Mistreatment of taxpayers

Karachi Customs Agents Association would like to draw your attention to the mistreatment of taxpayers at Customs House Karachi. The Appraisement Collectorate Karachi, the building of which consist of 10 storeys, where thousands of general public have to visit daily for various office jobs, which include old and young people.
The general public comes to Collectorate, faces numerous sufferings and problems. There are three lifts, only one is in working order and the remaining two are out of service for a long time. The public stands in row for long time to get their turn to use the lift. Important offices are situated at 4th and at the upper floors. No roof-fan is available at front of lifts and people are sweating and feeling oxygen problems in blazing heats.
There is no sitting arrangement for visitors at any floor. Toilets are very few at each floor say two are three out of which one is locked exclusively for use of officers. And they are dirty, sprinkle bad smell, and no arrangement of drinking water available. After all, the taxpayers deserve to be provided with these most wanting necessities but who listens.
Most of the staff of the collectorate is habitual late comer, surprisingly no action is taken. Letters from importers are not replied, feeling it an abusive to dignity. Hearing memos are issued, mentioning therein date and time but it is not followed and pride is felt to keep awaiting for hours. This is mainly because of leniency of mismanagement and lack of administrative control. It is humbly suggested for issuance of strict directives to senior officers to come out of their air-conditioned and well-decorated chambers and make surprise visits frequently once or twice daily which will definitely create a healthy and congenial atmosphere and bring fruitful results and taxpayers will have a sigh of relief.
Another burning issue which needed immediate attention is delay in detention certificates issued to importers, which are neither honoured by ports or terminal operators nor serious efforts are made by the Customs authorities to get them implemented. As a result, heavy financial burden is incurred by them for no fault of theirs. The latest cases are of Ajmair Traders and Bashir Pipe Industries whose substantial amount is stuck up and the amount of wharfage and container detention charges paid by them worth 2.5 millions are not refunded. The imported goods are detained and released on the order of Customs authorities but recommendation for waiver of wharfage/container detention charges are not honoured.
The DDC is neither a waste paper nor a toy given to importer, it must have some legal coverage and the importer should not be saddled with heavy financial penalty for no fault at their part. It is suggested to take up the issue with Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Law and Justice promptly to resolve the issue. The employees of tax-collecting agencies are paid out of the taxes collected from taxpayers and they deserve respect and no humiliation, but it has been noted that unethical attitude and dehumanised behaviour is demonstrated and unnecessarily harassment is created. Complaints are seldom made out of fear of revengeful action and one gets defeated when no action is taken and sometime perfume is sprinkled to emit the order out of pond. This is no healthy sign and the Chairman FBR must come out with stick, in order to eradicate this nuisance.