SIALKOT, Sept 10: Exporters have expressed grave concern over the laidback attitude of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in resolving functional flaws in the Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) system.

Talking to the newsmen on Tuesday, Chairman All Pakistan Dry Ports Association (APDPA) Muhammad Ishaq Butt said that exporters were demanding the restoration of the One Custom System.

“The exporters here are upset by the sudden implementation of WeBOC system at Sialkot Dry Port. The move came without necessary preparations and removal of critical flaws detected during the training sessions and same were communicated to WeBOC Project team. The old system should be run alongside WeBOC system, till all faults are rectified and necessary amendments are incorporated in the latter,” he said.

“Only 25 per cent exporters have registered so far at the WeBOC office, Sialkot Dry Port due to the tedious registration process. Registering the remaining exports will take time,” he said.

Butt, who is also the Chairman of Sialkot Dry Port Trust, said that the then Chairman of FBR, Ali Arshad Hakeem during his visit to Sialkot Dry Port Trust on March 1, 2013, had approved the proposals forwarded by APDPA including suggestions regarding the WeBOC system.

“It’s unfortunate that after the passage of so many months, the FBR has been unable to remove the bottlenecks and flaws in the system,” he said.

“The Custom Laws and Rules restrict bonded carriers to use vehicles registered in the name of other bonded carriers with the Custom Department, thereby causing somewhat monopolistic situation. Exporters and importers may be penalised with excessive freight charges. Moreover, availability of registered vehicles at up-country dry ports is limited and lesser than the demand for exports. In One Custom system, up-country dry ports were using registered vehicles of other bonded carriers,” he explained.

Butt said that exports from Faisalabad and Multan will also suffer if rolled over to these dry ports.

He alleged that due to the slow response of the FBR, which resulted in hoarding of containers at Sialkot Dry Port, a number of export consignments had already missed the ships, causing huge financial losses to the exporters.