Category: Pakistan Customs

Ministry issues import, export of e-commerce rules

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has issued rules for assessment and clearance of imported or exported goods through e-commerce.

The ministry issued SRO 14(I)/2021 for the application of the rules that will apply for assessment and clearance of imported or exported goods of business to consumer (B2C) transactions through authorized dealer via designated customs stations.

However, these rules will not apply on the following goods:

(a) Goods requiring testing of samples;

(b) Animals;

(c) Perishable goods;

(d) Food stuff including beverages;

(e) Medicines of any sort;

(f) Alcoholic drinks;

(g) Restricted items subject to fulfillment of import and export regulations under the relevant law;

(h) Prohibited under sections 15 and 16 of the Customs Act, 1969 along with allied law; and

(i) Import and export goods which are intended for clearance from customs stations or airport other than at which arrived.

The ministry defined the e-commerce as buying and selling of goods or services including digital products through electronic transactions conducted via the internet or other computer mediated (online communication) networks.

According to the rules, the registered courier shall file the prior arrival manifest of e-commerce goods. The risk management system shall be applied at the manifest filing stage.

A consumer shall provide the details of shipment and e-commerce importer. E-commerce goods of the consumer shall be cleared upon provision of information prior to the manifest or post arrival of the goods.

The goods declaration shall be filed by the registered courier on behalf of e-commerce importer and exporter on the specified type of goods declaration for the purpose of e-commerce.

The goods shall be cleared upon examination and assessment through WeBOC system upon decision by the RMS.

Duty and taxes shall be paid by the e-commerce importer and exporter through methods, included: self payment by the e-commerce importer and exporter through a unique payment ID; or payment through authorized registered courier.

March 12, 2021

FBR inducts 14 fresh chemical examiners in customs department

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday inducted 14 fresh chemical examiners (BS-16) in the Customs department.

The FBR said that consequent upon the recommendations of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), Islamabad vide letter No.F.4-140/2019-R(FS-I), dated 18.01.2021 and having accepted the terms and conditions of appointment contained in the offer of appointment letter No.1(44)/2018-Cus-III dated 25.01.2021, the following candidates are hereby appointed as Deputy Assistant Chemical Examiner (BS-16) in the Customs Department under the Federal Board of Revenue:-

Sr#	FPSC Roll #	Name of the Candidates	Place of posting
1	921	Muhammad Waqas Ahmad	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
2	79	Arif Ali	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
3	548	Hafiza Fatima Yasin	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
4	742	Sajjad Ali	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
5	490	Ali Qasim	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
6	1105	Shakeel Khan	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
7	586	Maham Naeem	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
8	965	Taimoor Tawseen	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-West, Karachi
9	563	Husna Sarfraz	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-East, Karachi
10	306	Sobia Noreen	Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation-East, Karachi
11	1093	Rashid Menhas	Model Customs Collectorate of Exports (Port Muhammad Bin Qasim), Karachi
12	1151	Shah Khalid	Model Customs Collectorate of Exports (Port Muhammad Bin Qasim), Karachi
13	118	Ghulam Rasool	Model Customs Collectorate of Exports, Customs House, Karachi
14	927	Noman Saleem	Model Customs Collectorate of Exports, Customs House, Karachi

The FBR said that their seniority will be maintained in order of merit assigned by Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and in accordance with the Civil Servants (Seniority) Rules, 1993. Other terms and conditions of their service will be the same as already conveyed vide FBR letter dated January 25, 2021.

The officers have been advised to join the concerned Customs field formation mentioned against their names immediately but not later than March 26, 2021.

March 10, 2021

Mismanagement causes financial losses to traders

KARACHI: Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) on Monday said that mismanagement by container terminal and shipping line caused non-clearance and huge financial losses to importers.

Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) in a statement said that traders (Importers) are facing loss of millions of rupees due to non-clearance of 73 import consignments because of mismanagement of Pakistan International Containers Terminal Ltd and Shipping Company/Agent M/s. Sharaf Shipping Agency (Pvt) Ltd.

According to Import General Manifest (IGM) 90/2021, the vessel Segara Mas V-2100W had to berth at PICT on 24^th February 2021 but amazingly PICT by claiming non availability of space turned the vessel towards SAPT, whereas 73 GDs had already been filed by the traders and paid duties and taxes worth million of rupees accordingly.

Upon berthing at South Asia Pakistan Terminal Ltd (SAPT) another IGM 101/2021 was lodged by the shipping agent due to which 73 consignments have not been cleared yet. In this regard the General Secretary Mr. Mehmood ul Hasan Awan informed that the shipping company was well aware that 73 index of VIR 90/2021 has been claimed vide Goods Declaration filed by the traders & customs agents.

In these circumstances, the shipping company should discharge cargo / containers of 73 claimed Index at PICT and all other consignments should be discharged at SAPT if it was necessary. M/s. Sharaf Shipping Agency in collaboration with PICT deliberately shifted vessel to SAPT to get additional cost from the traders on account of demurrage and container detention charges.

