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Category: Pakistan Customs

  • Customs officials promoted to post of assistant collector

    Customs officials promoted to post of assistant collector

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday notified promotions of customs officials to the post of Assistant Collector (BS-17) in the Pakistan Customs Service with immediate effect and until further orders.

    Following officers have been promoted to the post of Assistant Collector (BS-17):

    01. Muhammad Khalid, Superintendent, RTO, Gujranwala.

    02. Mehmood Ahmad Nasir, Superintendent, CRTO, Lahore.

    03. Manoo Mal Galwani, Superintendent, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Lahore.

    04. Amjad Lal Junejo, Superintendent, RTO, Hyderabad.

    05. Ms. Kausar Jabeen, Superintended, RTO-II Karachi.

    06. Samasam Qadir Shah, Superintendent Preventive Service, MCC (Enforcement & Compliance), Karachi.

    07. Nasir Iqbal Kasuri, Principal Appraiser, MCC (Appraisement and Facilitation) East, Karachi.

    08. Abdul Qayyum, Principal Appraiser, MCC (Appraisement & Facilitation)-East, