LAHORE: Customs Post Clearance Audit (PCA) will not only be of great utility to importers at clearance level, but also reduce average shipment release times, a major concern.
This was stated during a seminar on benefits of customs post clearance audit, held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). LCCI VP Sohail Azhar was the chief guest while PCA Director Khawaja Omer Mehdi, JICA Senior Representative Toshiya Sato and LCCI former VP Aftab Ahmad Vohra also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was also attended by all the stakeholders including leading business community, members of LCCI and the representatives of Custom Collectorate (North) and representatives of Lahore Customs Clearing Agents Association.
The LCCI Vice President, speaking on the occasion said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) deserves praise on the establishment of an organisation tasked to conduct post clearance audit with well trained staff.
“We hope that this directorate, with its stated mission would go a long way to maximising facilitation at the clearance level to importers and cut down delays in release.” In the past, there have been many issues which arose due to delays in processing; in many cases, the procedural difficulties led to litigation, he stressed.
The establishment of Customs Post Clearance Audit Directorate will hopefully markedly reduce litigations because of the streamlined processes and the effective working.
PCA Director Khawaja Omer Mehdi called for active support from all stakeholders to allow the system to succeed in the larger interests of the economy.
JICA Senior Representative Toshiya Sato appreciated the efforts of FBR for the establishment of the organisation and its role in the future growth of trade in Pakistan.
