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Category: Pakistan Customs

  • Customs clearance suspended due to mysterious gas threat

    Customs clearance suspended due to mysterious gas threat

    KARACHI: Port activities and customs clearance were suspended on Monday as precautionary measures in the wake of mysterious toxic gas which claimed at least five lives.

    The unidentified leakage of poisonous gas claimed around five lives and around 100 were faint yester day. The authorities have so far unable to find out the root cause of the gas leakage.

    An official at Pakistan Customs said that the Custom House Karachi had been evacuated as precautionary measures as officials were facing breathing problems.

    “Not a single person at Custom House Karachi was faint,” said Syed Ifran Ali, senior customs official. “However, taking precautionary measures the Custom House has been evacuated,” he added.

    He said that customs clearing has also been suspended and main branch of National Bank at Custom House, Karachi was also closed.

    The official said that the port activities had also been suspended while taking precautionary measures.

    A day earlier leakage of poisonous gas from unknown place on Sunday killed at least four people and faint many others.

    Sources said that the location of gas leakage was still unknown. At first instance it was assumed that a shipped docked at the Karachi Port was main reason for gas leakage. However, port authorities rejected such claims saying no such ship was arrived at the port.

    Faisal Edhi of Edhi Foundation has confirmed four deaths due to the incidents. “Two bodies were at Ziauddin Hospital and other two were at Kutyana Memon Hospital,” he said.

    Faisal Edhi further said that the effected persons due to gas leakages were brought at the nearby hospitals of Kharadar and Kemari.

    Ali Zaidi, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, in a tweet message said that he was shocked on the casualties due to poisonous gas.

    “The incident was not occurred at the port. However, officials of Karachi Port Trust (KTP) have been sent to the location for the investigation,” he added.

    He requested everyone to refrain from making any comments on the media till the facts are not known.

  • DGRM authorized to manage risk involved in customs clearance

    DGRM authorized to manage risk involved in customs clearance

    KARACHI: Directorate General of Risk Management (DGRM) has been authorized to manage risk involved in customs clearance of containerized, LCL and bulk cargo.

    The FBR on Wednesday issued SRO 101(I)/2020 to amend Customs Rules, 2001. Through the SRO the FBR issued Risk Management System Rules.

    It said that the DGRM to manage risk involved in customs clearance of containerized, LCL and bulk cargo including but not limited to transit cargo, international passengers and accompanied and unaccompanied baggage thereof including clearances against carnet-de-passage/TIR.

    The DG has also been authorized to plan, design and implement strategies by applying accredited risk management tools and techniques specific to each transaction types relating to imports, exports and transit of goods and clearance of international passengers.

    The DG shall also monitor, evaluate and review Risk Management System based on changing national and international trends and feedback from stakeholders.

    According to the SRO, the DG shall examine clearance patterns of various sectors and commodities to identify, analyze and evaluate risks, develop mitigation strategies and present the same to Risk Management Committee (RMC) for approval and implementation.

    The DG shall responsible to develop system whereby different stakeholders’ compliance levels are determined. Compliant stakeholders are facilitated in the system, it added.

    The DG shall coordinate with Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation Customs (DG I&I) to get feedback in the structured format after completion of investigations of cases or studies undertaken by the DG I&I.

    The DG shall also coordinate with the Directorate General of Customs Valuation to develop checks and parameters for selection of cases requiring valuation scrutiny.

    It said that RMC shall be headed by a BS-21 officer of Customs preferably Director General RMS and shall comprise many BS-19 and BS-20 officers of Customs as may be notified by the FBR.

    According to the SRO, the meetings of RMC shall be convened at least once every month.

    The RMC shall perform the following key functions, namely:

    a. to review performance of the RMS;

    b. to review risk parameters and behavior of important risk indicators;

    c. to set benchmarks for interventions or interceptions focusing on targeting the risky consignments or entities; and

    d. to review major detections by the collectorates or directorates (I&)- Customs with respect to RMS.

