Amendments to certain provisions of Custom Act assured

Mumtaz Rizvi, Member Customs, FBR on Saturday assured to make amendments to certain provisions of Custom Act 1969 to facilitate the stakeholders at maximum. He was addressing as chief guest at the foundation laying ceremony of Customs Auction Yard at Jungle Shah Keamari.
The project would be operated by Pak Shaheen Agencies Private Limited. On the occasion Mumtaz Rizvi congratulated the management of Pak Shaheen Agencies for conceiving and having courage to go ahead with the project. "Authorities and traders should be on one side of the table. I find no reason that the project will not deliver," he said. He hoped that the project would make the system more transparent, faster, and consumer oriented that in turn results in greater financial benefits for the government.
Felicitating the management of Pak Shaheen Agencies, Chief Collector Customs Amir Muhammad Khan Marwat said that initiating such type of projects in the country would prove beneficial to traders and clients. Pakistan customs is striving hard to facilitate all stakeholders, Khan said, adding that the project would also help in lessening congestion in the city.
"We would provide all possible help and assistance to make the project successful," Khan said. Earlier in his address of welcome, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pak Shaheen Group Yousuf Farrukh said that customs auction yard will ultimately revolutionise the way auctions are held in the country.
He said the project would also bring relief to the national ports, shipping lines, container lessors and yard owners who hitherto have already suffered tremendously on account of slow turnarounds and space occupations. Underlining the salient features of the auction yard, Farrukh Yousuf said there will be a dedicated centralised auction yard with facilities on the format of international best practices, such as proper display areas; storage areas; recreational areas; and ultimately an on-line system. "Only that cargo will arrive at the auction yard which is declared ripe for auction. Besides auction area would be accessible for general public, industry and fast moving consumer businesses, he added. He said the dedicated storage area in auction yard will ensure zero pilferage and avoid removals, adding that a dedicated team of Customs staff will oversee the entire operations.
He said the objective of the exercise is to make the system more transparent, faster, and consumer oriented that in turn would result in greater financial benefits for the government. He said that the aim of a modem, progressive, effective, and credible auction system would require departing from the current modus operandi.
"Clearly this paradigm shift will require amendments to certain existing provisions of the Custom Act 1969, in general, and sections 201 and 202, in particular. In addition, reshaping of the custom auction rules will be equally essential so as to cater for this new vision of custom auctions," he emphasised. He hoped that Pakistan customs would bring the required amendments to the law and rules in the forthcoming budget. Later, the chief guest unveiled the plaque.