The customs officials in Karachi are paying no heed to repeated requests of exporters for allowing export of Kinnow consignments in line with Federal Board of Revenues (FBR) instructions to the Model Customs Collectorates, as the consignments of perishable items are deteriorating day by day. It is learnt that the exporters association is trying their level best to meet the FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa but in vain. Exporters also made an attempt to meet FBR Chairman during his visit to Customs House Karachi but they were not allowed to enter the building. There is an emergency like situation for exporters, whose consignments have been blocked during peak season for 100 percent examination of the goods. As the consignments of perishable items are deteriorating, but customs authorities or FBR are not ready to hear their viewpoint. The FBRs instructions clearly talk about the 5 percent random examination of such export consignments at ports, but instructions have yet not implemented at ports. The FBR issued another instruction to the Directorate of Risk Management Unit, 7th floor, Customs House, Karachi regarding clearance of DTRE Audit and issuance of fresh DTRE approvals. It said that the keeping in view the perishable nature of module for export consignments of Kinnows so that a maximum of 5 percent random examination of such export consignments be conducted at the port as decided earlier by the Board. A compliance report maybe sent to the Board on priority, FBRs instructions added. Exporters were of the view that customs wanted to carry out the 100 percent containers examination during peak season of the perishable item, which has created panic like situation among exporters community. The exports under the Duty and Tax Remission for Export (DTRE) scheme require 100 percent examination as per Weboc System and system automatically refers the consignments for 100 percent examination in cases of DTRE export consignments under the applicable rules and regulations. However, exporters contested that the FBR has specifically allowed the Kinnow exporters 5 percent examination of export consignments through a letter issued in 2008 and followed by another letter in 2013. However, the Weboc customs clearance systems module has not made modification as per FBRs letter of 5 percent examination. The consignments have been blocked by customs collectorates at Karachi due to non-compatibility of the Weboc customs clearance system with the perishable nature of the cargo. Despite repeated requests of exporters, the system has not been made compatible with the exact specification of the perishable export item. In a latest letter of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Export Karachi to Collector MCC Faisalabad, a number of exporters filed goods Declaration for export of Kinnows through the Collectorate. Most of the consignments were allowed by the system through green channel. However, during scrutiny of GDs, it was observed that the exports were being made under DTRE approvals issued by MCC-Faisalabad but the exporters, instead of claiming SRO 450(1)/2001, simply mentioned the approval number in description of goods column. Resultantly, the quota was not debited and upon further investigation, it was found that the exporters have already exported a number of consignments in this manner but the quota debit sheet of DTRE approval in WeBOC system was found blank. When confronted, the exporters admitted their fault and stated that as their product is perishable, they filed GDs in this manner to obviate examination. All the GDs of the exporters were cancelled and allowed dray off with the advice to file fresh GDs mentioning SRO and DTRE approval number in proper columns. Names of 11 such exporters whose GDs have been cancelled or who have earlier exported the DTRE consignments in above manner have been communicated to the MCC Faisalabad, it added. Exporters were surprised that letter of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Export Karachi to Collector MCC Faisalabad has not mentioned FBRs decision of 5 percent examination of goods. It was a major decision on the export of this perishable item, but MCC exporter has simply ignored the fact of 5 percent examination, exporters said. Export Collectorates have some responsibility to facilitate the exporters, they have to play key role to make change in Export Module pending since 2007-08 as per instructions issued by FBR being Regulatory Authority, while they hold the Export refeer cargo of perishable nature goods without any jurisdiction just because of the procedural laps in context of FBRs decision, keeping in view that there is no any revenue loss of the Govt, only sales tax is involved against local buying which is refundable to exporters in case of exports other than DTRE, the Exporter are bearing huge loss financial as well as loss of buyer. Exporters are doing genuine exports which can easily be verified. Exporters have also given another option to the Custom that 100% Physical Examination of Kinnow exports cargo may be conducted at the time of loading at their factory premises of DTRE user. The exporters are ready to provide the logistic support and boarding lodging support to Custom Staff. Exporters have asked the FBR Chairman to intervene to clear the shipments as per FBR instructions @ 5 percent random examination of Kinnow exports under DTRE and make changes in weboc in line with the practicality of examination of refeer cargo and clearance of shipments, enhancing exports and reduction of barriers. brecorder/taxation/181:pakistan/1145540:clearance-of-kinnow-consignments-customs-officials-paying-no-heed-to-exporters-pleas/?date=2015-01-26
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 03:27:14 +0000
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