KARACHI, July 5: An upward trend was observed in exports from the collectorate of customs (exports) during the financial year 2001-02. Goods worth $6,573 million were exported during the year as against $6,451 million during the fiscal 2000-01, showing an increase of two per cent.

However, exports registered a growth of eight per cent in the rupee term.

After the September 11 incident the exports registered a decline because of slump in the international markets, but the collectorate of customs (exports) immediately took appropriate measures to facilitate exports.

In order to avoid any delays or hold-ups, round-the-clock export processing and examination facility was accorded at all the exporting stations, which resulted in increase of exports.

The export collectorate also established ‘export facilitation centre’ at the Port Qasim and M.I. Yard at the Karachi Port to provide one-window facility to exporters. The customs staff and officers also worked on holidays to facilitate exports.

The processing of shipping bills was computerized on war-footing in order to reduce the time taken in processing shipping documents. As a result of this number of shipping bills processed in a day increased substantially thereby increasing the number of consignments examined in a day.

The collectorate of customs (exports), Karachi, disbursed an amount of Rs16,180.3m as duty drawback and rebate during the fiscal 2001-02 as compared to Rs10,063.99m disbursed during the financial year 2000-01, says press release.