KARACHI: Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Appraisement – West has chalked out a comprehensive plan for early disposal of auctionable goods for maximizing revenue collection during the last two months.
The collectorate in a notification said that against the backdrop of pressing issue of port congestion and revenue blockage, disposal of auctionable cargo is being accorded high priority.
The collectorate issued standard operating procedure (SOP) for expeditious disposal of auctionable cargo.
According to this SOP, each terminal operator (TO) would identify the auctionable containers/cargo and their exact location, and shall share the same with the concerned deputy collector (DC)/assistance collector (AC) incharge of auction.
The concerned DC/AC shall assign these container/cargo to the Examination Officers (EOs) in equal numbers for recording examination reports.
The TO shall ensure grounding of containers and presentation to EOs and furnish a daily list of such grounded containers/presented cargo to the concerned DC/AC, who shall ensure that the EOs to whom these containers/cargo have been assigned complete the examination reports on the same day in the presence of representatives of the TO . The examination reports should invariable be accompanied with printouts of images of the examined cargo, and in case of chemicals, laboratory reports.
On completion of examination, the TO shall transfer the cargo to the auction shed/yard allocated within its operational area under intimation to the concerned DC/AC.
On receipt of examination reports, the DC/AC shall ensure that allocation of lot numbers and issuance of notices under Section 82 of the Customs Act, 1969 within 24 hours of receipt of examination report and forward the files to the concerned group for fixation of reserve price (RPs). The DC/AC incharge of group shall ensure that files are returned to the concerned DC/AC (Auction) on the same day. As already conveyed. RPs are to be fixed keeping view that current physical condition, including the factor of depreciation etc., so that the cargo does not stuck up on account of abnormally high RPs.
On completion of the procedure, the DC/AC concerned shall ensure that the goods are promptly included in the very next auction schedule. Proper dissemination of details of auctionable cargo shall be ensured though electronic and print media, trade bodies etc.
In order to ensure transparency and to preempt the manipulation of auction process, it is directed that the auction procedure notified SRO 450(I)/2001 dated June 18, 2001 shall be strictly adhered to, including requirement of on-the-spot deposit of earnest money. Those who try to thwart the auction process by their failure to deposit the earnest money shall be blacklisted. Since auction is done on as is, where is basis frivolous applications for cancellation of bids shall not be entertained.
DC/AC (Auction) may further assign the function to the staff under its control for imparting efficiency to the process. Those found guilty of slackness shall be reported for initiation of disciplinary proceedings.
The process shall be carried out in such a manner that FCL containers and high revenue fetching items get priority in examination to relieve congestion, and maximizing revenue collection.
TOs shall nominate focal persons for the functions to be performed by them under these SOPs.
From May 08, 2017, the concerned DC/AC Incharge shall furnish a daily progress report to the Additional Collector (Examination), who shall consolidate them and present it to Collector.
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