KARACHI: The Customs Collector Appraisement West is taking step to make the clearance procedure further simpler and directed the authorities concerned to stop unnecessary marking of examination and calling documents at assessment stage of imported vehicles.
The collector issued these directives after a meeting with Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA). The collector agreed to revive the status of examination-free import of vehicles up to 1800cc covered under SRO.577(I)/2005 dt.6-6-2005 as per previous practice and as per Public Notice No. 31/2005 dt. 17-12-2005, as pointed out by the KCAA representatives.
Customs authorities were marking all the imported vehicles up to 1800cc for examination after the launch of online clearance system (WeBOC), about one and a half years ago. The examination of vehicles was causing unnecessary hardship for clearing agents; as such vehicles were being cleared on the clearing agents’ profile. Earlier, in the manual system as per Customs order, the vehicles were exempted from examination. The collector had assured to take up the matter with WeBOC project team and revive the status of exemption-free examination.
On the issue of suspending customs agents licenses on the basis of short payment made by importers, the collector assured that necessary compliance would be ensured before taking any penal action.
The collector Appraisement West also gave nodded to goods declarations which are directly marked at the level of Assistant/Deputy Collector for approval of Bank Guarantee, Securities or assessment may be finalised without physical appearance of custom agents.
During the meeting, KCAA inform the collector that during peak hours i.e. 10:00am to 01:00pm the AC/DC calling the assessment officers for discussion purpose, causing delay. In this regard the collectorate assured that no Assessment officer will be called by AC/DC during the peak hours.
