LAHORE: Collector Customs Appraisement Umar Shafiq has said that the department’s main objective is to facilitate the business community and ensure transparency in the system.
Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), he stated that strict legal action is unavoidable in cases where clear misdeclaration and bad intent are proven.
Umar Shafiq said that cases of importers who submit correct and complete declarations will be given priority. He stated that efforts will be made to place them in the Green Channel so that clearance can be granted without examination.
He clarified that the only restriction in the self-clearance policy is that clearing agents are not allowed to use the importer’s user ID, as this practice can be risky for importers.
He said that delays in the examination process are unacceptable, and examiners have now been directed to record their observations in writing and not hold cases unnecessarily. He added that under this policy, examination and clearance time at Lahore Dry Port has been significantly reduced.
Regarding sampling, Umar Shafiq said that importers or their representatives have the right to ask about the reason, quantity and location of sampling and to receive a written receipt. He assured that Pakistan Customs will fully facilitate importers who conduct business honestly.
LCCI President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol said that direct coordination between the LCCI and Pakistan Customs is encouraging as it helps in resolving practical issues. He appreciated Pakistan Customs for the successful implementation of the faceless assessment system, saying that it has helped eliminate irregularities in valuation and practices such as speed money.
He said that the recent decision regarding self-clearance would negatively affect small and medium-sized importers in Lahore, as most SMEs do not have in-house customs experts. Therefore, he stressed that this decision should be reviewed.
The LCCI President also raised issues related to sampling procedures, value databases, changing product descriptions by examiners without consulting importers, lack of facilitation in the review process, restoration of suspended licenses of clearing agents, different HS codes being applied in different cities, FIRs related to assessment issues, delays in appraisal, and the need to allow corrections for minor typing errors.
