Special measures to be taken at Torkham to expedite clearance of goods: Customs

Chief Collector of Customs (North) Sarwat Tahira Habib Monday conveyed to the business community that special measures would be taken at Torkham border to expedite imports and exports clearances following the announcement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about reopening of the Pak-Afghan border.
Chief Collector of Customs (North) Sarwat Tahira Habib and Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad Dr Arslan Subuctageen were responding to various queries of business community at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) here on Monday.
As soon as trade is resumed from Torkham border, special measures would be enforced to expedite imports and exports between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said. Torkham border comes within the territorial jurisdiction of Chief Collector of Customs (North). The FPCCI and representatives of customs clearing agents, Islamabad and Rawalpindi chambers acknowledged the role of Chief Collector of Customs (North) and his team comprising Collector of Customs in trade facilitation, speedy clearances of consignments and simplified processes during customs clearance at Islamabad.
Responding to queries pertaining to imports/exports to Afghanistan, Sarwat Tahira Habib stated that as soon as she heard the announcement of reopening of the Pak-Afghan border, she talked to the Collector of Customs, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Peshawar. Once the border is opened, the customs department will depute special staff and extra shifts for speedy clearance of imports and export consignments through Torkham border. The customs will also clear consignments during the extended time period at Torkham border to facilitate imports and exports.
The Chief Collector of Customs (North) stated that the shifts of customs will be increased at the border area and more staff would be deputed at Torkham border. When imports/exports resume through Pak-Afghan border, we will depute special teams to expedite clearance of consignments from the said border area, she said. She ensured that the level playing field would be provided to the importers and all issues relating to the WEBOC clearance system would be resolved on top priority basis.
To a query on Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess (PIDC) on goods imported and cleared on dry ports of Punjab, the Chief Collector of Customs (North) said that the matter has been taken up with the Punjab and KPK governments and top authorities during the last Collectors of Customs conference. The issue of cess has also been discussed at the level of Ministry of Finance.
When representative of All Pakistan Customs Clearing Agents pointed out that importers are clearing consignments from Karachi instead of Punjab due to cess, the Chief Collector of Customs (North) stated, "We are well aware of the matter. The cess has been incorporated in the WEBCO system. We will try our level best to resolve the issue of cess before the coming budget (2017-18)."
The Chief Collector of Customs (North) stated, "We have made need assessment for Sust Terminal. Taking into account benefits of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) maximum facilitation would be ensured at Sust border. We are in the process of inauguration of Gilgt-Baltistan Customs House."
When Sohail Waraich from RCCI asked about prolonged delays in issuance of NOCs by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Collector of Customs MCC Islamabad Dr Arslan Subuctageen explained that the importers of alternative medicines and health products are facing a lost of problems in timely getting registration of their products from the DRAP. Even importers of herbs/shampoos are facing problems in registration of their products. Importers have argued their products may expire or loose efficacy as there arte no proper storage or temperature control in the import sheds. This is very unfair to the importers of such products. The matter has been duly taken up with the DRAP authorities and it has been agreed that the importers, who have applied for registration with the DRAP and have duly acknowledged receipts of applications would be cleared. This is subject to the condition of submission of applications of form-6 or form-7 as required under the law.
Dr Arslan added that the customs is ready to fully facilitate the importers of pharmaceutical industry keeping in view their particular nature of imports.
He pointed out that an open door policy has been adopted at the MCC Islamabad. If an issue of a person is not resolved, he is allowed to meet the Collector of Customs to plead his case and matter is resolved expeditiously within the laid down parameters or provisions of the law.
To a query, the Chief Collector of Customs (North) responded that the one fair value should be applicable on the same item imported from different collectorates. A uniform treatment of valuation and appraisement is needed in this regard.
The Collector of Customs stated that the facilitation to trade at Islamabad dry port under the concept of 'green channel facility' is on the cards. About uniform treatment of duty assessment of imported items, he specifically said that the level playing field would be ensured to all importers. Customs would take up the issue of uniform assessment of goods with the system managers and director automation FBR, he added.
President of All Pakistan Computer Association Munawar Iqbal highlighted the issues of sales tax on computer industry. Despite withdrawal of sales tax on computers in last budget, the parts and components are still subjected to sales tax creating problems for the local vendors.
Ghazanfar Bilour from KPK said that there is a congestion of imported consignments at Karachi which will take 8-10 days in clearance. Besides shipping companies charges, there are demiurges to be paid by importers on daily basis.
Former RCCI President Sohail Altaf said that Sarwat Tahira Habib and Dr Arslan Subuctageen are soft image of the FBR. President RCCI Raja Amir said that the revenue collection target-driven attitude of the customs officials should come to an end. The FBR should not fix ambitious targets for the customs officers and it must ensure trade facilitation, he added.
Former Vice President FPCCI Mian Akram Fareed said that the fixed amount of sales tax is collected on the import of steel. The amount collected by customs department at the import stage is later refunded by the IR department. Sales tax on imports of steel products should be abolished as the refund amount is stuck up with the income tax department. Sohail Malik of FPCCI and Senior Vice-President FPCCI Amir Altaf also addressed the gathering.