KARACHI: The officials concerned of the field formation collectorates, including Appraisement-West, Appraisement-East and MCC-Port Qasim, have decided to work jointly on reviewing the valuation rulings of some specific items in order to curb smuggling of those items and to surge the import of the country.
Sources informed Customs Today that Appraisement-West Collector Muhammad Saleem has directed the authorities concerned of the collectorate to start working on the said project.
The sources confirmed that the authorities concerned of all three field formation collectorates would start working on the said project collectively after announcement of Budget 2015-16.
They further informed this scribe that the authorities concerned of field formation collectorates would request the Directorate of Customs Valuation to review the values and custom duty (CD) of some particular items in order to curb smuggling of those items.
Replying to a query, sources further said that the authorities concerned of filed formation collectorates would first scrutinise import data collectively and then ask the Customs Valuation Department to review those values proposed by the field formation collectorates.
“The top-most priority of customs authorities is to curb under-invoicing and smuggling of imported items, as they have already caused colossal loss to the national kitty,” sources added.
The sources further said that the authorities concerned of field formation collectorates would decide the parameters in this regard after the Budget 2015-16 and comprehensive shape would be given to the suggestions presented by those authorities of field formation collectorates.
“All field formation collectorates would become part of the said exercise as the customs authorities would attempt to implement such proposals under Section 25-A of the Customs Act, 1969,” sources added.
When contacted, Appraisement-West Collector Muhammad Saleem confirmed that the customs authorities have decided to review the customs values and duty on import of items in order to promote and subsequently increase legal trade.
