FPCCI demands formation of Customs valuation advisory committee

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has demanded the Customs authorities to constitute a valuation advisory committee to resolve consignment clearance issues, a statement said.

The FPCCI organised a national-level meeting on burning Customs valuation issues; which saw participation from all provinces, major industrial estates and all major industrial sectors of the economy.

The chief guest of the event was Dr Fareed Iqbal Qureshi, director general, Customs Valuation, Karachi.

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, president of the FPCCI, said that despite the lapse of almost six months, the promise of the advisory committee comprising key stakeholders has not yet been fulfilled; he was referring to the last visit of the then DG Customs Valuation to the FPCCI in May 2021.

The committee could have played an effective mediatory, consultative and facilitative role for the Customs Department; and, many issues would have been resolved by now, he added.

Maggo also said that the agreement, in principle, was reached with the Customs Department that the chronic issues and pending cases will be resolved in an expeditious manner and on a high-priority basis; but, the FPCCI has not observed any such enthusiasm.

The FPCCI president specifically raised the issue of scan price valuations; where the importers have long been suffering due to valuations on the basis of different regions and markets than that of actual regions and markets.

In most of the cases, the scan prices from different regions and markets result in higher valuations; and, the resultant losses to the importers and industries of Pakistan.

This phenomenon is rendering the manufacturers and exporters of Pakistan uncompetitive; domestically, regionally and internationally, he added.

Shabbir Hassan Mansha, convener of the FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on Customs, said that the valuation rulings more than 90 days old are not being revised in a timely manner; and, that creates hurdles and losses to the importers of the country.

He said the provisional assessments are also not being finalised within six months; as outlined in the Section 81 of the Customs Act 1969.

Mansha also thanked the DG valuation for listening to individual concerns and inviting importers to his office at the Customs House, Karachi for detailed discussions.

Addressing the concerns and questions from across Pakistan, Dr Fareed Iqbal Qureshi said that the Customs Department is ready to constitute an advisory committee of the stakeholders from the government and the business community; and he has an open-door policy for addressing all the grievances.