Customs agree to DPL waiver, 6-month self-clearance for importers
KARACHI (News Desk): Commercial importers have received major relief as the Customs Department has agreed to fully implement the DPL waiver and restore NTN-based self-clearance facility for at least six months on the recommendation of the Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA).
The understanding was reached during a meeting between a PCDMA delegation led by Chairman Muhammad Saleem Muakti and Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement (South) Wajid Ali at Customs House, Karachi.
According to PCDMA, the delegation comprised Mustafa Asad and Irfan Asgher, Members of the Managing Committee, former Chairman Arif Lakhani and former Managing Committee members Umair Anwar and Yahya Arshad.
On the DPL waiver issue, the PCDMA delegation said that regulator NEPSA had granted a three-month waiver and requested that the entire concessionary period be counted without exception so that consignments face no unnecessary complications. Responding to this, Chief Collector Wajid Ali assured that the three-month waiver would be fully implemented and Customs would create no hurdles.
On self-clearance, the delegation said commercial importers had previously been allowed to clear consignments on the basis of their National Tax Number (NTN) for one year, which was subsequently reduced to six months, but the facility is now being granted on a case-to-case basis against the Bill of Lading (BL), making the process lengthy. The delegation requested restoration of the NTN-based facility for at least six months.
Chief Collector Wajid Ali agreed to the proposal, saying that PCDMA could issue recommendation letters for its members, enabling Customs to verify importers and grant NTN-based self-clearance approval for at least six months on a priority basis.
On ICIS scan pricing, the delegation said the service costs approximately $15,000 to $20,000 annually, rendering it unaffordable for a large number of importers. Chief Collector Wajid Ali agreed that where Customs requires verification of prices, PCDMA may issue price verification certificates based on its available resources and market information as an alternative to ICIS pricing. He observed that Customs itself maintains scan subscriptions for only a limited range of products.
On customs valuation rulings, the delegation said the existing mechanism was becoming outdated as international prices fluctuate daily and stressed the need to review rulings in line with market conditions. The Chief Collector assured that the matter would be examined.
PCDMA Chairman Muhammad Saleem Muakti appreciated the positive response and cooperation extended by Customs authorities, saying stronger coordination could help remove bottlenecks and make the clearance system more efficient and transparent.