  • FBR notifies transfer, postings of BS-20 Customs officers

    FBR notifies transfer, postings of BS-20 Customs officers

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday notified transfers and postings of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) officers in BS-20 with immediate effect and until further orders.

    Following officers have been transferred and posted:

    01. Abdul Qadir Memon (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, Collectorate of Customs, (Appeals), Karachi from the post of Chief, Federal Board of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad.

    02. Ms. Seema Raza Bokhari (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20), who is currently posted as Collector, Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad has been given look after charge of Collector, Model Customs Collectorate of Gilgit-Baltistan in addition to her own duties.

    03. Muhammad Junaid Jalil Khan (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, Collectorate of Customs, (Appeals), Islamabad from the post of Chief, Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

    04. Dr. Tahir Qureshi (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, Model Customs Collectorate, Gwadar from the post of Collector, Model Customs Collectorate, Gilgit-Baltistan.

    05. Muhammad Jamil Nasir Khan (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement and Facilitation (West), Karachi from the post of Chief, Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

    06. Imran Ahmad Ch. (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20) is currently posted as Director, Directorate of Post Clearance Audit(North), Islamabad. The officer will also look after the charge of Director, Directorate of Internal Audit-North (Customs), Islamabad.

    07. Ms. Azmat Tahira (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, Model Customs Collectorate (AIIA), Lahore from the post of Director, Directorate of Internal Audit-North (customs), Islamabad.

    08. Basit Maqsood Abbasi (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20 has been transferred and posted as Collector Model Customs Collectorate of Enforcement and Compliance, Lahore from the post of Collector, Model Customs Collectorate (AIIA), Lahore.

    The FBR said that the officers who are drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification shall continue to draw this allowance on the new place of posting.

  • FBR, Iranian customs sign agreement for electronic data exchange

    FBR, Iranian customs sign agreement for electronic data exchange

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Iranian Customs authorities on Monday signed an agreement for Electronic Exchange of Data.

    The signing ceremony was chaired by Member (Customs-Policy/Operation), FBR Muhammad Javed Ghani, and subsequently presided over by the acting Chairperson, FBR, Nausheen Javaid Amjad.

    The Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement was signed between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on March 04, 2004.

    In light of the said agreement, it was felt imperative by FBR to make progress on a number of important areas for protecting economic interests of Pakistan involved in bilateral trade between Iran and Pakistan.

    Under the agreement, it was decided to finalize of the MoU on Electronic Data Exchange between Pakistan Customs and Iran Customs.

    It was also emphasized to exchange values or documents on real time basis in case of the goods to be imported or exported and to roll-out a fully automated clearance system having advance information about goods and passengers at Taftan – Mirjaveh Border stations (as a pilot project) and at other border stations in a phased manner.

    To this effect, the Iranian customs authorities were approached and meetings were held on February 18-20, 2019 and October 16-17, 2019.

    In the last meeting, on October 16-17, 2019 milestones were achieved and consensus was developed on the areas as listed in above Para.

    In furtherance of the subject matter, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) nominated, the Director General of Information Technology Department Mrs. Haideh Bagheripour to come over to Pakistan for signing the MoU on behalf of her Customs Administration.

    While welcoming the distinguished guests from Iran Customs, the Chairperson, FBR, Nausheen Javaid Amjad stated that implementation of this MoU will have a number of benefits for both Iran Customs and Federal Board of Revenue such as availability of advance information about values, descriptions and quality of the goods to be imported into Pakistan from Iran and reduced costs on clearance of goods at the borders. Moreover, accurate valuation of the imported goods will lead to realization of greater revenues, she said.

    Member (Customs-Policy), Muhammad Javed Ghani, while speaking on the occasion, warmly welcomed the esteemed guests from Iran Customs on their visit to Pakistan.

    He said the proposed cooperation through the Memorandum of Understanding would go a long way in fostering a long-term relationship between both customs administrations and would enable them to successfully cope with the challenges that they were facing.

    According to him, implementation of this MoU would ensure optimum trade facilitation through quick examination /assessment of the imported goods and more transparency and lesser human interface.

    He assured Iran customs of full cooperation from Pakistan Customs on any area pertaining to mutual assistance and collaboration.

    Ambassador of Iran in Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, was also present on the occasion.
    He has conveyed felicitations to all the present officers of Federal Board of Revenue and appreciated both customs administrations for working untiringly to reach the consensus on the provisions of MoU and, finally, converging to sign it.

    He expressed his pleasure over the fact that there were a number of important areas wherein both customs administrations could work together in the best interests of Iran and Pakistan.

    After signing of MoU, the instrument was exchanged between relevant officers of Iran Customs and Federal Board of Revenue.

  • No claim of compensation against customs officials

    No claim of compensation against customs officials

    KARACHI: An owner of goods has not entitled for claiming compensation from customs officials for any damage done during lawful detention.

    Customs officials said that in case any consignment is detained lawfully and during detention any damage occurred to the goods unintentionally then the owner of goods cannot claim compensation for such damage.

    They said that Section 216 of Customs Act, 1969 explained as:

    Section 216: No compensation for loss or injury except on proof of neglect or willful act

    No owner of goods shall be entitled to claim from any officer of customs compensation for the loss of such goods or for damage done to them at any time while they remain or are lawfully detained in any custom-house, customs area, wharf or landing place under the charge of any officer of custom, unless it be proved that such loss or damage was occasioned by gross negligence or willful act of such officer.

    Section 214: Remission of duty and payment of compensation to the owner in certain cases

    Where, on prosecution by the owner of any goods, an officer of customs is convicted of an offence connected with the removal of such goods from the warehouse without payment of duty, the whole of the duty on such goods shall be remitted, and, the Collector of Customs, shall, in accordance with the rules, pay to the owner due compensation for the damage caused to the owner by such offence.

    Section 215: Service of order, decision, etc

    Any order or decision passed or any summons or notice issued under this Act shall be served-

    (a) by tendering the order, decision, summons or notice or sending it by registered post or the courier service or by any other mode of transmission subject to acknowledgement receipt to the person for whom it is intended or to his agent; or

    (b) if the order, decision, summons or notice cannot be served in any manner provided in clause (a), by affixing it on the notice board of the custom-house; or

    (c) in case of electronic orders, decisions, notices or summons, when these have been sent to the recipient from the Customs Computerized System.

  • Customs clearance of used cloth, shoes without banned

    Customs clearance of used cloth, shoes without banned

    KARACHI: The Central Health Department of the federal government has advised the customs authorities not to clear imported used cloths and used shoes without proper fumigation in the wake of coronavirus threat.

    The collectorates of Pakistan Customs have been informed through the fresh advisory on Saturday about the Pneumonia outbreak due to Novel CoronaVirus.

    According to the advisory, the customs stations have been asked that second hand clothings, used shoes and other worn articles should not be cleared without fumigation under the supervision of Port Health Establishment, Karachi till further orders.

    However, the department has no objection to clear other consignments.

    Earlier, on January 27, 2020 the Port Health Establishment in a letter to customs collectorates that cargo imported from affected areas in China should not be cleared without proper fumigation.

  • FBR reshuffles senior customs officers in BS-20-22

    FBR reshuffles senior customs officers in BS-20-22

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday reshuffled senior officers of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) and notified transfers and postings with immediate effect and until further orders.

    Notification of following officers has been issued:

    01. Javed Ghani (PCS/BS-22), who is currently Member (Customs Policy), FBR (HQ), Islamabad, has been assigned additional charge of Member Customs (Operations), FBR (HQ), Islamabad.

    02. Jawwad Uwais Agha (PCS/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Member FBR (HQ) Islamabad from the post of Member (Customs Operations),FBR (HQ) Islamabad.

    03. Muhammad Saleem (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, MCC (Appraisement), Peshawar from the post of Collector, MCC (Preventive), Multan.

