ISLAMABAD: The Exports Rebate Claim Section has been unable to process 16,000 rebate claims till the first quarter of financial year 2017-18. Most of the cases have been pending for the last four years.
The shortage of staff is stated to be the main cause of delay. The Treasury Branch is also responsible for delay in approving cheques here at the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad.
Additional Collector Nelofer Shahzad of the Air Freight Unit (AFU) refused to give her point of view on the above said issue when correspondent contacted her. The sources told Customs Today that the Rebate Refund Claim staff, working at the MCC Samberial and MCC Lahore and other Customs stations, takes three or four months to clear refunds claims.
During the month of August FY17-18, the Rebate Section sanctioned 363 rebate claims worth Rs30.00million while 16,792 cases of rebate claims are still pending that valued at Rs656.58million from April to August FY17-18.
During August FY16-17, the Rebate Section Islamabad sanctioned 687 cases of rebate refunds worth Rs33.44million while pending rebate claims were 10,070 that valued at Rs402.98million till said period.