PSQCA seeks access to Web-based One Customs

Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) will get access to the Web-based One Customs (WeBOC) by December 2017, said Director General PSQCA. Speaking at a meeting of FPCCI standing committee on customs at the Federation House, here, Muhammad Khalid Siddiq, DG PSQCA, said that the Authority had finalized all modalities and customs department was now working on it.
He expressed hope that PSQCA would be allowed access to the WeBOC by next month. He nodded to the suggestions given during meeting regarding H.S. Codes, saying that items falling under specific H.S. Codes should only be stopped for quality tests and the recommendations in this regard would also be forwarded to the ministry of commerce.
Furthermore, he also urged the committee members to meet with PSQCA officials in order to decide the timeline for the issuance of test reports and in case of any delay, he would resolve their grievances. Khalid said that PSQCA had no right to collect samples more than that of the prescribed quantity and he was to draft respective SOP in consultation with the committee.
Replying to a question, he said that information regarding the expiry of pay orders was recently brought to his knowledge and he then ordered not to collect revised testing fee if the pay orders were expired, due to delayed issuance of test reports. He also refused to allow any relaxation on the imports following ISO standards, saying that ISO certification was not more than a voluntary certification and due to its easy acquisition, they abide by their own technical regulations like other countries.
DG PSQCA said that environment at the authority had been improved during last one and a half years but showed his inability to take action against the complaints due to its anonymous status. He further urged the business community to file complaints with proper identity in order to assist the authority for appropriate measures.
Earlier, Arshad Jamal, chairman FPCCI standing committee on customs, said that PSQCA did neither provide list pertaining to the complete description of H.S. codes nor give its tariff for quality tests. During Q/A session, Qamar-ul-Islam, vice chairman FPCCI standing committee on customs raised serious issues including the stoppage of whole consignments for testing instead of specific H.S. Codes, expiry of pay orders due to delayed issuance of test reports, improper sitting arrangement at PSQCA for the visitors, etc.
Meanwhile, Arshad also suggested the DG PSQCA to constitute a committee comprising the representatives from ministry of commerce, PSQCA, FPCCI, APCAA and FBR for swift resolution of issues being faced by them. Later, Khalid Siddiq accorded approval for the formation of the committee and sought suggestions, in this regard.