Customs Department WeBOC system has no provision to follow SHC orders

The Web-based One Customs (WeBOC) system has no provision to implement the Sindh High Court''s interim decision regarding regulatory duty (RD) on the import of certain items fall under SRO 1035(I)/2017, it was learnt. The Sindh High Court, in its interim decision, has directed that 50 per cent of RD amount shall be collected in cash whereas remaining 50 per cent shall be deposited in securities with the customs or the Nazir of the court as per option of the relevant petitioners/importers.
The court has further ordered that for the calculation of sales tax, income tax, etc. the whole RD shall not be taken into account into any applicable calculation. However, there is no provision in WeBOC system to implement either of the above two directions in the Sindh High Court order that forced the customs department to use its old customs clearance system ''One-Customs) for the purpose.
The department has now started issuing multiple user IDs of One-Customs to appraising officers, principal appraisers and ACs/DCs to implement the court''s orders in case of Goods Declaration (GDs) filed by relevant petitioners. In addition, the customs department has also forwarded ''A Change Request'' to the Directorate of Reforms and Automation, Karachi, to incorporate necessary provisions in the WeBOC system to implement the said order.
The Directorate of Reforms and Automation, Karachi, during a recent meeting at the chief collector Appraisement Office showed incapacity to implement the same and suggested to create special exemption in the WeBOC system through the user ID of secretary (customs budget), which would allow exemption of 50 per cent of RD, bound with the NTNs of the petitioners to whom said court''s order is applicable.
The Directorate also informed the customs department that the second part of the order was also impossible to implement within the WeBOC system due to its duty and taxes calculation structure.