FBR asked to redress exporters’ grievances
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—Federal Tax Ombudsman Justice ® Munir A. Sheikh has directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to redress grievances of the exporters.
This decision was taken by the F.T.O. on the complaints of Pakistan Housing Manufacturers Association (PHMA) who have pointed out in their letter malpractices of the Freight Forwarders and failure of the Customs Department Karachi to take appropriate action against those who have acted against the interests of the Government and caused substantial loss to the affected exporters.
The F.T.O. has recommended to the FBR to direct the Collector of Customs to ensure that the cases identified by the PHMA in their original letter in respect of the exporters be carefully examined by the officers of the competent jurisdiction and necessary action taken under the relevant rules besides punitive action under the provisions of the Customs Act. He has observed that a taskforce should be constituted under the Chief Collector of Customs to examine the problems of the exporters highlighted by the PHMA, formulate the rules for Freight Forwarders to make it incumbent for them to work under a customs license and propose a procedure for monetary/punitive action and legal proceedings to maintain effective check on malpractices because mere revocation of license would not be adequate solution to the grievances of the exporters.
The FTO has also ruled that the Task Force should also examine the working of Manifest Clearance, the filing of (import and) export manifest by each arriving and departing vessel, the process of checking entries in the Export Manifests with the documents (including Bills of Lading) received in the section and identifying deviation/non-compliance of the prescribed procedure. He has directed authorities concerned to complete the action within two months and report compliance in this regard to this office within three months.