By Commerce Reporter
LAHORE, December 04: Chief Collector Customs (Appraisement) Naveed Elahi visited the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to review operations at Lahore Dry Port and discuss measures to improve efficiency, transparency, and service for the business community.
During the meeting, key reforms in the customs appraisement system, including enhanced staff capacity and the successful implementation of the faceless assessment mechanism, were praised for reducing delays and curbing illegal valuation practices.
LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol welcomed these steps, saying they have boosted the confidence of importers and discouraged bribery. He proposed the establishment of a dedicated Complaints Cell at Lahore Dry Port to ensure immediate access for business concerns, along with a Dispute Resolution Committee, in which LCCI is ready to participate, to swiftly resolve importers’ issues.
The meeting was also attended by Collector Appraisement Faisalabad Dr. Rizwan Basharat, Collector Customs Lahore Umar Shafique, former LCCI Senior Vice President Zafar Mahmood Chaudhry, members of the LCCI Executive Committee, and other officials.
Chief Collector Naveed Elahi said that the number of examination staff at all dry ports has been increased, enabling all checking procedures to be completed within a single day, reducing delays and opportunities for bribery. He added that advanced scanners have been installed at all ports, checkpoints, and borders to ensure accurate scanning of goods.
He further stated that strategies are being developed to prevent misuse of the Export Finance Scheme and SROs, and steps are being taken to avoid damage to goods during inspections.
President LCCI Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol highlighted that issues with the faceless assessment system have been resolved, permanently blocking those who previously interfered in valuation or offered bribes for early clearance. He welcomed the increase in examination staff, which has resulted in timely and transparent valuation of goods.
He also stressed that genuine concerns of importers should be recognized immediately, as undue discretion by customs officials can cause delays of 15 to 30 days, leading to financial losses through demurrage charges. Additionally, he called for imported goods to be assessed based on net weight, rather than including packing weight, as per Section 25 of the Customs Act 1969, to reduce unnecessary financial burdens on businesses.
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