    04. Khaleel Ibrahim Yuousfani (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector MCC (Preventive), Peshawar from the post of Collector, Collectorate of Customs (Appeals), Karachi.

    05. Muhammad Yaqoob Mako (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, MCC (Preventive) Quetta from the post of Collector, MCC, Gawadar. He will also look after the charge of the Collector MCC, Gawadar.

    06.Irfan-ur-Rehman (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector, MCC (Appraisement), Quetta from the post of Director, Directorate of Transit, Trade, Quetta. He will also look after the charge of Directorate of Transit Trade, Quetta

    07. Fayyaz Anwar (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Collector MCC (Preventive), Multan from the post of Director, Directorate of I&I Gawadar.

    08. Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh (PCS/BS-20), who is current posted as Collector, MCC (Export) Karachi. He will also look after the charge of MCC (Export) PMBQ, Karachi.

    09. Irfan Javed (PCS/BS-20), who is currently posted as Director, Directorate of I&I Karachi. He will also look after the charge of the post of Director, Directorate of I&I Gawadar.

    10. Asif Saeed Khan Lughmani (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Chief, FBR (HQ), Islamabad from the post of Collector MCC (Preventive) Peshawar.

    11. Ihsan Ali Shah (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Chief, FBR (HQ), Islamabad from the post of Collector, MCC (Appraisement), Peshawar.

    12. Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Chief, FBR (HQ), Islamabad from the post of Collector, MCC (Preventive), Quetta.

    13. Raza (PCS/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Chief, FBR (HQ), Islamabad from the post of Collector, MCC (Appraisement), Quetta.

    The FBR said that the officers who are drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification shall continue to draw this allowance on the new place of posting.

  • FBR chairman praises customs for working professionally

    FBR chairman praises customs for working professionally

    ISLAMABAD: Syed Shabbar Zaidi, Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has praised Pakistan Customs for working professionally and innovatively.

    He was addressing at an event to celebrate World Customs Day at Custom House, Islamabad.

    The chairman praised customs for working very professionally and innovatively and engaging the Customs administrations of the leading trade partners of Pakistan for social, economic, and environmental development and protection of Pakistan.

    He said that Pakistan Customs has achieved milestones in ensuring social, economic, and environmental development and safety for the people of Pakistan.

    He stated that, in addition to existing automated (WeBOC) system, Customs has initiated a project namely WeBOC-GLO and Pakistan Single Window for updating and modernizing the system keeping in lines with international best practices prevalent around the world for facilitating and securing trade.

    He stated that, in addition to these initiatives, Customs has implemented Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), Global Travelers Assessment System (GTAS). At the end of his speech, while felicitating the officers and officials of Pakistan Customs on this important occasion, he expected them to continue to strive for greater professionalism in line with international best practices and transform the organization into a business friendly, forward looking and a partner in the economic development of Pakistan.

    He emphasized that customs’ efficiency can be improved best with alignment of its operations with internationally recognized/recommended practices.

    He also underscored that customs’ role now is more of facilitation and regulatory.

    International Customs Day is celebrated by 183 Customs Administrations of the World on 26th January of every year under the auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO) that has chosen the theme “Customs fostering sustainability for People, Prosperity, and the Planet” for this year (i.e. 2020).

    The purpose being to urge upon the customs administrations world over to attach requisite priority to this theme and make practical arrangements to ensure tangible achievements in this regard.

    Member (Customs Policy), in his address to the officers and officials of Pakistan Customs, highlighted the milestones, especially during the last one year, in fostering sustainability for people (who represents society), for prosperity (which represents economic gains), and for the planet (which represent environment in Pakistan and the world).

    He referred to the enforcement tools like National Customs Enforcement Network (nCEN) which Pakistan Customs has installed.

    With nCEN, Pakistan Customs is included in the club of 35 customs administrations in the world,/ who are using nCEN and now Pakistan is the seventh country in the Asia-Pacific region where nCEN is operational.

