APTMA urges FBR to retain Karachi’s CAU amid clearance delays

Business Recorder reported that the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to keep Karachi’s Central Appraising Unit in place and reconsider faceless customs assessment. In a letter dated October 27, the association argued that the system, operating since December 15, 2024, has not raised assessment quality and that shifting the unit to Islamabad could add disruption and expense.

APTMA cited an FBR committee review showing average assessments now take 40.2 hours, compared with 25.6 hours before the system began. It also said review requests climbed from 6% to 14%, while consignments processed within two days declined from 84% to 70%. The association urged a pause on further expansion pending an independent review, alongside fixed processing deadlines, a backlog team and priority handling for export-related imports.