KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has not yet completed their working on formulating ‘Customs Manual’ for clearance procedure of imported consignments.
According to the sources, the Pakistan Customs is facing difficulties in collecting/compiling entire data including clearance procedures in order to finalize the ‘Customs Manual’, adding that the work pressure on the available working strength at officer level, who are contributing in evolving the ‘Customs Manual’ is another dilemma, causing delay in formulating the manual.
It is pertinent to mention here that Appraisement-South Chief Collector Nasir Masroor Ahmed in November last year asked the authorities concerned of field formation collectorates to start their working on formulating a proper Customs Manual, as a document which is to be followed in clearance procedure.
Subsequently, the authorities decided to prepare such type of the manual which ease and simplify the clearance process from top to bottom.
In this regard, the Customs authorities convened meetings in order to setup a guideline in connection with the preparation of “Customs Clearance Manual”.
The authorities concerned collected and studied all related documents in forms of standing orders, office orders and public notices in order to evolve a manual which eases the clearance procedure. However; despite passing a time of five months, they have not yet succeeded to present anything significant in this regard.
It was also decided by the customs authorities that each and every aspect of the customs clearance including examination, warehouse, clearance of imported consignments and other necessary requirements would be covered during formulation of Customs Manual, adding that it was also decided by the authorities that overall clearance system would be brought into legal frame of work.
The authorities also decided that foreign countries setup in this regard would also be studied while formulating “Customs Manual”.
Furthermore, the authorities concerned also held several meetings in December-2014 in order to start working on Customs Manual.
It is pertinent to mention here that Appraisement-South Chief Collector Nasir Masroor Ahmed was taking keen interest in development of Customs Clearance Manual and asked the authorities concerned to expedite their efforts in this regard. However; nothing significant could be done yet in this regard.
It is also pertinent to mention here that the last “Customs Clearance Manual” was introduced in the year 1989 and after that no such manual yet to be introduced in Pakistan Customs Services (PCS).
In January of this year, the authorities concerned have claimed that 80per cent working on formulating the “Customs Manual” have been completed; however, nothing has been disclosed until today.
Sources informed Customs Today that the working on formulating the manual would be completed by February-2015; but rush of wok on assigned officers could not make it possible.
Sources further revealed that the Chief Collector-Appraisement-South Nasir Masroor Ahmed has called upon the authorities concerned in order to review the ongoing development in connection with the working on framing Customs Manual.
“The chief collector has asked the authorities concerned to ensure completion of work on formulation of “Customs Manual” in the near future, so that it would be implemented in the clearance of the consignments”, sources added.
