Pakistan's international trade figures have not been accurately compiled due to wrong reporting of import/export data by the Model Customs Collectorate Quetta, hindering reconciliation of data among different government departments. This has been specifically underlined in a directive of the Federal Board of Revenue to the MCC Quetta.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that the FBR has issued instructions to the MCC Quetta to accurately report import/export figures as it affect the international trade data. A letter of the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS), Karachi office to the FBR revealed that import/export data of MCC (Quetta) is not being properly reported, which is denting Pakistan's international trade figures. The MCC Quetta should ensure provision of correct data, it maintained.
The FBR has directed the Collectorate that the issue be scrutinised in detail in co-ordination with M/s Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited to avoid any future repetition. The FBS Karachi has informed FBR Member Customs that the FBS get the Collectorate-wise data of Imports and Exports from Director (R&S) FBR, Islamabad every month and release the summary on the basis of these figures. The FBS has connectivity with the Custom House, Karachi and down load 8-digit HS Code-wise data from Pral and Pakistan Customs Computerised System (PACCs) for issuance of Advance Release on External Trade every month.
During Collectorate-wise comparison of FBR and Pral data, it has been observed that Quetta Collectorate figures never matched in two sets of figures, (comparative statement of May, June and July 2010). In this regard FBS has repeatedly contacted Pral, Karachi but the problem has not been resolved.
It is therefore, requested to look into the matter and resolve the issue at the earliest, so that FBS may be able to finalise the figures of import and exports not only for the months of May, June and July 2010, but for future also. It is further requested that the FBR should also issue directives to the concerned Collectorate that they should supply the details of final data at 8 digit level to the Pral by the end of each month so that Pral may be able to supply the complete data to FBS in the 1st week of next month, FBS Karachi added.
When contacted, an expert is customs matter said that the wrong reporting of the import/export data of Quetta should not have any major impact on the overall national figures. The major chunk of imports and exports trade is carried out at Karachi whereas the contribution of Quetta is very low in overall collection. Most of the imports through MCC Quetta is from Iran which is negligible as compared to imports from Karachi. In case there is any variation in import/export data of Quetta, it is not clear that how could impact Pakistan international trade figures, the expert added.