Karachi, August 16, 2023 – The Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) has reported a disruption in the tax return filing process as the official portal of the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) remains inaccessible due to ongoing upgrades and maintenance.
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KCAA’s managing committee assumes charge in 15th AGM
KARACHI: The newly elected (unopposed) managing committee of Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Wednesday assumed the charge at 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The list of the newly inducted Office Bearers and Members Managing Committee is as follows:
Office Bearers:
01. Nadeem Kamil (President)
02. Gulzar Shah Meshwani (S. Vice President)
03. Akhter Ali Sherwani (Vice President)
04. Hasan Sheikh Vohra (Vice President)
05. Rana Zahid Farooq (Vice President)
06. Sh. Muddasir Rafiq Magoon (Vice President)
07. Zahid Sharif (Vice President)
08. Zahid Tanveer (Vice President)
09. Zqhid Bashir Chaudhry (General Secretary)
10.0Junaid Mahmood (Joint Secretary)
11. Mirza Muhammad Shariq (Information Secretary)
12. Muhammad Munaf Jangda (Finance Secretary)
Member Managing Committee:
13. Abid Hussain Choudhry
14. Ashhad Jamal
15. Danish Riaz
16. Faraz Ahmed Tanoli
17. Hassan Shams Dar
18 Islah Ali Ansari
19. Malik Muhammad Shabbir
20. Muhammad Abdul Mateen
21. Muhammad Bilal Ahmed
22. Muhammad Mansha
23. Muhammad Mansoor Bhagwani
24. Muhammad Mubashir Hussain
25. Muhammad Rizwan Meer
26. Noor Ali
27. Raheel Gohar
28. Rana Tonveer Hussain
29. Syed Faisal Kamran Kamal
30. Tariq Mehmood Malik
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FBR assures Customs agents of resolving issues
Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), assured a delegation of customs agents of resolving pertinent issues related to imports and exports.
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Direct submission of documents at WeBOC allowed
KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has taken major steps for trade facilitation and allowed submission of documents at WeBOC without prior approval of Assistant Collector (AC)/ Deputy Collector (DC).
Saif Ullah Khan, President, Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) welcomed the step taken by the Pakistan Customs and said it would reduce dwell time for consignment clearance.
He appreciated efforts of the Chief Collector South (Appraisement) Wajid Ali who had initiated the pre-arrival clearance process and simultaneously promoted the re-engineering of various steps of the clearance process that has improved the working environment.
One such improvisation is the direct dissemination of the document calling message without the approval of AC/DC group. Usually the traders had to wait for the approval of document calling message by the concerned AC/DC before they can attach the documents in the Weboc system.
This outstanding stride by the Chief Collector South in collaboration with Directorate of Reforms and Automation will enable the traders to receive the document calling message for any particular goods declaration without the need for AC/DC to approve it hence subsequently expediting the clearance of cargo, he added.
Regarding Refund Management System, the following changes also made by the Customs Authorities under Weboc system.
KCAA General Secretary Arshad Khurshid also appreciates the interest shown by the Chief Collector South (Appraisement) that has really benefited to overcome the challenges faced by business community.
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Pakistan Single Window to reduce time, cost, complexity
KARACHI: Naveed Abbas Memon, Chief Domain officer of Pakistan Single Window (PSW) has said that PSW portal will enable traders to reduce time, cost, and complexity in cross-border trade.
While addressing an awareness seminar at Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Monday he said it will also improve the quality of experience for all stakeholders with a primary focus on ease of doing business.
The officer said PSW will also support other government agencies in adopting an Integrated Risk Management approach for efficient enforcement of trade-related controls.
He also informed that the implementation of PSW will enable Pakistan to achieve compliance with WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement besides helping our country to unlock its potential in becoming a hub for trade.
President KCAA Saif Ullah Khan said that it is an honor to host the PSW representatives of the highest level who are leading a mega transformation through PSW based on the approach of trade facilitation.
