Moroccan Minister for Foreign Trade Mustafa Mechahourj, who is in town for Pakistan Expo-2005, visited Karachi Customs House on Tuesday where he was given a briefing on the Care project by Collector of Customs (Appraisement) Azhar Majid, who is also in-charge of the Care project.
The visitor was informed that the clearance time under the project would be reduced from 15 days to only four hours during the trial period.
The clearance time would be further reduced to one hour with the full-fledged working of the project.
The Moroccan Minister praised the Care project, which would ensure standardisation of the customs procedure and compliance of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Revised Kiyoto Convention.
Azhar Majid informed the minister that the Collectorate had started vigorous training of the customs officers and clearing agents for the Care project at the Directorate of Customs Training.
It has set up a computer laboratory to train the customs officers in automation of Customs procedures. It would train about 400 officers during the current month.
The Collectorate has decided to provide floppies, containing details of the Care project to all trade ministers and other guests visiting the Pakistan Expo to apprise of the progress Pakistan has made in modernisation of the customs procedures.