The management of Pakistan International Containers also illegally keeps consignments outside its Bonded Area and do not provide facilities to examine the consignment to facilitate trade.

March 8, 2021
Customs clearance of iron, steel scrap linked with LMB value

KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has linked the import value of iron and steel scrap with the prices published in London Metal Bulletin (LMB) in order to ensure smooth customs clearance, sources said on Thursday.

The sources said that the Directorate of Customs Valuation last week issued valuation ruling for iron and steel scrap after considering fluctuation in prices in the international markets and on a solution recommended by stakeholders regarding adoption of LMB prices.

The sources said that the directorate previously amended the values of iron and steel scrap through a valuation ruling issued on July 02, 2020.

However, the directorate had received recommendations from stakeholders that the values fixed for the imported goods were causing problems to importers at the clearance stage because the international market varied with demand and supply factor.

The stakeholders also recommended that prices of scrap were also published in LMB for Pakistan imports. Therefore, to ensure transparency, fairness as well as uniformity in assessment, the value should be linked with LMB prices and freight factor should be added when published prices given as FOB (freight on board).

During the meetings to review the valuation of iron and steel scrap, the stakeholders provided copies of the LMB prices and contracts values imported to Pakistan.

Considering the facts, the directorate allowed the customs clearance of iron and steel scrap at the import value published by the LMB.

However, for compressor scrap the directorate fixed $660 per metric ton as customs value for determination of duty and taxes at the time of clearance.

The importers of compressor scraps informed the directorates that 90 percent of the scrap was imported from the USA where chances of under-invoicing were minimal. They demanded that either the scrap should be excluded from ruling or its value should be reduced from current value as per the invoices of recent import values provided by them.

March 4, 2021
Pre-arrival customs clearance rolled out to five airlines

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday said that it has extended the pre-arrival custom clearance facility to five airlines.

A FBR spokesman on a pilot project on customs clearance in the Sky that was started with Qatar Airways has now been rolled out to five other airlines.

Urgent shipments on Turkish Airlines, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and YTO cargo are being processed through customs risk management system hours before flight arrival at Karachi Airport.

Pakistan Customs has introduced a pre-arrival clearance facility last month under its flagship pilot project ‘Clearance in the Sky’ at Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) Karachi.

The cargo manifest is filed in advance immediately after the take-off of the flight from the origin. The advance feeding of manifest allows the traders and their customs clearing agents to file their goods declarations to the customs.

The declarations filed in advance are checked through the risk management system. An electronic message on the release status is sent to the traders while the goods are still in the air.

March 2, 2021
FBR devises mechanism for release of consignments stuck-up at Karachi ports

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday devised a mechanism for release of imported goods of FATA/PATA residents stuck-up at Karachi ports.

A meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the FBR chairman with Inland Revenue-Operations and Customs Operations Wings to sort out the issues of imported goods of FATA/PATA residents stuck-up at Karachi Ports, Consumption/Installation Certificates, Postdated Cheques and Exemption Certificates under Section 148 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2021.

After thorough deliberations between the Chairman, Member (IR-Operations) and Member (Customs-Operations) following mechanism was devised for the release of consignments of FATA/PATA residents stuck-up at the Karachi Ports:-

The stuck-up containers are to be released by Customs authorities against Postdated Cheques (PDCs) and sent to their destination (FATA/PATA) under standard tracker mechanism.

The Collector Customs (Enforcement & Compliance), Peshawar, will issue detention orders of the raw materials effective from day the consignment reaches the manufacturing premise of importers.

The importer/manufacturer will be responsible to take the import documents alongwith detention order to the CIR concerned, RTO, Peshawar and make arrangements to have the manufacturing premises/raw material/machinery/goods imported verified.

The CIR concerned, RTO, Peshawar will be liable to verify/undertake physical visit as conducted by the importer/manufacturer to the manufacturing premises where the goods are kept under detention, and allow the raw material to be consumed/utilized in writing.

The CIR, concerned, RTO, Peshawar will ensure the monthly stock-taking of the raw materials to consumed in the production of manufactured goods by these manufacturing units. This stock-taking will facilitate in issuance of the

Consumption Certificate under S.No.151 of the Sixth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

The residents of FATA/PATA will apply for tax exemption certificates under section 159 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 for the import of raw material/machinery in light of the Honorable Peshawar High Court, Mingora Bench, (Dara-ul-Qaza), Swat’s decision dated 24.11.2020.

Commissioner Corporate, RTO, Peshawar and Collector Customs (Enforcement & Compliance), Peshawar would keep a close liaison to successfully implement the laid down mechanism.

March 2, 2021
Customs intelligence to auction huge quantity Indian fabric on March 03

ISLAMABAD: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Faisalabad has announced public auction of huge quantity Indian origin fabric on March 03, 2021.

According to details the directorate announced to auction of confiscated goods and vehicles lying in the State Warehouse, I&I Customs Faisalabad. A huge quantity of 18,870 kilograms of Indian origin Shafoon cloth will be presented for the auction.