He further said that PSW will promote ease of doing business by maintaining collaboration with 74 different public sector entities involved in the regulation of cross-border trade of Pakistan.
While addressing, the General Secretary Mr. Arshad Khurshid appreciated the implementation of true automation under the PSW portal, he stated that Pakistan Customs initiated the implementation of automation in business through risk management systems by launching the Pakistan Customs Computerized System (PACCS) in the year 2005 which was greatly appreciated by the trade of Pakistan.
Now a big change is being introduced for a second time by the Government and Pakistan Customs in the shape of PSW.
This new system will digitize the processes related to importers, exporters, customs house agents, freight forwarders, shipping companies, transporters while ensuring the reduced cost of doing business with compliance of laws and regulations.
KCAA Office Bearers also assured their full support and cooperation for the implementation of automation in true spirit.
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Biometric verification for PSW inaugurated at KCAA
The introduction of biometric verification for registration on the PSW portal marks a significant milestone in streamlining customs procedures and improving the overall experience for traders.
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KCAA appreciates customs clearance during Eid Holidays
KARACHI: Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) has appreciated the measures taken by the tax authorities for smooth customs clearance during Eid holidays.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the KCAA stated that the customs field formations at Karachi Ports observed normal working hours on May 8 h 2021 and remained open on 10th and 11th May in order to facilitate the trade and industry. During remaining Eid Holidays, from May 12th to 15 h May, special teams have been constituted to facilitate the import cargo.
As a result of the measures taken by the customs at the Karachi Ports, clearance of the cargo remained smooth including the food items, pharmaceutical goods and industrial raw materials.
Trade bodies engaged in clearance of import consignments have appreciated the measures taken by the FBR and Customs and the positive impact of such decisions on economy during Eid holidays and Covid-19.
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Mismanagement causes financial losses to traders
KARACHI: Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Monday said that mismanagement by container terminal and shipping line caused non-clearance and huge financial losses to importers.
Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) in a statement said that traders (Importers) are facing loss of millions of rupees due to non-clearance of 73 import consignments because of mismanagement of Pakistan International Containers Terminal Ltd and Shipping Company/Agent M/s. Sharaf Shipping Agency (Pvt) Ltd.
According to Import General Manifest (IGM) 90/2021, the vessel Segara Mas V-2100W had to berth at PICT on 24th February 2021 but amazingly PICT by claiming non availability of space turned the vessel towards SAPT, whereas 73 GDs had already been filed by the traders and paid duties and taxes worth million of rupees accordingly.
Upon berthing at South Asia Pakistan Terminal Ltd (SAPT) another IGM 101/2021 was lodged by the shipping agent due to which 73 consignments have not been cleared yet. In this regard the General Secretary Mr. Mehmood ul Hasan Awan informed that the shipping company was well aware that 73 index of VIR 90/2021 has been claimed vide Goods Declaration filed by the traders & customs agents.
In these circumstances, the shipping company should discharge cargo / containers of 73 claimed Index at PICT and all other consignments should be discharged at SAPT if it was necessary. M/s. Sharaf Shipping Agency in collaboration with PICT deliberately shifted vessel to SAPT to get additional cost from the traders on account of demurrage and container detention charges.
The management of Pakistan International Containers also illegally keeps consignments outside its Bonded Area and do not provide facilities to examine the consignment to facilitate trade.
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FBR chairman assures customs agents of expeditious consignment clearance
KARACHI: Mohammad Javed Ghani, Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday assured the customs clearing agents of expeditious consignment clearance by deputing additional staff at the customs station.
Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) in a statement said that in order to resolve certain issues relating to exports and imports the delegation of the association led by its President Wasiq Hussain Khan, General Secretary Mehmood ul Hasan Awan, Former President and Chief Coordinator Export Mohammad Amin Essani and Former General Secretary Arshad Khurshid held a meeting with the FBR Chairman Mohammad Javed Ghani at Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) Karachi.
