KARACHI: The importers are still facing problems in the assessment procedure at Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Port Muhammad bin Qasim due to stubborn attitude of the appraisers, who are appointed for assessment of the consignments by the authorities concerned of the collectorate.
One of the importers on condition of anonymity informed Customs Today that one of the appraisers namely Muhammad Zubair treated the importers badly and harshly.
He said that appraiser Zubair openly stated that he was authorized to conduct assessment at his own wish and no one can intervene in his jurisdiction as he was the only king of assessment.
The importer further said that appraiser Zubair took long hours for assessment and assessed the goods as per his own rules and when the importers reached to him for addressing their grievances he stated that he had lots of work to do.
The importer further revealed that appraiser Zubair was also responsible for bank guarantee and auction, adding that assessment is additional charge which the authorities of the collectorate allotted him.
The importers’ community has appealed the authorities concerned of the MCC-Port Muhammad bin Qasim to depute/appoint honest and dutiful customs officials in assessment, so that their grievances could be addressed on time.
The importer was of the view that the stubborn behavior of the appraiser was not in favour of trade as he is the government employee and his duty is to serve the trade but not to misbehaving and insulting the importers.
To a query, the importer further said that a delegation of importers will soon meet with Collector MCC-Port Muhammad bin Qasim Surriya Ahmed Butt and register their complaints over the harsh behavior of appraiser Muhammad Zubair.