Removal of penalty on importers: business community advised to approach FBR

Chief Collector of Cushion (South), Amir Muhammad Khan Marwat, has advised business community to approach Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for removal of penalty of Rs 5,000 imposed on importers if invoice is not found lying inside the consignment. Replying a demand to remove the penalty during a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said that the penalty was imposed to control fake invoicing which were rampant.
He said that the condition says if invoice is not found inside the imported consignment a penalty of Rs 5,000 should be charged. The chief collector suggested that a committee comprising of members of KCCI and custom department should be formed to conduct study to see at what extent this penalty has succeeded to control fake invoices.
Referring to Weboc system of custom clearance, he said that the system is operating successfully and it will continue in future.
Marwat said that the system has some teething problem and assured that they will be removed in shortest possible time. Replying another demand that all the customs related offices should remain open on Saturday, he made it clear that it is beyond his powers. The decision has been made at Federal Government level and advised the chamber to approach concerned ministry in order to keep customs offices open on Saturday.
Further taking up demand to establish a help desk at the chamber, he assured that the help desk will be made functional by Wednesday with a condition to provide a computer and necessary facilities to customs offices for smooth running the help desk. Replying another question, he said that customs valuation is once determined it cannot be changed unless it is revised by the concern authority.
President KCCI, Mian Abrar Ahmed, said the practice of 5-day working week particularly for customs and ports is severely hampering the business activities and causing port congestions and delay in the clearance. He demanded that the customs and ports should be de-notified and all model customs collectors should remain open on Saturday considering it as normal working day in order to facilitate the trade and industry and getting their consignments cleared for import and export.