Rebate cases may be disposed of next month-Chief Collector Customs

MULTAN,Dec 19th: Chief Collector Customs (Appraisement)Dr. Farid Iqbal Qureshi has assured that all rebate cases would definitely disposed of next month to meet an outstanding demand of the importers and sai d that the Customs department is making serious efforts to reactivate Multan Dry Port in order to extend maximum facilities to the importers and exporters of this region. Delivering his speech at a luncheon hos ted by Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi  Chairman of Multan Dry port Trust here on Thursday. Regarding double taxation of infrastructure cess, he welcomed the proposal to receive one percent infrastructure cess once by the federal government but added the this issue falls within the purview of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) and he will request FBR to raise this issue at the appropriate forum. He denied any discrimination with any port and told that uniform rules and valuation is being adopted at all ports.He asked the importers to inform her in case of any inordinate delay in the clearance of imports consignments and assured to resolve their genuine complaints in case of used and old machinery immediately. He hoped that there should not be any harassment among the importers as they will be treated equally and fairly.

Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said in his welcome address that Customs duty and taxes must be levied on minimum Invoice Value to attract the exporters and importers towards Multan Dry Port.He  informed the Chief Collector that importers and exporters are afraid of WeBOC system and majority of South Punjab export has been shifted to Karachi due to trust deficit on Customs. Almost 6000 export containers of South Punjab are cleared from Karachi and Customs cooperation is required to bring exporters at Multan and Sadiqabad terminals. He informed that importers and exporters are facing issues in issuance of WeBOC IDs which are only handled in Faisalabad office and Multan Dry Port importers face issues in obtaining WeBOC accounts in this regard.
He eulogised the efforts of the Collector Saima Shehzad who directed Assistant Collector to make action plan for the enhancement of business utilization at the Multan Dry Port to raise the revenues by giving better facilities to importers and exporters of the region. She also instructed staff to ensure the well-timed clearance of consignments at the Multan Dry Pot and needless delay should not be tolerated at any cost for the advancement of services at the Multan Dry Port.Jalaluddin roomi reiterated the withdrawal of Punjab and Sindh Infra-structure Development Cess to reduce the cost of production.He suggested that Muzaffargarh railway station be made a customs station  for container handling so that imports and exports could be started without any further delay through railway.He said that vehicle  registration under WeBOC system must be simplified.Roomi also insisted on payment of rebate and clearance of all rebate cases. MDPT chairman complained of shortage of experienced and professional appraisement staff in Multan. Divisional Superintendent of Railway Shoaib Adil Mughal assured to provide wagons to exporters according to their demand but they have to maintain their demand of wagons because there is a shortage of spare wagons.He also assured to turn Muzaffargarh into a customs station.The Luncheon was also attended by the importers, exporters, traders, industrialists of South Punjab like Ch.Zulfikar Anjum, Mian Faisal Mukhtar,Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan Senior Vice Chairman,Sheikh Fazal Elahi President of MCCI, Khawaja Muhammad Younas President of DGCCI,Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf  Ex-President MCCI, Ansar Khan Mian NasimAhmed,Syed Muhammad Ahsan Shah Chairman APBUMA, Syed Muhammad Aasim Shah,Khawaja Muhammad Fazil,Khawaja Muhammad ilyas, Muhammad Ahmed Chughtai Ex-Chairman of MDPT,Khawaja Muhammad Azam,Senior Vice President of MCCI Mian Rashid Iqbal, Khawaja Badar Munir Ex-SVP, Editors of Local dailies, General Manager Multan Dry Port Trust Col (r) Awais Butt were also present.