Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged the chief collector of customs (South) Amir Muhammad Khan Marwat to establish a help desk of customs at (KCCI) to facilitate our members and provide them with the required training. President KCCI Mian Abrar Ahmad has requested to install a screen at Karachi Chamber for the convenience of members on WeBOC and depute designated officials to give training to members on WeBOC and filing the e-returns. Mian Abrar also expressed deep concerns over extraordinary delays in the clearance of consignment in WeBOC system which was causing huge financial losses and misuse of power by concerned officials is spreading discontentment and harassment.
He drew the attention of chief collector customs towards WeBOC issues and demanded to allow FIFO (First In First Out) system in WEBOC. He said the risk management system is not efficient in WEBOC; therefore all GDs are directly called for examination. CARE data must be transferred to WEBOC System and GDs should be cleared in reference to that data. At Port Qasim the group system must be abolished, and GDs should be sent randomly, not to specific appraising officer and principal appraiser. He said WEBOC system does not allow shipping companies to file VIR in advance i.e. 72 hours prior to arrival of ship, and thus does not enable importers to pay duty in advance, but this facility was available in PACCS. In WEBOC AO calls documents twice. The response time for the WEBOC server is very slow, and thus requires an upgrade. He voiced for automation of database instead of manual clearance and that maximum examination should be of three days and thereafter, demurrages should be waived off. He also urged that the customs and ports may be de-notified and all the model customs collectorates should remain open on Saturday considering it as normal working day in order to facilitate the trade and industry and getting their consignments cleared for imports and exports. He also requested to withdraw the penalty of Rs5,000 on the importer if the invoice is not found lying inside the container.
Chief collector of customs (South) Amir Muhammad Khan Marwat announced the formation of WeBOC-KCCI committee to represent chamber on the issues pertaining to WeBOC system and invited the name of four KCCI members to form the committee for future interaction on the WeBoc issue.
Chief collector also agreed with the proposal of president KCCI and announced establishing of help desk at KCCI to resolve WeBOC related issues, he said that one representative of customs will be deputed tomorrow for resolving WeBOC mattes of KCCI members. He said the customs department is striving to make WeBOC more familiar with the stakeholders and customs officials are always available to resolve their problems related to the system.
He said, “There are some difficulties but we are trying to resolve them, the department is doing its best to make this system state-of-the-art in real terms.” He further said customs authorities have also agreed to eliminate all lengthy procedures to obtain user ID and password for WeBOC. Moreover, he said the authority has also decided to make payment of duty and taxes as per valuation rulings mandatory for stakeholders and would penalise the good declarants and custom officials in case of its violation. Regarding the two holidays in a week, Mr Marwat said that it is a federal government decision. The customs department is ready to work on Saturdays if it is notified by the government.
