Karachi, December 15, 2025 — The All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) on Monday welcomed the government’s decision to allow post-payment of customs duty and taxes for pre-arrival filing of Goods Declarations (GD), calling it a major reform aimed at improving Pakistan’s import clearance system.
In an official statement, APCAA appreciated the introduction of the post-payment mechanism for all applicable taxes in cases where Goods Declarations are filed before the arrival of consignments. The association described the move as a significant policy advancement that strengthens trade facilitation and supports the government’s broader agenda of ease of doing business.
APCAA Chairman urged the trade community, including importers and licensed customs agents, to fully utilize the new post-payment facility. He noted that the mechanism would help reduce clearance delays and enable demurrage-free cargo clearance, addressing one of the most persistent challenges faced by importers at ports and dry ports.
The association expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for his continued focus on modernizing customs and trade procedures. APCAA also acknowledged the efforts of the Member Customs (Operations) and his team for effectively implementing a system that aligns with international best practices and responds to the practical needs of traders.
According to APCAA, the initiative is expected to substantially reduce dwell time in import clearance while remaining fully compatible with the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle under the faceless customs assessment regime. This alignment is likely to enhance transparency, predictability, and operational efficiency within the customs framework.
Reaffirming its support, APCAA assured full cooperation with customs authorities and reiterated its commitment to promoting maximum pre-arrival GD filing so that the economic benefits of this facilitation measure can be realized for both the national economy and the trading community.