Appraisement East and West: two procedures at MCC creating problems for importers

Customs Department has implemented two different procedures at Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Appraisement East and West, creating difficulties for importers in the clearance of imported vehicles, it was learnt here on Saturday. According to sources, this issue was surfaced after an FIR (21/2013) was lodged by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), nominating customs officials as accused persons.
The FIR had been registered after an investigation conducted by the FIA on the basis of a written complaint lodged by a passenger regarding the misuse of his passport by an agent dealing with issuance of visa. The complainant alleged the customs clearing agent for importing vehicle on his passport fraudulently under Personal Baggage Scheme (PBS) without his knowledge. The FIA Crime Circle, Karachi during the course of the investigation scrutinised immigration data base and the entry/exit stamp affixed on the said passport were found fake/forged thus arriving at the conclusion that the clearing agent had committed a fraud with the complainant from whom the passport was taken for issuance of visa.
Reacting to it, the Customs Department despite having Sindh High Court (SHC) verdict had given verbal orders to its field formation to stop the clearance of imported vehicles where Goods Declarations (GDs) had been filed by the clearing agents on behalf of the importers.
The Customs Department had earlier made the presence of importers mandatory for the clearance of imported vehicles, which was not only against the SHC's orders but also causing to block the clearance of imported vehicles, virtually.
However, the Customs Department after receiving complaints from the importers has now implemented two procedures in MCC - Appraisement (East and West) that shows lack of co-ordination between both departments and creates difficulties for the importers.
Sources said that MCC - Appraisement (West) was asking undertaking from importers in which names of clearing agent, importer, company, address, vehicle manufacturer, chassis number, passport details were required for the clearance of imported vehicles.
However, the imported vehicles are being cleared on the attested copies of Goods Declarations (GDs) and passport at MCC - Appraisement (East).
The sources said that these dual procedures were only for old shipments while guidelines for new shipments of vehicles would be communicated by the Customs Department, shortly.
Meanwhile, importers, who did not want to be named, said that importers were facing problems in the clearance of imported vehicles since FIA had taken action against customs officials, the clearance of imported vehicles had virtually been blocked.
"Although, the clearance of imported vehicles has now been restarted, dual procedures are not only creating problems for business community but also violating Customs Act 1969". Importers demanded the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to look into the matter and take suitable action to facilitate the business community.