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Tag: KCAA

  • Customs agents express concerns over delay in grounding of containers

    Customs agents express concerns over delay in grounding of containers

    KARACHI: The Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) has expressed concerns over the delay in grounding of containers at Karachi International Container Terminal Ltd. (KICTL) and said it may result in choking of the terminal.

    In a letter sent to KICTL management on Tuesday, the KCAA pointed out the issue regarding delay in grounding of containers at the terminal.

    The KCAA has been informed by its members that they are facing unnecessary delays in clearance of their consignments within time from KICTL due to delay in grounding of containers marked for the examination.

    It has been observed that since last two to three weeks backlog of the containers is increasing day by day and still there is a backlog of 8 to 10 days.

    If the situation remains unresolved, there is no doubt that the terminal will be choked, due to this reason the trade will be affected very badly and will also bear heavy financial losses in shape of container detention and port demurrage charges, consequently the cost of doing business will increase.

    Furthermore, in view of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha holidays the impact of container backlog will increase significantly.

    It is pertinent to mention here that shortage of cargo handling equipments / machinery at KICTL is observed. While any new vessel is berthed all equipments / machinery are shifted towards for unloading of cargo from that vessel, thus the containers grounding process is delayed.

    The KCAA suggested that in order to facilitate the trade the grounding of containers should be on first priority and thereafter the process of unloading the cargo from vessel be carried out after completion of grounding work.

    Further, it is also observed that while the members are approaching to KICTL for deliveries of their consignments within the free days period but unfortunately, KICT staff informed that the container still remain on vessel so that they are unable to give the delivery, which is one the cause for delay and unnecessary demurrage being accumulated on the goods without fault of our members.

    “In this context, we have come to know through our reliable members that Free Days period is being calculated by the KICTL from the date of vessel berth whereas the free days must be started when the container is unloaded from the vessel,” the KCAA said.

  • Chief collector directs simplifying refund payment system

    Chief collector directs simplifying refund payment system

    KARACHI: Mrs. Surriya Ahmed Butt, Chief Collector of Appraisement (South) has issued directives to customs authorities to simplify refund payment system.

    The chief collector issued the directives in a meeting with members of Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA), a statement issued on Tuesday.

    At the meeting the customs agents pointed out that the traders were facing immense problems in obtaining refunds as authorities were processing their claims through manual system.

    They said that almost all the system of the customs clearance had been automated and urged the collector to make the refund payment through online system.

    The chief collector assured the customs agents for simplifying the refund payment system.

    The managing committee of KCAA headed by the President Mohammad Amin Essani and General Secretary Arshad Khurshid participated in the meeting.

    This high-level meeting was also attended by the Collector of Customs MCC-Appraisement (West) Wajid Ali, Collector of Customs MCC-Appraisement (East), Dr. Nadeem Memon, Collector of Customs MCC-(Port Qasim), Mumtaz Ali Khoso alongwith the Additional Collectors of Customs of MCC-Appraisement (East) & (West).

    While addressing the participants by the worthy Chief Collector South stated that collection of legitimate taxes in a friendly environment and Trade Facilitation is the main focus and top priority agenda of Pakistan Customs.

    She assured their cooperation in order to resolve the issues being faced by the trade on the spot by adopting Open Door Policy at Custom House.

    In the said meeting the following decisions were taken:

    Refund Process: It has been decided that refund process will be simplified.

    Dis-continuation of practice for manual hold by the terminal operators on auction goods released by the customs after payment of legitimate duty and taxes.

    Call Documents: In order to reduce dwell time the process for call documents will also be simplified.

    Review Submission Option: The Customs Authorities agreed that an option will be given to traders to opt for personal hearing directly before the concerned Deputy Collector instead of routed through PA. This will reduced the dwell time and allow timely clearance of goods.

    CRF procedure. As proposed by KCAA the On-Line CRF request will be introduced in the system with the consultation of Directorate of Reforms & Automation.

    Regarding Auto De-Blocking of IGM. De-blocking of IGM of late GDs filing should be done electronically.

    On-Line Verification of Pak China FTA. The authenticity of Pak-China FTA Certificate should be verified through Electronic Data Exchange (EDE).

    All the proposals / agenda were appreciated by the department and assure the implementation of the same for the betterment of trade facilitation.

    The meeting was concluded with a vote of thanks as the decisions taken were definitely reduce the cost of doing business.

    In the end of meeting Mohammad Amin Essani (President) and Arshad Khurshid (General Secretary) thanked and appreciated the prompt decisions taken by the Honorable Chief Collector South (Appraisement) and other Collectors for giving them their precious time for meeting and assure their full cooperation at any stage.

  • World Bank surveys customs clearance in Pakistan

    World Bank surveys customs clearance in Pakistan

    KARACHI: World Bank Group is conducting a survey regarding traders’ and customs agents’ views about the customs clearance process in Pakistan.

    Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) is facilitating the World Bank in this survey, said a circular issued by the association.

    This survey will be used to understand the relations between companies and Pakistan customs and will be one of the tools used to ultimately improve the business climate and facilitation of trade in Pakistan.

    The KCAA said that it would contact its members for the survey in order to take feedback on Pakistan’s trade network.

    The association said that the feedback would be important for enabling further improvement in the trade and customs experience in the country.

    The KCAA further said that in order to ensure anonymity and confidentiality, the World Bank had commissioned Gallup Pakistan, an independent market research organization, to carry out the study.

    “Gallup will be contacting you (members) in the next few weeks to arrange an in-person interview,” it said.

    “As per undertaking submitted by the World Bank Group all the information provided will be kept confidential and will only be used in aggregate form,” the KCAA assured the members.