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  • KCAA appreciates customs clearance during Eid Holidays

    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.

  • Mismanagement causes financial losses to traders

    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.

  • FBR chairman assures customs agents of expeditious consignment clearance

    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.

  • Customs agents express concern over delay in consignment clearance

    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.

  • SBP assures no limit to e-payment for duty, taxes

    SBP assures no limit to e-payment for duty, taxes

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has assured that there will be no limit to electronic payment for duty and taxes.

    The SBP assured this at a meeting with office bearers of Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA), a statement said on Monday.

    The KCAA said that from January 20, 2021 the collection of custom duties and taxes of more than one million rupees will be collected through e-payment. The e-payment system shall provide round the clock facility to the taxpayers for their payments.

    It said that on the request of KCAA, a comprehensive joint meeting has been conducted by the SBP through video link on Zoom Cloud headed by the Director Finance Department of State Bank of Pakistan and attended by more than 60 Regional Heads of all designated Banks and KCAA’s delegation was held on January 07, 2021 at 3:00 PM, wherein the issues pertaining to banking sectors were discussed.

    In order to facilitate the trade and taxpayers the following decisions were taken by the competent authorities of SBP in the said meeting.

    It was decided that for the payment of Custom Duties and Taxes, any amount can be paid through cheque in any branch of same bank alongwith PSID instead of following the process for issuance of Pay Order.

    However in case any variation, the excess/additional amount of taxes will be collected through cash or in case the taxes amount is less than of the cheque amount, the excess amount will be deposited in the account of taxpayers just like PD Account.

    The KCAA highlighted that few banks have different limits for account holders and they do not allow payment of duty and taxes of more than their assigned / authorized limits through the module of e-payment.

    It was agreed by the State Bank of Pakistan that no capping /limit will be fixed in future, the taxpayers and stakeholders can paid their customs duties and taxes without having any limits.

    KCAA also pointed out that Corporate Customers do not have ATM Cards, Mobile Apps and Internet Banking, hence they are unable to pay On-Line payment for duty and taxes. Particularly the corporate sector does not even have access for On-Line Banking and they have to make payments through conventional method of submitting pay orders or cheques.

    Corporate Sector who are willing to make e-payment for duty and taxes should have 24 / 7 module for facilitation of payments. In this regard it was decided by the SBP that in near future all such facilities will be provided to the corporate sectors. Few Bank like Standard Chartered, Samba Bank etc already providing net Banking to corporate sectors

    It has been observed that while custom duties and taxes paid through E-Payment the acknowledgement of payment challan are delayed for 2 to 3 days.

    Now the matter has been resolved, the acknowledgment payment challan will be generated on real time basis.

  • FBR urged immediate measures for speedy customs clearance

    FBR urged immediate measures for speedy customs clearance

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been asked to take immediate measures for speedy cargo clearance and avoid losses to trade and industry. Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Wednesday raised difficulties of the trade and industry due to rising dwell time of cargoes at terminals.

    The association said in a statement expressed concerns over the alarming situation of delays in clearance of cargos of import and exports at all the terminals.

    The terminals are taking extra time for grounding of containers and arranging the cargo for the examination that is causing an increase in the cost of doing business in the shape of heavy container detention charges and port storage/demurrage which are being charged in US Dollar and the same amount is remitting by the terminal operators and shipping companies to their principal offices.

    The KCAA further informed that dwell time was also increasing due to shortage of handling equipment, skilled labor and even terminal tariffs were different.

    The association said that theft, pilferage and damage cases are being reported regularly inside the premises of terminals / off-dock terminals, as there is no proper mechanism to compensate the trade in case of any loss.

    All terminals are licensed to facilitate the trade under terminal rules specified in Licensing Rule, 2001 promulgated through SRO 450(I)/2001 are not being complied in its true spirit, which is causing hardship in the cargo clearance.

    The association also informed the FBR that difficulties faced by the trade were discussed with terminal operators on various occasions but no fruitful results had been achieved.

  • Customs agents take measures for trade facilitation amid coronavirus lockdown

    Customs agents take measures for trade facilitation amid coronavirus lockdown

    KARACHI: Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) has taken various measures to facilitate trade during ongoing lockdown related to prevent spread of coronavirus. The managing committee of the KCAA has taken several measures for the redressal of grievances being faced by the members.

    (more…)
  • Hapag Lloyd revises requirement of NTN for Pakistan imports

    Hapag Lloyd revises requirement of NTN for Pakistan imports

    KARACHI: Hapag Lloyd has revised its announcement and now requirement of National Tax Number (NTN) of Pakistani importers is not mandatory any more, according an official memorandum of Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA).

    According to the official memorandum, the KCAA informed its members that in the previous announcement by the Hapag Lloyd regarding mandatory requirement of NTN of importer on Import Bill of Lading.