This meeting was also attended by the honorable Chief Collector South (Appraisement & Facilitation) Madam Surriya Ahmed Butt and Chief Collector South (Enforcement & Compliance) Dr. Saifuddin Junejo, wherein the agenda points submitted by the KCAA was discussed in details.
The FBR Chairman gave a very patient hearing to the problems being faced by the Customs Agents. The delegation of Karachi Customs Agents Association is very much appreciated of the sympathetic attitude of the Chairman FBR.
He issued instructions with regards to the agenda points as highlighted by KCAA, which are as under:
Shortage of Staff. It was assured that sufficient number of staff will be deputed by the FBR at all Collectorate in order to avoid delay in the clearance of import and export consignments.
In order to avoid long delay in the process of contravention with regard to the export shipments. The Chairman FBR instructed to expedite the process of contravention meanwhile the adjudication of exports shipment would be finalized within the Export Collectorate instead of forwarding to Adjudication Collectorate.
Formation of Joint Committees: Upon request of KCAA, the Honorable Chairman approved that under the supervision of Chief Collectors joint committees should be formed comprising of Customs Officials including two representatives of Karachi Customs Agents Association respectively in each committee, in order to address issues being faced by the trade.
It was also decided that once a month meeting of the said joint committees will be arranged by the collectorate.
Regarding blocking of Customs Agents Licenses, the worthy Chairman directed to the concerned quarter that matter should be reviewed in the meeting of joint committee on merit, in order to avoid unnecessary blocking of customs agent’s license until and unless the customs agents proved guilty after final decision by the concerned authorities.
KCAA grateful for the positive attitude and certainly appreciate for the prompt decisions taken by the worthy Chairman FBR for the betterment of our beloved country’s economy.
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Customs agents express concern over delay in consignment clearance
KARACHI: Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) has expressed concerns over delay in consignment clearance due to shortage of customs officials.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association said that it had already informed the customs collectorates regarding the alarming situation that has been created due to shortage of staff for clearance of consignments at custom stations i.e. Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement & Facilitation of East, West, AFU Port Qasim and Exports.
Unnecessary delay of several days is being faced by the trade in the clearance of their consignments incurring additional cost to traders.
KCAA highlighted the following issues:
• The appraisement staff is quite busy attending file work, PRV, AIB, RND, Audit, FTO, Tribunal and hearings in the Court of Law on regular basis.
• Most of the Goods declarations remain in queue for two to three days before being assigned to the appropriate officers i.e. A/O if the same goods declaration mark to examination.
• Thereafter it takes more two to three days for grounding and examination.
• After examination it takes further two to three days for the Good declaration to be opened by the assessment officer.
• There is only one examiner posted for examination at all three sheds at Air Freight Unit causing severe delays for clearance of by air consignments which are often urgent in nature.
• Dilemma is that the concerned AC/DC are over burden by multiple charges and are busy with file work i.e. board’s issues, audit and recovery etc. and unable to pay their full attention towards the group monitoring and hearing.
The association pointed out that in this current era of devaluation of our currency most of the items being imported are raw materials that are imported by the industries for subsequent exportation after processing.
If the current situation of shortage of staff is not dealt with it may results in loss of export orders, foreign exchange and may bring dreadful repute to our country in the international market.
It suggested that the powers of Section 203 of Customs Act 1969 and increase the free period time for import consignments because due to late completion of goods declaration traders are suffering unnecessary heavy losses in terms of shipping line container detention & port demurrage charges while the same amount is being remitted by the terminal operators and shipping companies to their principal foreign offices in shape of foreign exchange.
The association urged the prime minister and FBR chairman to issue necessary instruction to depute sufficient number of staff at all collectorate.
The association also suggested a separate dedicated Law Department may be established and the staff posted therein be assigned to attend the hearings of the cases and other court related matters.