    He further stated that, by streamlining its operations, Pakistan Customs has achieved a milestone in increasing its ranking by thirty one (31) positions in the ‘Trading across border’ Index.

    This has also significantly contributed to Pakistan’s improvement in East of Doing Business Index by twenty eight (28) positions.According to him, Pakistan Customs developed model Customs, Mutual Assistance Agreements and MoUs, which included all the required provisions to have cooperation from other/important customs administrations in this arena.

    To this effect, Pakistan Customs finalized the draft agreements and MoUs in consultation with all the ministries and departments in Pakistan and have sent the same for finalization (and signing) to USA, European Union (EU), Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Moreover, significant headway has been made regarding Green Corridor and other Customs initiatives with China.

    At the end of his speech, he congratulated the officers and officials of Pakistan Customs and the International community on the occasion of International Customs Day and hoped to work in close coordination with them to achieve the common objective of sustainable future where social, economic, and environmental needs are at the heart of viable actions.

    After the speeches, destruction ceremony was held wherein Chairman FBR, Syed Shabbar Zaidi and the Member Customs-Policy, Mr. Muhammad Javed Ghani inaugurated destruction of seized contraband goods and items by setting those on fire.

    International Customs Day was also attended by a big number of the Customs officers and officials, representatives of the industry/business community, and the media persons.

  • Dr. Hafeez asks Customs to focus on improving perception

    Dr. Hafeez asks Customs to focus on improving perception

    KARACHI: Pakistan Customs should prioritize perception of the organization as its name is attached with the country, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, said on Sunday on the occasion of International Customs Day.

    He said that the Customs had made great achievement. However, along with efficiency the perception is also important, he added.

    The advisor said that the customs authorities should ensure maximum facilitation to trade and business so they feel comfortable in paying duty and taxes.

    He said that the revenue collection was important and Custom had key role in it. He asked the customs authorities to ensure revenue collection in order to make Pakistan independent economically.

    Pakistan should make efforts for promoting business and tourism. He said that such service delivery should be adopted as per expectation of people inside Pakistan and coming from abroad.

    He assured the Pakistan Customs that government would provide all necessary support in terms of human resource and technology advancement.

    On the occasion, Dr. Agha Jawwad, Member Customs (Operation) said that around 182 countries of the world are celebrating the customs day.

    He said that as per slogan for this year the Customs had extended facilities to trade and business.

    He said that the customs had invoked provisions of Intellectual Property Rights and destroyed around Rs7-10 billion worth counterfeit and fake goods during last one year.

    Jawwad further said that Pakistan Customs had signed MoUs with 35 countries for exchange of information.

  • Pakistan Customs’ security, integrity at mercy of lappus

    Pakistan Customs’ security, integrity at mercy of lappus

    KARACHI: The sensitive data of Pakistan Customs and integrity of the department are totally at mercy of privately hired persons ‘lappus’ by Customs officers.

    These lappus are not only accessing sensitive data of Pakistan Customs but also doing all illegal work for their bosses, which is commonly known as ‘settlement’.

    The gravity of situation can be gauged with the recent example where a lappu auctioned of huge amount consignments where importer had paid duty and taxes.

    The customs authorities apprehended one person in the case, who was identified as lappu and was working and representing customs officers for the last five to six years.

    According to details a First Information Report (FIR) dated November 15, 2019 was lodged at Research and Development Department, Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement (East) Customs House, Karachi.

    The FIR was lodged by Shakeel John, Appraising Officer following a crime of removing goods from Shaheen Container Yard after an illegal auction of goods.

    The FIR nominated persons included: Muhammad Zaki; Adeel Ahmed; Meer Rizwan Ali; and concerned staff and management of M/s Pak Shaheen Container Yard.

    In the case three lots of consignments were auctioned valuing over Rs12 million on which importer had paid duty and taxes.

    The importer namely Abid Japanwala made strong protest on illegal auction by customs authorities and demand recovery of his consignments.