    KCAA initiated immediate action and approached the Competent Authority of MCC-Preventive and concerned Shipping Association i.e. PSAA and APSA.

    “Due to efforts of KCAA, the Hapag Lloyd has revised the announcement on their website and the requirement of NTN of importer is not mandatory anymore,” it said.

    Since only Container Ownership NTN field is appearing in the Pakistan Customs online system hence only Container Ownership NTN is required.

    Hapag Lloyd has updated the mandatory requirement for bills of lading to Pakistan.

    As per our previous announcement related to Pakistan Customs advisement of the required Importer National Tax Number (NTN), we understand that only Container Ownership NTN field is appearing in the Pakistan Customs online system and there is no field added related to Importer NTN.

    Therefore, only Shipper Own Container, SOC, unit NTN and Tariff for local charges, free time and detention tariff on the bill of lading will be implemented at this time.

    Once we receive notification that Pakistan Customs is ready for the Importers NTN, we will keep you updated accordingly.

    Presently, following two requirements of import bills of lading are implemented for Pakistan.

    1) Mandatory requirement to update Container Ownership NTN # (National Tax Number) on Bill of Lading for Shipper Own Container, SOC, units effective January 15, 2020.

    According to Pakistan Customs, all Carriers are bound to file Customs manifest including Container Ownership NTN# for Carrier Own Container and SOC units for each shipment.

    The Consignee NTN number is to be updated on the Bill of Lading which is released by origin office for SOC unit.

    All customers are requested to please provide your local importer NTN number along with the importer name and address while submitting the SI (Shipping Instructions) for SOC units.

    Pakistan Customs will not accept the manifest if the NTN number is missing.

    As per Customs rule, a non-manifested unit is not allowed to discharge at Pakistan and will remain on board at customer’s risk, cost and responsibility.

    2) Publication of Tariff on Bill of Lading Related to Local Charges / Free Time / Detention Tariff

    Effective immediately, according to Pakistan Customs Rules 2001 amended in Responsibilities of Licensee for imports into Pakistan, the Carrier is to update all local collect charges other than freight on the Bill of Lading itself. The Carrier must also state on the Bill of Lading the agreed free days and detention tariff per container.

    All shipments which will be discharged in Pakistan for clearance or in transit to Afghanistan, must reflect the required charges details.”

  • KCAA’s new office bearers, MC members assume charge

    KCAA’s new office bearers, MC members assume charge

    KARACHI: The newly elected unopposed office bearers and members of Managing Committee (MC) of Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) for the term 2019-2020 have assumed the charge of the association in its 12th Annual General Body Meeting held on Monday, September 30, 2019.

    The list of the newly inducted Office Bearers and Members Managing Committee is as follows:

    Office Bearers:

    Yahya Mohammad, President

    Mahmood ul Hasan Awan, Senior Vice President

    Rashid Khurshid, Vice President

    Mirza Ather Baig, Vice President

    Akhter Ali Sherwani Vice President

    Tariq Rasheed Khan, Vice President

    Sheikh Waqas Anjum, Vice President

    Gulzar Shah, Vice President

    Mohammad Aamir, General Secretary

    Zahid Bashir Choudhry, Joint Secretary

    Khawaja Zeeshan lqbal, Information Secretary

    Rana Zahid Farooq, Finance Secretary

    Members managing committee:

    Amir Butt

    Faraz Ahmed Tanoli

    Fida Hussain Tanoli

    Junaid Mqhmood

    Mirza Abdul Hannan Baig

    Moez Tahir Sheikh

    Mohammad Asif

    Mohammad Basharat

    Muhammad Bashir

    Mohammad Naeem Malik

    Mohammad Naveed Bashir

    Mohammad Sohail

    Mohammad Yousuf Akhund

    Rizwan Ali

    Sajid Hussain

    Sohail Siddiq

    Taha Hussain Khan

    Tariq Mehmood

  • KCAA urges shipping companies to observe normal working day on Saturday

    KCAA urges shipping companies to observe normal working day on Saturday

    KARACHI: Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Thursday urged the shipping companies to remain open on Saturday August 17 in order to facilitate trade after week-long holidays.

    Arshad Khurshid, General Secretary, KCAA said that after week-long holidays due to Eid and weekly holidays since last Saturday many vessels had been arrived. Besides large number of containers has been accumulated at the ports, he added.

    “Most of the companies observe holiday on Saturday or some of those observe half-day working,” he said, adding that it is quite difficult for traders and customs agents to get deliver order in very short time working on Friday.

    He urged minister ports and shipping to issue directives that all shipping companies should remain open and observe normal working day on Saturday to facilitate the trade and to dispose off the workload accumulated during the holidays.

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