KARACHI:A shortage of officials seems to have become a favourite excuse for inefficiency in any department and section of the Pakistan Customs. The case is no different for the Directorate General of Post Clearance Audit, better known as PCA.
Established in October 2008 with the aim to develop a comprehensive monitoring mechanism to verify the correctness of trade-related declarations; detect and investigate commercial and trade-related frauds and propose measures to prevent its occurrence; assist the Federal Board of Revenue to evolve, develop and update systems, procedures and organizational structure meant to scrutinize, and ensure compliance of the trade with the national trade laws, procedures and controls; and to recover the escaped revenues, the PCA seems not delivering the promises it made.
Hailed as the “future of automated clearances requiring minimal dwell-time for customs”, PCA reels from a shortage of officials. Against the sanctioned strength of two, only one additional director is at its disposal. Though PCA has two deputy directors, one of them is on a long leave and the other is on training.
Moreover, though PCA requires three principal appraisers only one is working; against the requirement for 10 appraisers there are just two, one of whom is on leave.
PCA requires 10 auditors, but none is at its disposal. Similarly, PCA is provided with just two senior auditors, one of them is working in accounts section.
PCA posted its Detection of Duty and Taxation Evasion in Pakistan for the full year from July 2011 to June 2012. It also posted the same statistics for six months ended December 31, 2012 but there is no posting of the same after that.
Director Pervez Esphani was not available for comments despite several attempts.