    The text of relevant paragraphs of reply submitted by Pak Shaheen to the FIR stated:

    “… an LCL cargo bearing IGM No. 402/18 consisting of 10 pallets STC Copper Foil weighing 6053kgs was imported on 21.08.2018 by M/s. Paramount Radiators and forwarded to Pak Shaheen Container Terminal for clearance by the freight forwarders i.e. Facilities Shipping Agency.

    “Since the cargo was not cleared within the prescribed time period as per Section 82 of the Customs Act, 1969, an auction lot number PS-216-10-18 was assigned to it and the customs was informed accordingly on October 15, 2018.

    “On November 11, 2019, the importer namely Abid Japanwala approached the Terminal and informed that his cargo has been cleared by the customs and requested for rebate in storage charges as his cargo remained at the terminal for more than a year incurring heavy amount of storage charges.

    “On receipt of such request from Japanwala the record of the terminal was checked and it was found that, as per record, the said cargo was auctioned by the Customs and on November 08, 2019 the delivery was made to the bidder Babar Saleem through his agent Mir Rizwan Ali.

    “When Abid Japanwala was informed about the auction of his cargo, he showed his out of charge GD to the Head of Commercial Naveed Nabi Khan and appeared to be shocked and stated that how can his cargo be auctioned when he deposited the Customs duty.

    “After seeing the out of Charge GD, Abid Japanwala was informed that as per customs rules no duty paid consignment can be auctioned and that he should take up his case with Collector (East) directly.

    “He was also given a complete set of auction/delivery documents to take up his case with the Collector (East).

    “We were later informed that the importer approached the Collector (East) along with the auction documents provided by the terminal as it was feared that some unscrupulous element managed to play fraud depriving the importer of his consignment and depriving the client of demurrage charges.”

    The reply further pointed out:

    “… On November 15, 2019, the Customs apprehended one Zaki who was working with the Customs staff at the terminal since last five to six years as customs assistant commonly known as ‘lappu’ and during all these years h ad attained the status of focal person of Customs and for all practical purposes he was representing the customs official.

    “On November 16, 2019, Akmal Durrani, Assistant Collector posted at Pak Shaheen Terminal, called the concerned staff of Customer Services and interrogated them and also took the video recording of November 08, 2019 in which Zaki can been seen taking subject document from his car.”

    The detailed reply by Pak Shaheen Terminal helped the terminal operator to clear its position in this fraud. This resulted that interim challan presented by the customs authorities at the Special Judge Customs and Taxation, Karachi dated December 02, 2019 the name of Pak Shaheen was excluded from the case.

    The revelation of Pak Shaheen in its reply is eye opener for Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other relevant authorities that how privately hired persons or lappus were authorized access to customs records.

    This is also surprising that how these unauthorized lappus getting entry to terminal yard.

    The presence of lappus in Pakistan Customs is not new. The lappus are working for long time in the department and conducting official works on behalf of senior customs officials.

    It is commonly known that the customs officers hire these people for their ‘speed money’.

    The lappus as agent create win win situation for both customs officers and importers at the cost of national revenue. As facilitators lappus get huge commission beside their fixed income set by the customs officers.

    These lappus have direct interaction with importers on those consignments where misdeclaration made. The customs officers are no where or have no direct links in such illegal activities.

    The dangerous aspect of presence of lappus is access to sensitive data of Pakistan Customs, which has also strategic importance.

    Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan pointed out massive corruption in Pakistan Customs. Although the prime minister quoted exaggerated amount but the instant case may be an example that how much the customs collectors are earning through illegal means.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued many warnings to field formations to avoid the presence of unauthorized persons working within their jurisdictions. But all in vain as presence of lappus are still in the key places of Pakistan Customs.

    FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi, in May 2019 soon after becoming chairman, while taking notice of presence of large number of visitors for making the entire clearance system doubtful, had ordered Customs Wing to strictly restrict, entry into Customs Houses, only to the concerned traders, their authorized representatives and members and relevant trade bodies/ associations.