The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining integrity and accountability within its ranks by dismissing a director of the Directorate of Internal Audit – South (Customs), Karachi.
(more…)Category: Pakistan Customs
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FBR promotes 18 Customs officials to Assistant Collector
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Friday announced the promotion of 18 customs officials to the post of Assistant Collector (BS-17) in the Pakistan Customs Service with immediate effect and until further orders.
The FBR notified the promotion of the following officers:
01. Naeem Raza, Superintendent, Collectorate of Customs Sambrial, Sialkot
02. Muhammad Munir, Superintendent, Collectorate of Customs Sambrial, Sialkot
03. Tariq Kamal, Superintendent, Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Customs, Karachi.
04. Muhammad Azim, Superintendent, Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Customs, Peshawar.
05. Syed Nasir Bukhari, Superintendent, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Peshawar.
06. Amanullah, Supertindented, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Dera Ismail Khan.
07. Gul Said, Superintendent, Collectorate of Customs Appraisement, Peshawar.
08. Syed Javed Younus, Superintendent, Directorate of Internal Audit (Customs), Karachi.
09. Saleem Riaz, Superintendent, Regional Tax Office – I, Karachi.
10. Muhammad Saleem Mandokhel, Superintendent, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Karachi.
11. Imtiaz Ahmed Afridi, Superintendent Preventive Service, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Dera Ismail Khan.
12. Jalil Ahmad Sial, Superintendent, Preventive Service, Collectorate of Customs, Enforcement, Karachi
13. Syed Raghib Hasnain Jaffery, Superintendent, Preventive Service, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Karachi.
14. Asad Masood, Principal Appraiser, Collectorate of Customs Appraisement (East), Karachi.
15. Ch. Babar Kabir, Principal Appraiser, Collectorate of Customs Exports, Karachi.
16. Ejaz Akhtar, Principal Appraiser, Collectorate of Customs (JIAP), Karachi.
17. Sadar Amin Farooqui, Principal Appraiser, Collectorate of Customs, Appraisement (PMBQ), Karachi.
18. Rao Gul Sher, Principal Appraiser, Collectorate of Customs (AIIA), Lahore.
The FBR said that the official would be on probation for a period of one year, extendable for a further period not exceeding one year, provided that if no order is issued by the day following the termination of the probationary period, the appointment shall deem to be held until further order.
The FBR further said that the posting notification will be issued separately and will assume charge of the post after issuance of the transfer/posting notification.
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WCO holds training for Pakistan Customs officers
World Customs Organization (WCO) in collaboration with International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section (INL), held a training program from November 8 to November 12, 2021, for officers of the Pakistan Customs Service.
Directorate General of Training and Research (Pakistan Customs), Karachi has facilitated the conduct of the COPES-CECAC ‘Train the Trainer’ project.
The Custom Enforcement Curriculum for Assistant Collectors is in line with Customs Operational Practices on Enforcement and Seizures (COPES) and is aimed at developing effective, professional, and transparent law enforcement institutions in Pakistan and increasing the capacity of Pakistan Customs in the realm of enforcement in the light of international best practices.
The inaugural ceremony of the program was held at DGTR Karachi and was unveiled by Director General DGTR, Ms. Surraiya Ahmed Butt.
She thanked WCO and INL for their support in this training and termed Train the Trainer program as an important milestone in the enhancement of the capabilities of the Pakistan Customs Service.
DG DGTR hoped that the training of 12 officers from Pakistan will create a pool of instructors which would help in the capacity building of Pakistan Customs.
Gilles Thomas from WCO gave a detailed introduction about the COPES program highlighting the gaps that exist in the Customs Officers’ professional standards and how the CECAC project would be an effort to bridge that gap by developing an enforcement curriculum.
Later, Mark Kennedy from INL appreciated the working relationship with Pakistan Customs in the realm of training and expressed his desire to further strengthen this cooperation.
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Customs introduces new module in WeBOC for SMEs
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has unveiled a new module within the WeBOC (Web-Based One Customs) system. This online Customs clearance system is designed to specifically cater to the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), aiming to streamline their operations in the realm of international trade.
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Customs ready to form valuation advisory committee
KARACHI: Dr. Fareed Iqbal Qureshi, Director General, Customs Valuation has said that Pakistan Customs is ready to constitute an advisory committee of the stakeholders from government and business community; and he has an open-door policy for addressing all the grievances.
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First consignment from Uzbekistan arrives in Pakistan
A consignment of four cargo trucks from Uzbekistan arrived at the Torkham border, marking the commencement of trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
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LEAs to get cash reward under Customs Rules
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will give cash rewards to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for recovery and confiscation of smuggled or non-duty paid goods under Customs laws.
The FBR issued SRO 1398(I)/2021 dated October 20, 2021, and proposed to include law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in Customs Reward Rules, 2021.
