KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has appeared hesitant to introduce Non-Intrusive Inspection System (NIIS) in yellow channel, depriving large number of importers from speedy cargo clearance.

According to the details, the introduction of an NIIS was a long-awaited initiative but the same has been implemented in green channel, which was now declared it as blue channel.

The program has been implemented initially at KICT, SAPT terminals of Karachi port, and at QICT, Port Qasim, from April 19, 2021, for industrial raw materials.

“We do still not comprehend why this long-awaited initiative has been implemented in green channel where the speedy cargo clearance is already being done with no hassle,” importers said.

Meanwhile, customs sources said that the department had initially implemented NIIS in green channel, which would later be extended to yellow channel as well.

Meanwhile, Arshad Jamal, senior vice chairman All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) was of the view that the customs department did not want to take any risk at initial stage hence the green channel was chosen for NIIS implementation.

He said that the association also proposed the customs department to insert a module to release the consignments through scanners on profile basis under Risk Management System (RMS) to avoid release of goods through examination at yellow channel.

He said that the implementation of NIIS in green channel would not serve the purpose until the appraising office would have an option in the system to release the consignments through NIIS in yellow channel and if the module was added for yellow channel then substantial volume of consignments may be released through scanners without grounding and examining of containers, which would be a huge relief to the trade.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021