Customs clearance: profiling of genuine importers under way to avoid delay: Memon

Manzoor Memon, Collector East, Customs House, Karachi on Tuesday said that profiling of genuine importers was underway to avoid any delay in customs clearance of imported consignments and revolutionary measures were being taken to reduce the examination time from 72 to 24 hours. According to sources, Manzoor Memon shared latest reform initiatives and measures in customs clearance with a delegation of All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCCA) headed by Arshad Jamal.
Manzoor Memon was of the view that the Collectorate is taking revolutionary measures to reduce the examination time from 72 hours to 24 hours and the prime focus is to highlight the factor creating delay in customs clearance and fix the responsibility and as a result of all these efforts customs authorities are successful in achieving the targets. The Collector endorsed the suggestion of APCAA regarding the test report of the regular imported consignments, adding that steps are being taken for profiling of genuine importers so that they may not suffer due to any delay in customs clearance. He requested APCAA to help Collectorate in preparing profile of such importers whose consignment samples are being sent for lab test every time and the Collectorate will ensure that their consignments will not be delayed next time for confirmation of description through lab test. He further spotted that corrupt mafia involved in mal-practices through self-clearance system in different groups which is sabotaging the WeBOC system and that the Collectorate have upgraded to check the authenticity of the F.T.A Certificates through online access as increasing number of cases are highlighted in which the importers have used forged F.T.A certificates to claim exemptions. In this regard Customs have started investigations against such importers on the basis of past imports.
The delegation of All Pakistan Customs Agents Association headed by Arshad Jamal, Senior Vice Chairman, called on Collector East Manzoor Memon at Customs House, Karachi, wherein they highlighted the scope and objectives of APCAA.
The Collector East welcomed the APCAA delegation and stated that he was working in the PACCS/ Weboc Systems for the last many years and was fully aware of the problems faced by the Customs clearing agents and also have the vision how to solve the issues. Arshad Jamal expressed his confidence in the abilities of the Collector to resolve the customs clearance issues and stated that association is hopeful that under his dynamic leadership reforms will be taken in the Weboc System on revolutionary basis & the trade & industrial sector will be facilitated.
He also endorsed serious reservations about the time consumed in Customs Examination at Terminal & Port Areas and stated that all steps may be taken to reduce the examination time and specifically the single item may be examined within 24 hours so that clearing agent can expedite speedy clearance and will save huge demurrages and Port detention.
He further suggested that clearing agent should obtain undertaking from the importer before submission of Free trade Agreement (FTA) certificate and in such case Collectorate may not take action against such clearing agents.
Qamar-ul-Islam suggested that the chemical importers whose consignments are examined frequently and there is no adverse test report against them should be profiled in the Weboc System and the examinations of such imports is proposed to be conducted on random basis without lab test instead of 100 percent examination and laboratory test every time.
The Collector congratulated APCAA for their registration as trade body on behalf of the clearing agents community and was hopeful that APCAA will extend their maximum co-operation to Collectorate to strength the system.