KARACHI: The Model Customs Collectorate Export has almost bypassed the Input Output Co-Efficient Organization (IOCO) which is aimed at determining input output ratios and wastages under the Duty and Tax Remission Export (DTRE), it is learnt.
Sources told Customs Today that the IOCO was established in the year 2000 and since then it was not authorized to do the prescribed job as laid down in the Customs Rules. Interestingly the MCC-Export has overpowered the IOCO since the day one.
Under the Customs Rules, sources informed that IOCO was authorized/assigned task to determine/fix/rationalize duty drawback rates, wastages and finalization of application under the DTRE Scheme, proper scrutiny of documents, examination or audit of commercial record.
However, the IOCO used to receive only four to five percent of the workload, while the 95 percent job is being done by the MCC-Export itself which is tantamount to bypassing the IOCO, sources added.
Sources said as per the FBR notification on the composition of the Directorate General of IOCO, a Grade-21 officer of Pakistan Customs shall head the organization as its Director General, Karachi. He would have all over Pakistan as area of territorial jurisdiction. Director of the Directorate of IOCO (Headquarters), Karachi would be a Grade-20 officer of Pakistan Customs and would look after headquarters function and coordination with all offices concerned.
The Directorate of IOCO-South would be governed by the Grade-20 officer and the jurisdiction of this directorate shall extend to IOCO matters relating to industrial units or registered persons under Sales Tax Act, 1990 located within the territorial limits of provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan, they elaborated.
The Directorate of IOCO-North would be governed by the Grade-20 officer also and the jurisdiction of this directorate shall extend to IOCO matters relating to industrial units or registered persons under Sales Tax Act, 1990 located within the territorial limits of provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan.
The director general would have the authority to depute as many additional directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, appraisers and other officers and staff required for the purpose of exercising powers and duties conferred and imposed under the Customs Act, 1969, they said.
Furthermore, sources claimed that the junior officers of non-cadre posts were holding charge of cadre posts at the MCC-Export.
“In years 2012 to 2014, the then Director IOCO Fateh Muhammad Shaikh had taken up the matter with the higher authorities for conferment of powers and authorizing IOCO to perform its duties, however, he failed to do so and was finally transferred”, sources disclosed.
The sources further said that the officers of Inland Revenue were having grip on the lucrative posts at the MCC-Export who did not wish to allow the IOCO to perform.
