Urgent intervention sought to resolve Customs clearance delay
According to a complaint, the BD was filed on July 28, 2025, and the physical examination of the shipment was conducted on August 1, 2025. However, as of August 8, 2025, the BD status remains 'Assessment in Process,' despite repeated follow-ups with concerned officers.
Such delays, according to sources, have resulted in substantial Shipping Line Detention and Port Demurrage Charges, amounting to approximately Rs 50,000 per day, which is increasing daily. The trading firm attributes the financial burden entirely to administrative delay, causing severe hardship to the importer.
They said there is an urgent need to complete the assessment process and clear the shipment without further delay, determine the cause and responsibility for the delay and take corrective action to prevent recurrence and provide relief to the importer for the financial losses incurred due to the unjustified delay.
They have further added that importers are facing such hassle despite the claim of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of introducing faceless system.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Downward trend persists on cotton market
LAHORE: The Spot Rate Committee of the Karachi Cotton Association on Saturday decreased the spot rate by Rs 100 per maund and closed it at Rs 16,200 per maund. Cotton Analyst Naseem Usman told Business Recorder that the local cotton market witnessed a mixed trend and the trading volume remained limited. He also told that the rate of new cotton in Sindh is in between Rs 16,200 to Rs 16,300 per maund and the rate of cotton in Punjab is in between Rs 16,200 to Rs 16,300 per maund. The rate of Phutti in Punjab is in between Rs 6,300 to Rs 7,400 per 40 kg and the rate of Phutti in Sindh is in between Rs 6,400 to Rs 7,400 per 40 kg. The rate of cotton in Balochistan is in between Rs 16,000 to Rs 16,200 per maund. The rate of Phutti in Balochistan is in between Rs 6,700 to Rs 7,600 per maund. Approximately, 1000 bales of Tando Adam, 800 bales of Sanghar were sold in between Rs 16,200 to Rs 16,400 per maund, 200 bales of Layyah, 200 bales of Khanewal, 200 bales of Kassowal were sold at Rs 16,200 per maund, 200 bales of Vehari were sold at Rs 16,250 per maund and 200 bales of Winder were sold at Rs 16,250 per maund. The Spot Rate Committee of the Karachi Cotton Association decreased the spot rate by Rs 100 per maund and closed it at Rs 16,200 per maund. Polyester Fiber was available at Rs 330 per kg. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Sindh objects to Centre's wheeling capacity decision
ISLAMABAD: The Sindh government has raised objections over the federal government's decision to allocate 800 MW capacity for wheeling purposes, arguing that such determinations should rest with the regulator — National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), well-informed sources told Business Recorder. In a letter to the Power Division, Sindh's Energy Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed Soomro, conveyed the province's position on the proposed amendments to the Eligibility Criteria (Electric Power Supplier Licences) Rules, 2023. He stated that the province accepts most of the amendments, except for Rule 5(2)(b), where additional provisions should be incorporated. According to Sindh's proposal, open access charges should be recovered under the following framework: (i) Grid charges —including transmission and distribution system use charges, market and system operator fees, cross-subsidy charges, metering service charges, etc — shall be borne by consumers opting for open access until the currency of the NE-Plan or as later amended by the federal government ; and (ii) the federal government, in meaningful consultation with provincial governments, shall issue frameworks or policy guidelines for recovering stranded costs arising from market liberalization and open access. These frameworks should reflect market realities, provide incentives to facilitate wheeling, ensure transparency and competition, protect consumer interests, and advance broader economic and social policy objectives. QTA & MTA: Nepra cuts tariffs for Discos and KE Sindh further argued that in cases where bilateral trading occurs entirely within the province, the provincial government should be responsible for providing the relevant framework or policy guidelines for open access charges. The province also emphasized that determining the quantum of capacity allocation is a regulatory function and should therefore be left solely to Nepra. Additionally, Sindh proposed that where no policy framework exists, stranded costs should be paid by all bulk power consumers of a competitive supplier. These costs would mirror the total generation capacity charges recovered from comparable bulk consumers of suppliers of last resort—whether on a volumetric (kWh) basis or through fixed charges — until revised by the federal government under applicable policy and regulatory procedures. The Sindh Government requested that its recommendations be incorporated into the proposed amendments to Rule 5 before consideration by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC). Separately, the Power Division has already informed the Prime Minister that stranded cost options and proposals for socializing costs, including possible wheeling charges, have been finalized. The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) approved wheeling charges of Rs 12.55/kWh, which were later endorsed by the federal cabinet. The framework for wheeling charges on an 800 MW capacity was included in the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP), approved by the ISMO Board after public consultation. The competitive electricity market is scheduled to be operationalised on September 30, 2025, with Nepra to declare the Commercial Operation Date (CMoD) after issuance of guidelines on optimal wheeling charges. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Biometric verification of registered persons: LTBA urges FBR, Nadra to bring in secure mobile app
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) should jointly implement a secure mobile application for biometric verification of sales tax registered persons. According to a letter of the Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) to the FBR Chairman, the association highlighted major challenges faced by certain sales taxpayers under the current biometric verification system and proposed a digital solution aligned with FBR's commitment to facilitation and innovation. Presently, biometric verification for sales tax registration and annually bio metric which required in terms of SRO 350(1)/2024 is conducted exclusively through Nadra's physical infrastructure. While this may suffice for most residents, it poses considerable challenges for the following categories of taxpayers: (I); Individuals temporarily residing or travelling abroad. (2); Taxpayers located in remote or underdeveloped areas. (3); Elderly or physically challenged individuals who cannot easily access the Nadra facilities. Due to the unavailability of a remote verification mechanism, these taxpayers are unable to complete their sales tax registration and annually biometric which required in tarns of SRO 350(1)/2024 dated 07.03.2025, despite their willingness to comply with legal requirements. This creates unnecessary delays, hampers business operations, filing of sales tax returns and discourages potential entrants into the tax system. Key challenges included no Remote Option for Overseas Taxpayers and delays in Registration Activation and filing of sales tax returns. He LTBA proposed the FBR should consider in coordination with Nadra, the development and deployment of a secure mobile application for biometric verification. This solution may include facial recognition or fingerprint scanning wing smartphone technology and secure integration between the FBR and the Nadra. The expected benefits included enhanced taxpayer's facilitation particularly for overseas Pakistanis and remote areas residents, improved compliance rate with quicker registration and fewer delays; expanded lax base and alignment with FBR's digital transformation and automation goals. The association is confident that this initiative would greatly enhance the accessibility, efficiency, compliance and Inclusivity of FBR's taxpayers' registration system and ease filing of sales tax returns and enhance the revenue collection, it added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
