ISLAMABAD: All manual data of imports and exports has been shifted on new customs clearance software, Web Based One Customs (WeBOC), here at Islamabad Dry Port that will expedite the clearance process facilitating the traders in minimum time period.
This was revealed by Islamabad Customs Assistant Collector Amanat Khan, while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today.
During July, 2015 to May, 2016, around 2980 dutiable containers carrying different goods were imported through the dry port from Europe, Asia, Middle East and other parts of the world. The customs generated valuable duty/taxes on these consignments.
Amanat said that the value of imported items stood at Rs 12337.42 million during the said period at the Islamabad Dry Port, adding that import figure was at satisfactory level. The business activities in the capital were also gauged through the value of imports and exports, he said.
Responding to a query, he said that it was difficult to give specific details of total imported items for financial year 2015-16, as thousands of items were imported and every item has its separate value of taxes according to its kind, type, weight and shape. He added that some of items were exempted from the duty/taxes.
The dry port collected sufficient duty/taxes during the said period, he said, adding that it generated Rs 5068.343 million in wake of duty/taxes till May, 2016 against the annual target of Rs 5316 million. He said, “We will exceed the set revenue target by the end of current fiscal year as the revenue collection increasing in last month i.e. June of running fiscal year with the good performance of the staff”.
He informed that collection of customs duty on imported goods stood at Rs 2382.318 million from 1st July 2015 to May 2016, against the set target of Rs 2753 million for the year.
Under the guidance of Collector Dr Arslan Subuctageen, the dry port’s recovery cell recovered millions of rupees by settling the pending cases, the assistant collector said, adding that the tax recovery cell was working with full devotion, as it recovered Rs 8 million in shape of custom duty till May, 2016.
Collector Arslan Subuctageen has directed all officers and officials of the collectorate to expedite the recovery process, besides enhancing the performance in order to surpass the revenue collection target, he said. Following the directions, the staff at the dry port was striving to meet its set target before the end of the year.
He said that tenders were being finalised for the installation of weighbridge (precise measurement and easy setup for static or dynamic weighing) with collaboration of Pakistan Railways. It will be installed soon. After getting this facility, the consignments will be more secure and it will give more confidence to importers.
When contacted Islamabad Customs Collector Dr Arslan Subuctageen to get his opinion about Islamabad Dry Port Assistant Collector Amanat Khan, he appreciated the performance of the officer in these words, “Amanat is an intelligent and hard working officer of the Model Custom Collectorate, who always finishes his given tasks before the deadline”.