Officials demanding Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per container at the terminal for immediate examination and early release of consignment
ADC-IV Muhammad Faruukh Sharif says if any examiner or appraiser was found misusing his powers, he will be taken to task
KARACHI: Although the newly appointed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman has vowed to end corruption in Pakistan Customs, the Karachi International Containers Terminal (KICT) examiners and appraiser at the Research and Development (R&D) wing of Appraisement-West have formed what the importers claimed a ‘nexus’ for minting money.
Besides, the importers and clearing agents are allegedly being harassed by these examiners and appraiser, and the imports of those who greased their palms are allowed to be cleared, insiders told Customs Today.
Ironically, when contacted, Appraisement-West Additional Deputy Collector (ADC-IV) Muhammad Faruukh Sharif told Customs Today that he had no information about the nexus or any kind and restricted himself from giving any official point of view. However, he added, “If any importer or clearing agent has any complaint with regard to harassment of examiners and appraisers of R&D, he/she can approach me with specific goods declaration (GD).”
“If any examiner or appraiser is found misusing his powers, he would be taken to task as we are here to facilitate the importers, not to harass them,” he concluded.
According to well-informed sources, the examiners at KICT namely Jahangir Afzal and Taha Sher Ban are using delaying tactics in examination of the imports cargo; however, the cargo of those who refuses to pay them bribe are delayed, putting extra burden of demurrages charges, etc, on the importers.
Interestingly, the Research and Development Appraisement Intelligence Branch (AIB) appraiser of Appraisement-West, Zulfiqar Zamman, used to jump into the matter and threaten the importers for initiating contravention proceeding against them, sources added.
Moreover, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had – in the past – transferred the appraiser and examiners posted at the KICT that included Jahangir Afzal and Taha Sher Ban; however, the same team once again got their postings at KICT, according to insiders. The importers, who wished not to be named, told Customs Toady that the FBR and field collectors had time and again been approached to take notice of the situation, but to no avail.
“The examiners are demanding Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per container at the terminal for immediate examination and early release of consignment, and if someone refuses to pay them bribe, the examiners used to misbehave and delay the clearance of consignment, causing demurrages and other charges on the importers,” said an importer.
The importers have demanded FBR Chairman Nisar Muhammad Khan, Appraisement-South Chief Collector Abdul Rasheed Sheikh and Appraisement-West Collector Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha to take notice of the situation and appoint honest and dedicated examiners and appraisers at the terminal and the R&D section.
