Karachi : The faceless assessment system introduced nationwide has severely disrupted the baggage clearance process due to the inexperience of import appraisers unfamiliar with baggage rules. Legally, passengers are allowed to bring items worth up to USD 1,200 under baggage allowances, but appraisers operating under the faceless system are reportedly unaware of these provisions, causing hundreds of containers to remain uncleared at ports. This has placed intense financial pressure on businesses relying on baggage imports. Sources confirm that treating baggage as commercial imports is legally incorrect. If a passenger brings more than one LCD or refrigerator, duty is applied only to the additional units beyond the first, which is allowed duty-free. However, due to the appraisers’ lack of understanding, even this straightforward process faces significant delays. Experts argue that baggage clearance is a long-established legal mechanism, and the responsibility should not have been handed to officers without proper training. Ideally, the Preventive Department—whose officers are skilled in baggage assessments—should have trained faceless system appraisers to differentiate between concessional and dutiable goods. Currently, while examinations take place in the field, the assessments are not being updated in the system, resulting in no duty calculation and thus no clearance of goods. This technical bottleneck has stalled operations at the port. The business community has strongly objected to the categorization of baggage goods as smuggled items, emphasizing that paying due taxes on excess baggage is entirely legal and not smuggling by any definition. Baggage agents and clearing agencies report that dozens of containers are stuck at Karachi port, leading to mounting demurrage, detention, and storage charges, along with delayed revenue collection for the national exchequer. Traders demand the appointment of trained experts alongside the faceless system to ensure proper distinction between concessional and commercial items. Failure to resolve this clash between baggage rules and the faceless system could further deteriorate the trading environment.
