ISLAMABAD (August 15 2004): The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to issue amended rules and notifications for the smooth implementation of the Customs Administration Reforms Process (CARE).
It would cover all customs operations like warehousing, transshipment, transit, exports, DTRE, rebate, duty drawback, refunds, adjudication, provisional clearance, securities, MIS, exemptions, trade policy etc.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the draft of amendments in rules and notifications pertaining to CARE project has been finalised and would be shortly submitted to the Board for approval. The tax officials would examine the amended SROs for immediate action to implement the project.
The CBR has also decided to issue funds for the smooth functioning of CARE project for improving functioning like transport, communication etc.
The tax authorities observed that there was little understanding of the CARE in the customs department for which seminars will be arranged for the benefit of collectors.
Sources said that the tax authorities are not clear about the utility of 'Customs Tracker System' in movement of cargo between the ports as well as upcountry and cross-country destinations.
In cases where inventories are prepared at both ends, there is no utility of customs trackers. In the presence of advanced risk management systems, container scanning equipment, preparation of inventory at the port of entry for risky consignments, and use of multi-modal transport scheme, the utility of 'Customs Tracker System' is limited.
The CARE team has informed Chairman CBR that numerous more viable and economic alternatives were available as compared to scheme of customs trackers.
The Project Director CARE has also informed CBR that work is in progress on the construction of a modern premises for the 'Model' customs collectorate. This was designed to cater to the needs of new business processes, automation and networking requirements of CARE.
Chairman may allow the CARE team an opportunity to present its concepts to the sales tax team so that various policy decisions could be taken on the spot and the process of automation and integration of sales tax may commence, sources added.
