KARACHI: A 28-member delegation of All Pakistan Customs Agents Association called on Chairman FBR, Tariq Bajwa, in Islamabad on Friday and apprised him of the issues and problems facing Customs agents.
The delegation was led by Shams Burney Chairman of the Association, Senior vice Chairman South, Arshad Jamal, Senior vice Chairman North Mohammad Amjad Chaudry, Vice Chairman Import Haji Asif, Vice Chairman Export Qamarul Islam, Vice Chairman Afghan Qazi zahid, Vice Chairman Rawaloindi Aqeel Ahmed Rana, Vice Chairman Peshawar Zia Sarhadi and executive members including Arooj Ahmed Ansari, Mohammad Boota, Hameeduillah, Wasiq Hussain and others.
Shams Burni apprised the Chairman regarding issues and problems pertaining to bonded carriers and the pilferage and looting of goods enroute to destination.
Tariq Bajwa observed that it was the responsibility of the bonded carriers to deliver the goods to destinations as they were the custodian of goods. Bajwa said that if the FIR regarding any looting, plunder or pilferage of the consignments was timely lodged – before the detection of pilferage/looting by Customs – with the law enforcement agencies, the bonded carrier would not be considered responsible however, if the Customs detected any such incident, which had not been reported by the bonded carrier, this would be considered fault on the part of bonded carriers.
Arshad Jamal appraised Chairman about the problems in WeBOC system adding that Chairman was not getting the authentic feedback from Customs formations. Jamal informed that dwell time of consignments had increased to 72 hours from 24 hours earlier; appraisers were assessing the consignments at higher values if their palms were not greased. Similarly, principal appraisers, if their palms were not greased, used to ‘up-held’ the GDs without even mentioning the reason for the action. Jamal said that the role of principal appraiser conducting second review was redundant and should be ended.
Chairman FBR received the delegations input and announced to convene an agenda meeting in Karachi soon to deliberate on issues at length.
Burni assured the FBR that they have always extended all cooperation to the Customs and vowed to continue doing so in the large interest of the nation.