Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) has proposed the customs department to issue necessary SOP and define timeframe to avoid delays in releasing refunds.
According to KCAA, the delegation headed by its president Mohammad Amin Essani and general secretary Arshad Khurshid met Chief Collector (South) - Appraisement Surriya Ahmed Butt. The meeting was also attended by Collectors MCC-Appraisement (West), Appraisement & Port Qasim.
It said that during meeting, chief collector had assured to simplify the refund process and the terminal operators would also be restricted to hold auction goods manually, which were released by the customs after getting payment of legitimate duty and taxes.
Moreover, KCAA said the customs department had also agreed to simplify the process of call of documents to reduce dwell time besides they would give an option to the traders to opt for personal hearing directly before the concerned deputy collector instead of routed through PA, which the customs agents termed as positive step not only to reduce the dwell time but it would also allow timely clearance of goods. On the proposal of KCAA, the customs department is poised to introduce online CRF in the system with the consultation of directorate of reforms & automation.
It said KCAA also suggested the Chief Collector South to de-block IGM of late filing of GDs electronically and authentication of Pak-China FTA through Electronic Data Exchange (EDE).