LAHORE: The FBR DG Valuation will sit at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce once every month.

This was announced by Customs Operations Member Syed Shakeel Shah while speaking at the LCCI on Friday.

He said under the economic transformation plan of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the business community would soon see positive changes.

He said the faceless customs system had increased transparency and a nearly 20 per cent increase in declared value was a proof that compliance had improved.

He said that through Pakistan single window, business cost was being reduced and the system was being made easier.

He clarified that for legitimate businesses, every possible facilitation would be provided while strict action against illegal activities would continue.

LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol welcomed the guest and said that direct contact of customs authorities with the business community was a positive step which would help in solving problems.

The meeting was attended by LCCI Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Vice President Khurram Lodhi, Saarc Chamber Vice President Mian Anjum Nisar, former president Muhammad Ali Mian, former senior vice president Ali Hassam Asghar, executive committee members, and representatives of various associations.

From Customs, Chief Collector Customs (Appraisement) Naveed Elahi, Collector Customs (Airport) Saima Ayaz, Chief Collector (Exports) Mohsin Rafiq, Chief Collector (Enforcement) Basit Abbasi, and Collector Enforcement Syed Agha participated.

The chamber president said clearance of small shipments and samples takes several days due to which demurrage and other costs increase, sometimes even more than duty.

He demanded that airport GDs should be cleared on fast track and in case of dispute, goods should remain in customs custody so that extra charges were avoided.

He said that even under rules, shipments upto 100kg and $500 were still being asked for financial instruments which was unnecessary.

He also raised issues of valuation method, MCC department performance, shortage of staff at dry ports, and sending review cases to Karachi.

Later, the member customs said his visit to the chamber was part of continuous engagement so that business issues could be directly heard and resolved.

He said Lahore was an important economic centre of Pakistan and increasing investment here was playing a key role in national development.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026