Business community's issues to be resolved on merit: Collector

Collector Customs (Appraisement) Jamil Nasir has said that the business community's issues would be resolved on merit. Clearance of trading goods is one of his priorities as undue delay adds to the cost of doing business.
He was talking to LCCI Vice President Nasir Hameed Khan here at the Lahore Chamber on Thursday.
"We have to trust each other that would make the things better," he said while adding that if declaration system gets better, it will not only help control under invoicing but will also help trust building.
There are some policy matters on which only FBR can make decision. He said that lack of awareness is one of the biggest reasons of problem therefore the department is ready to depute officers to guide business community on tax related issues. He said that WeBOC is a programme of international level and far better than the contrary software. "We are not only stakeholders but we are partners. Clearance process would be made easier by reconsideration of the business processes," the Collector Customs added.
The LCCI Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said the FBR policies should be aimed at widening of tax net rather than taxing and burdening already taxed businessmen. The Customs department should establish scanners at ports as importers have to pay demurrage charges because of undue delay. Present Customs duty could be paid to only particular branches of National Bank. The Customs department should allow paying Customs duty at all branches that would help save precious time of the business community, he added.
The LCCI vice president said though WeBoc is a very good system but it has limited options to make information correct in case of any effort therefore this system should be upgraded according to the needs of the business community. It is vitally important to disseminate Electronic I-Form related information to importers, bankers, clearing agents, and customs personnel as to how will it work and answer their queries.
He said banks are also not issuing Form-I for Iran. This issue should be resolved at the earliest.
He said that business community is being harassed as importers are being served post audit recovery notices. These notices are unnecessary as trading goods enter the country after database checking/appraisement.
He suggested that import duty on smuggling-prone items should be reduced to discourage smuggling. He also urged the Collector Customs to establish a help desk here at the Lahore Chamber and called for WeBoc registration through this desk.