Pakistan Customs lacking technical staff delays cause loss to importers.

KARACHI -- Pakistan Customs lacking technical staff cause delays in clearance of imported consignments resulting in huge loss to traders affecting the overall import regime. These views are given by Former Chairman All Pakistan Custom Agents Association Qamar ul Islam to 'The Financial Daily' correspondent after the completion of Annual General meeting (AGM) held at local hotel of Karachi.

He said that these all are well planned designed technical delay abused our importers The examination staff of Pakistan Customs posted at various Ports allegedly obeying the verbal orders from top brass are delaying the entire process of clearance. It may be mentioned here that there is the acute shortage of experienced assessing officers who can make decisions quickly and there is the dire need to recruit new officers to fill that gap.

He quoted an example of newly SAPT, Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement) has been given the authority to monitor all issues regarding cargo clearance including interim imports and warehousing of goods from government and private godowns but trader's issues were not addressed by establishing new collectorates and even they are burden on national exchequer.

The transfers and postings of new Assistant collectors on important positions without a proper combination of senior and junior officers and in many cases they are unable to conduct proper and thorough examination to avoid...