According to the draft amendment, the FBR proposed to include in reward rules the “officers and officials of other law enforcement agencies who assist Customs officers and officials or are actually instrumental in the seizure of smuggled goods and vehicles as confirmed by the respective collectorate of customs, for their meritorious conduct in such cases only after realization of part or whole of the duty and taxes involved in such cases.”
At present, the eligibility for reward stated that cash reward shall be sanctioned under the rules to the following categories of persons in cases involving evasion of duty and other taxes, and confiscation of goods, namely:
(a) officers and officials of Pakistan Customs Service for their contribution in such cases; and
(b) informer providing credible information leading to such confiscation or detection, as the case may be.
As per SRO 1386(I)/2012 dated November 26, 2021, the determination of reward has been explained as the amount of reward, in cases involving evasion of duty and other taxes, and confiscation of goods shall be determined in the following manner:
01. Where the amount of customs duty and other taxes realized is Rs500,000 or less, the amount of reward shall be 20 per cent of the customs duty and other taxes.
02. Where the amount of customs duty and other taxes realized is more than Rs500,000 but not more than Rs1,000,000, the amount of reward shall be Rs100,000 plus 10 per cent of the customs duty and other taxes in excess of Rs500,000.
03. Where the amount of customs duty and other taxes realized is over Rs1,000,000, the amount of reward shall be Rs150,000 plus 5 per cent of the customs duty and other taxes in excess of Rs1,000,000.
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FBR announces waiver of penal surcharge
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to waive the penal surcharge on goods that have overstayed at warehouses.
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Valuation committees for Afghan, Iran goods to be set up
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will constitute local valuation committee for customs valuations of goods imported or exported from Afghanistan and Iran.
Through SRO 1352 (I)/2021 dated October 14, 2021, the FBR issued draft amendments for local valuation committee rules under Section 25A of the Customs Act, 1969.
The proposed amendments would be applicable for the determination of value of goods of Afghan and Iran origin in order to regulate the Pak-Afghan bilateral trade by discouraging the incidences of under invoicing and smuggling.
The FBR said that the proposed amendments would be applicable on the Afghan and Iran origin goods, imported from Afghanistan and Iran through land routes. In case, if an item is being imported through sea route in significant quantities from Iran, then, the value of such items shall be determined in consultation with Directorate of Valuation, Karachi.
According to the draft amendments, the respective collector of customs (appraisement), on his own motion, in his area of jurisdiction may determine the customs values of any goods or category of goods imported in or exported out of Pakistan from or to Afghanistan and Iran through land customs stations through the following valuation committee constituted for the said purpose, members whereof shall be nominated by collector concerned, namely:
(a) one additional collector of the collectorate (chairman of the committee);
(b) two deputy or assistant collectors of the collectorate (Members of the committee);
(c) superintendents of principal appraisers or appraisers or inspectors as required;
(d) representative of respective chamber of commerce and industry;
(e) representative of Customs’ clearing agents association;
(f) All Pakistan Dry Fruits Importer and Exporter Association;
(g) all Pakistan Fresh Fruits Importers and Exporters Association; and
(h) any other co-opted member as deemed appropriate by the collector.
The values so determined by the collector on recommendations of the committee shall be valid for six months.
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FBR assures traders of facilitating Pak-Afghan trade
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Saturday assured the traders of providing all facilities for the clearance of goods at the Pak-Afghan border.
Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmad accompanied by Syed Tariq Huda Member(Customs Operations) and Saeed Jadoon Member (Customs Policy) on Saturday visited Torkham Border and reviewed the pace and quality of services being provided by Pakistan Customs to facilitate trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Immediately after his arrival, he ensured the clearance of about 1400 trucks loaded with fruit from Afghanistan which had got stuck at the border.
The customs staff assured him to accelerate the process of 100 more trucks awaiting clearance.
Earlier, he held an important meeting with traders from both sides of the border and assured them of all possible assistance by FBR in ensuring the smooth and easy flow of bilateral trade.
He positively hoped that the Customs staff posted there will maintain the highest standards of professional conduct in the discharge of their official duty.
It is pertinent to mention that on Friday FBR had issued an important circular granting special exemption from Sales Tax to the import of fresh fruit from Afghanistan.
This rare concession by FBR is being appreciated by traders from both sides as a landmark decision that will certainly promote trade between the two neighboring countries.
A day earlier, the FBR issued a press release stating that the chairman would visit the Pak-Afghan border to oversee the function of currency declaration.
The FBR through the press release denied reports of currency smuggling.
It said Pakistan Customs has made it mandatory for all passengers flying out of the country to undergo thorough personal scrutiny and 100 per cent declaration of currency through an automated process in order to ward off this nefarious illegal activity. This leaves the little possibility of the subject undesirable practice.