing Committee for Customs Port and Shipping, has said that refund problems are old, and the obstacles in the refund process should be removed. He said that a committee was formed in 2019 on the issues of Customs laboratories which could not be activated.

Similarly, the Port Qasim laboratory is also facing problems. There is no Customs agents option in VBOC. In the present era, all transactions are handled online but terminal operators demand everything physical.

KATI Vice President Muslim Mohamedi and former president Ehtesham Uddin also spoke on the occasion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023