The details of other goods that will be presented for the auction is as following:

Old and used serviceable electric motors: 6000 kgs

Rani Fruit Juice (Made in Iran): 93840 tins

Dry Garlic Packed in PP bags: 7350 kgs

Cigarette Paper verge: 2000 kgs

Glassware crockery, Made in Iran: 1830-kgs

Cashew Karnels: 300 kgs

Shopping bags, product of Iran: 24,875 kgs

Knitted fabric in rolls: 1366 kgs

High Speed Diesel oil: 16,500 liters

The directorate will also auction following motor vehicles:

01. Toyota Premio Car, Model 2003, Chassis No. ZZT240-5001532, 1800CC, Registration No. QB-777, Islamabad

02. Toyota Premio Car, Model 2010, Chassis No. ZRT260-3070933, Engine No. 2ZR-0675778, 1797CC, Registration No. ZW-309, Islamabad

03. Toyota Fielder Car, Model 2000, Chasis No. NZE121-0011900, Engine No. 1nZ-FE, Horse Power 1500CC, Registration No. AAQ-078, Quetta.

04. Honda Civic Car, Model 2001, Chassis No. JHmES85801S204430, Engine No. D15Y6-1001921, 1500CC, Registration No. LEE14-9038

05. Toyota Fielder Car, Model 2004, Chassis No. NZE121-0306342, 1496CC, Registration No. AAN-468, Quetta

06. Toyota Corolla Car, Model 2004, Chassis No. NZE121-3270181. 1500CC, Registration No. BW-672 Islamabad

07. Toyota Vitz Car, Model 2006, Chassis No. KSP90-5068919, 1000CC, Registration No. LEA12-5079.

February 28, 2021
FBR proposes penalty for late payment by Authorized Economic Operators

KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed penalty for defaulting in payment for customs clearance by Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs).

The FBR issued SRO 263(I)/2021 dated February 23, 2021 and proposed amendment to Customs Rules, 2002 related to authorized economic operators.

According to the law, the authorized economic operator (AEO) is a certified entity which fulfils the security criteria and other laid down obligations and derives benefits as prescribed in the rules and may include manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs house agents, brokers, shipping lines, carriers, consolidators, intermediaries, port operators, airport operators, terminal operators, integrate operators, warehouse, distributors, freight forwarders and logistic service providers.

According to the proposed amendment the facility of deferred payment of duty and taxes will be provided in such manner that all duty and taxes payment in a month shall be paid within that month by the last day of the month in which the clearance was made, otherwise AEO holder shall pay surcharge at the rate of three percent plus KIBOR from date of clearance of goods, and shall be liable for action deemed appropriate by the regulatory collector under the applicable law, which may include the suspension or revocation of the AEO status.

February 28, 2021
13 Customs officers promoted to BS-20

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday notified promotions of 13 officers of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) from BS-19 to BS-20 on regular basis with immediate effect.

Following Customs officers have been promoted to BS-20:

1. Hassan Saqib Sheikh

2. Masood Ahmed

3. Fayaz Rasool

4. Sanaullah Abro

5. Muhammad Tahir

6. Muhammad Saleem Memon

7. Muhammad Amir Thahim

8. Yousaf Haider Orakzai

9. Munib Sarwar

10. Muhammad Ismail

11. Farrukh Sajjad

12. Ms. Tayyeba Kayani Moeed

13. Muhammad Nayyar Shafiq

The FBR said that the officers, who are presently posted against BS-20 posts on OPS, will actualize their promotions against their respective BS-20 positions. Postings of the remaining officers will be notified separately.

The officers mentioned at Sr.No.2 and 12 will actualize their promotions on return from deputation in the light of Para 5(5) of the Civil Servants Promotion (BPS-18 to BPS-21) Rules, 2019 issued vide SRO 1493(1)/2019 dated 03.12.2019.

The officers at Sr.No.11 & 13 will actualize their promotions against Board’s Notification No.0426-C-I/2021 dated 26.02.2021.

The officers, if drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification, shall continue to draw the allowance on their promotion.

February 26, 2021
FBR notifies promotions of Customs officers to BS-21

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday notified promotions of BS-20 officers of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) to BS-21 on regular basis with immediate effect.

Following officers have been promoted to BS-21:

1. Muhammad Iqbal Bhawana

2. Wajid Ali

3. Ms. Rabab Sikandar

4. Zulfiqar Younus

5. Ms. Shahnaz Maqbool

6. Ahmad Rauf

7. Ms. Seema Raza Bokhari

The FBR said that the officers, who are presently posted against BS-21 posts on OPS, will actualize their promotions against their respective BS-21 positions. Postings of the remaining officers will be notified separately.

The officers mentioned at Sr.No.4, 5 and 7 shall actualize their promotions on return from deputation in the light of Para 5(5) of the Civil Servants Promotion (BPS-18 to BPS-21) Rules, 2019 issued vide SRO 1493(1)/2019 dated 03.12.2019.

The officer at Sr.No.1 will actualize his promotion against Board’ Notification No. 0424-C-I/2021 dated 26.02.2021.

The officers, if drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification, shall continue to draw this allowance on their promotion.

February 26, 2021