The taxation officials have introduced changes in the ''One Customs'' clearance system to ensure smooth transportation of cargo destined for the ''International Security Assistance Force'' (ISAF) and US Forces operating in Afghanistan.
Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Peshawar, had reported some problems in the maintenance of consignments transhipment data imported for ISAF, US forces and NGOs in Afghanistan.
The transshipment data collection staff of Peshawar reported that the system was not acknowledging this data at Torkhum. The system displays message, "you are not allowed to receive the consignment" in cases the cargo of meat for ISAF/US forces which comes through Peshawar customs.
As a temporary arrangement, the MCC, Peshawar, had allowed border crossing of these consignments through manual clearance on the basis of papers/documents. To resolve the issue, a meeting was recently convened at Customs House Karachi to discuss Afghan Transit Trade problems.
Sources said that the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) has made necessary changes in the Afghan transit software. Under the new system, goods declaration (GDs) for Afghan transit shall now be filed as non-commercial cargo including ISAF/US forces/NGOs and previous practice of filing TP (transshipment) document is not required. Such GDs shall be acknowledge at Torkhum customs station for which necessary changes have been made in the software.
Under the new system, all GDs for Afghan transit which are commercial cargo shall be acknowledged at National Logistic Cell (NLC)-Amangarh (using road transport) and Railway City Transport Stations for Afghan transit consignments reaching there by Pakistan Railways. The acknowledgement of such consignments shall be carried out at their respective customs stations. The changes have been made in the ''One Customs'' system new software would be implemented soon, sources added.
It is important to mention that a delegation of customs officials had visited Afghanistan to meet their counterpart for online reconciliation of transit trade data between the customs authorities of the two countries. The measure will enable the respective authorities to control and monitor the movement of transit cargo effectively with the help of automation, consistent with the reforms undertaken by the FBR.