KARACHI, Nov 20: Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Abdullah Yousuf said that nobody would be allowed to derail the Customs Administrative Reforms (Care) system, whose primary objective is to facilitate trade by ensuring quick and hassle-free clearance of import goods.

“The government wants to bring in changes in the system and procedures to ensure transparency and efficiency, which is the only way of reducing cost of doing business,” he maintained.

He said that without simplifying the system and making it transparent the trade and industry could not compete in the world market. The present scenario was different from the past when there were high tariffs, bonus voucher scheme and quotas, which allowed our exports to easily find their way into the world market.

Speaking at the annual dinner of Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Monday Abdullah Yousuf said that for the first time the private sector had been exposed to world challenges. But still it was the private sector, which had to lead and the role of the government institutions like FBR would be to create an enabling environment to cut the cost of doing business to ensure competitiveness of local products in the world market.

He further said that by introducing Care under Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) the objective was to ensure quick and transparent clearance of import goods. It was a step to move away from the past and enter into a new era where clearance of import goods had been automated.

The FBR chief said,” We want to create an environment wherein the country could achieve its real economic growth. In the past Pakistan was ahead of ‘Asian Tigers’ in export trade and economic progress but since we failed to change with the time and were unable to sustain economic and industrial policies we were left behind”.

Therefore, he stressed the need of having sustained economic policies to encourage foreign and local investment, which was must for higher growth. But for achieving these goals, Abdullah Yousuf said, it was imperative that there should be systems and procedures, which ensure transparency and efficiency.

He said customs authorities and clearing agents were facilitators to trade, industry and tax collections, therefore, they should understand each other and move in the same direction to achieve higher economic growth.

Munir Qureshi, the chief collector South pledged to resolve all the issues confronting Customs agents and disclosed that already software had been planted, which could help customs agents to track down their Goods Declarations (GD).

Earlier Muhammad Arshad Jamal, the secretary general All Pakistan Customs Agents Association and chairman Shams Burney raised many issues and problems confronting clearing agents.

They openly criticised the working of Karachi Customs and pointed out to a number of issues involving corruption. Both the leaders were of the opinion that some officials deliberately wanted to fail the Care system and wanted a comeback to the stage of physical examination.