KARACHI: Director General of the Customs Valuation Syed Tanvir Ahmed has brought many improvements within the Valuation Department which is playing a vital role in protecting local industry, boosting trade and increasing earning of the national exchequer.
The Director General Customs Valuation showed his satisfaction by determining the customs valuation of the imported goods, as the Valuation Department is playing a vital role in boosting trade and earning national exchequer for the country.
Syed Tanvir Ahmed expressed these views while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today at his office. During this interview, DG Customs Valuation Ahmed revealed that the Customs Valuation Department, with the consultation of the authorities of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), including FBR Chairman Nisar Mohammad Khan and Member Customs Nasir Masroor Ahmed has decided to introduce a “new database” just for the guideline of the importers. He added that the database would also decides the values of the imported goods in future. The new database will not only be a milestone for the Valuation Development but will also help in early valuation of the goods in a proper way. The work on the database is in final stage to be launched very soon.
The Director General- Customs Valuation Department Syed Tanvir Ahmed further said that the authorities concerned would also activate an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in two to three weeks for the ease of the importers and trade bodies. It will help to reduce the load of work and will provide the details of the need on just a finger tip. The Valuation Development taking keen interest for resolving different issues including the early response by the stakeholders.
Responding to a query, the DG Customs Valuation informed that the department is willing to streamline the system and to ensure convenience to the importers in order to get best possible Customs values of the imported goods. Not only branded but the local manufacturer will be in a one row with regards to the valuation of the their goods and the local manufacturer with be given blanket of satisfaction as well as their goods will be according to the international market that will help in boosting revenue.
In this regard, the DG Customs Valuation Syed Tanvir Ahmed also informed Customs Today that the department has also held several meetings with the traders and importers and asked them to submit their proposals for the betterment of the system, but unfortunately, very few of them took interest into the entire procedure but the goal set by him will be achieved at any cost.
As far as the determination of the customs values of any item, the Director General Customs Valuation said that values of many items are linked with the “London Metal Exchange”, adding that the Customs Valuation department has already fixed the values of more than 400 items by issuance of valuation rulings in this regard.
The DG Valuation further said that the valuation rulings of around 80 percent items have been issued by the department adding that 20 to 25 percent items are being left and the valuation of those items would also be determined according to the international market taking all stakeholders in confidence.
The DG Customs Valuation further said that it was certainly a lengthy procedure of determining the customs value of any item, as before doing this, the Customs authorities concerned are applying “work-back method”, contacting the stakeholders, fix meetings, serve notices, scan data after collecting it and then decide values of the imported items. Whereas the court has already order for the getting valuation of the goods after three months.
Replying to another query, the DG Customs Valuation said that the valuation of garments was last fixed in the year 2012, the authorities concerned of the department found that the valuation of the garments fixed by the previous staff was low. Subsequently, the department was taking notice of that lowered valuation of garments and called the stakeholder, held meetings and increased the valuation ruling of garments with the consultation of the stakeholders.
The author of the four valuable book expressed satisfaction over the performance of the department saying that the officers are striving hard to set values of the imported items after completing all formalities and keeping the best interest of the country.
