Accord to verify FTA certificates being finalized: Customs

Following receiving a number of complaints vis-à-vis submission of forged and bogus Free Trade Agreement (FTA) certificates by some `unscrupulous elements' for availing inadmissible tax exemptions, the Pakistan Customs is finalising an agreement with Chinese authorities to verify FTA certificates through online EDI system.
This was stated by Director (Reforms and Automation) Wajid Ali at a meeting held with a delegation of All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) at Customs House here, the other day.
He said that the condition of submitting FTA certificates would also be eliminated as the Customs department would be in a position to verify the same through online EDI system once the agreement is signed with China in this regard.
He said that government was signing an agreement with China and, thereafter, the assessing officer could verify the origin of certificate through online EDI system. Such an arrangement would not only eliminate the condition of submitting FTA certificates at the FTA Cell, but would also help in releasing consignments without any delay, he added.
In response to an issue raised by the APCAA's senior vice chairman, Arshad Jamal, he assured that suitable amendments would be made to the system so as to enable the goods declarant to monitor the valid valuation rulings, database prices, 90 days data and other relevant information at his computer screen. Besides, the issue would also be discussed with D-G (Valuation), he said.
He further said that the performance of terminals was very poor and they were neither in a position to start scanner-based clearance nor the Customs department has issued any specific order in this regard.
Earlier, Jamal suggested entering commodity-wise code in the Weboc System for enabling terminal staff to arrange containers for examination through codes.
He also cautioned that since there was no mechanism for stacking of dangerous goods, food stuff and chemicals, etc, it may lead to some untoward incidents.
Deploring that terminals were collecting undelivered service charges, including scanner infrastructure charges, he urged the authorities concerned to insert the module in the system for releasing goods through scanner without examination, especially for the single description commodity.