October 8: The Department of Customs has started reforms to improve the customs administration.

The department has initiated administrative reforms in line with the Sixth Five-Year Plan of the government from the current fiscal year in order to remove the problems in customs clearance and other administrative works.

Works have been initiated especially to reform the monitoring and investigation wings of the department.

Director General of the Department of Customs Narayan Prasad Sapkota informed that they intend to bring a noticeable change by adopting smart system in those two sections. He informed that the investigation wing of the department will be equipped to handle the complaints more effectively.

Preparations are underway for work division within the investigation wing. Currently, all the works are done in an integrated manner but from now on specific works will be assigned to different  officials.

Director General Sapkota informed that there will be work division in the monitoring wing as well.

According to the department, the one-door system for import and export is currently in course of implementation. The department has completed the first phase work with the help from the World Bank. The department will soon set up 40 to 50 new offices in the first phase. This is expected to help in customs clearance.

At present, importers need to visit different offices to take permission to import goods. Once the one-door policy is implemented, the compulsion to visit different offices will come to an end as the  importers can avail the service from a single point.

The reform plan also includes easing customs clearance, according to the department’s officials.