Karachi customs delayed due to faulty computer

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Computer fault delays imports clearance MUZAFFAR QURESHI

..........KARACHI (February 13) : Customs clearance of imports was delayed for two days due to a fault in the computer system of the Customers Service Centre at the Karachi Customs House, clearing agents said. The bills of entry filed and customs duty paid on Thursday were okayed for clearance of goods on Saturday.

..........According to agents, the computer system developed by Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd (PRAL) went out of order on Thursday and about 700 bills of entry could not be processed the whole day. However, the Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement) in a bid to save the loss of revenue arranged manual collection of Customs duty after 8.30 p.m. on Thursday.

..........The computer system for processing of bills of entry also did not work on Friday preventing about 400 bills of entry from being processed. The system was partially restored at 2.00 pm on the same day. ..........PRAL engineers, however, succeeded in restoring 50 percent of the computerised system and bills of entry filed on Saturday were processed and customs duty was accepted. It is hoped that the system will be restored fully by Monday.

..........Sources pointed out that due to the partial restoration of the computer system on Saturday there was a great rush and the clearing agents were still waiting for delivery orders to be issued by customs for goods for which payment have been made on Thursday and Friday.

..........On Tuesday Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz had visited the Customs House and he was given a detailed presentation on the automation of customs procedures and revenue collection arrangements.

..........The minister had not only lauded the automation of customs procedures but had also instructed the Customs to double their efforts for automation which was need of the hour.

http://www.brecorder.com/story/S00DD/SDB13/SDB13385.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), February 13, 2000


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