ISLAMABAD: The Model Customs Collectorate, Sialkot has taken special measures in automation, anti-smuggling and pendency of export rebate, besides beefing up preventive measures at Sialkot International Airport to curtail smuggling.
In a special interview with Customs Today, Sialkot Customs Collector Ahmed Reza has stated that in line with directions provided by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), regarding smuggling of foreign origin currency and gold, vigilance at the airport has been enhanced.
He said that staff has been rearranged to enhance strength, especially in flights headed for Dubai and Sharjah. On the instructions of FBR, additional collector of customs has been deputed to oversee passenger clearance so as to create a fine balance between enforcement and passenger facilitation.
He further said that enhanced vigil and strength is expected to avert covert attempts of smuggling currency and gold. He disclosed that the staff of ASO, Sialkot Customs under my special directions managed to detect smuggling attempts ranging from smuggled cellular phones to Indian origin goods smuggled in from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).
The ASO staff managed to impound a truck loaded with Indian origin garments and a truck loaded with Indian origin herbs, being smuggled between AJK and Lahore, valued at some Rs 8 million, the collector said.
He further told about the other developments that he deputed Assistant Collector Fahad Bashir to pursue development of Web Based One Customs (WeBOC) module for LCL TP export cargo. In this regard, a meeting was held between officials of Directorate of Reforms and Automation and Sialkot Customs in Karachi on November 21 and 22, 2016, he informed, adding that it was decided that bonded conveyances with fixed boxes registered to Sialkot Dry Port Trust (SDPT) would be accommodated in WeBOC system, keeping in view small volume of cargo moving from the dry port to Karachi and various ports for export.
This would mitigate hardships faced by exporters from Sialkot who mostly fall in the SME sector. Moreover, it was decided that a comprehensive system be devised to accommodate demands of other up country dry ports after consultation with quarters concerned.
He said the long standing issue of reconciliation of temporarily imported materials cleared through WeBOC and exported through One Customs also came into consideration. It was conveyed that once export cargo TP LCL module comes online, up country collectorates would be provided with a reconciliation module in WeBOC that would cater for cargo exported in One Customs, he added.
On the issue of rebate pendency, the collector explained the financial limitations of the government were very limited and he also stressed upon the commitment of the government for enhancing and accelerating exports from Pakistan.
He said, “We also committed that the matter would be taken up with FBR authorities for enhancing support to help mitigate the financial stress faced by the all export sectors”. “My doors are open for all trade bodies and other associations”.
It is our commitment that regular and periodic meetings between the collectorate and associations could be of great value in enhancing direct communication of officers with the traders, besides resolving issues of pressing nature, he said, adding that the collectorate was well aware of the problems and challenges faced by the exporters of Sialkot for example the lower rate of rebate for leather gloves etc.
