KCCI demands uniformity in Customs valuation rulings

KARACHI: The Custom valuation rulings should neither be raised to a level where smuggling thrives nor reduced to a level where local manufacturers suffer, Director General of Directorate of Customs Valuation, Samaira Nazir Khan said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a meeting during her visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), she sought the chamber’s advice on assessing realistic valuation rulings and also assured to look into various cases highlighted by the KCCI.
The DG said that the Directorate of Customs Valuation was trying its best to facilitate commercial importers and striving hard to quickly resolve various issues pertaining to valuation rulings being faced by the business community of Karachi.
Responding to various concerns raised by the meeting participants, she claimed that Customs Valuation Department was not operating under the influence of manufacturers, and the doors of Directorate of Customs Valuation were open for commercial importers as well.
She clarified the directorate was making efforts to settle various cases as early as possible, but the due procedures might result in a delay in certain cases.
Earlier while welcoming DG Customs Valuation, KCCI president said that the Karachi chamber has been vocally raising its voice against the unjust valuation rulings.
He said that high valuation rulings being issued in connivance with manufacturers create many issues when commercial importers are not taken on board.
This, he said creates many issues, of which the most serious are losses to the national exchequer, under-invoicing and smuggling.
Underscoring the need to make the process of formulating valuation rulings more transparent and in line with market scenario, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President said that he was finding it very hard to understand the policies of Customs Valuation Directorate, which not only result in unnecessary delays but were also responsible for losses being suffered by the traders and the economy.