KARACHI: Additional Collector-ADC IV of Model Customs Collectorate-MCC Appraisement-West Azhar Hussain Merchant on Wednesday held meeting with a delegation of All Pakistan Customs Agents Association-APCAA regarding the issues being faced by the importers’ community in delays and detentions in clearance of the consignments at Karachi International Containers’ Terminal-KICT.
The meeting was held at KICT which was chaired by the Additional Collector-ADC IV Azhar Hussain Merchant. The APCAA delegation included Chairman Shams Burney, Senior Vice Chairman APCAA Arshad Jamal and others.
During the meeting, the APCAA delegation presented its grievances regarding the delays in the examination process before the Customs authorities.
The delegation was of the view that delays and detention of the imported consignments should be eliminated for enhancing trade and business activities.
On this occasion, APCAA delegation urged the Customs authorities to form Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in examination procedure at KICT in order to avoid un-necessary delays and detention of the imported consignments.
The delegation was of the view that the seal of the imported consignments should be un-locked by the examining staff at KICT at 6.00 am and line-up the entire consignments at 9.00 am for examination.
He further advised the Customs authorities that they should bound the examining staff at KICT to complete the examination of the single imported consignments through Green and Yellow channels till 3.00 pm daily in order to facilitate the importers and traders.
The APCAA delegation further demanded the clearance of single item consignments through scanners which are being installed at KICT for speedy clearance.
The delegation further advised the Customs authorities to curtail the examination timing of the imported consignments through Green and Yellow channel up to 8 to 12 hours; adding that the association has no objection for carrying out detailed examination of the imported consignments which have been brought through Red Channel.
The Additional Collector-ADC Azhar Hussain Merchant agreed upon the suggestions put forwarded by the APCAA delegation for facilitation of the trade in terms of speedy examination.
The Additional Collector-ADC further assured the delegation that he will forward all such proposals to the Collector-MCC Appraisement-West Muhammad Saleem for early implementation. Deputy Collector Muhammad Zakir and Assistant Collector Usman Tariq were also present on the occasion.
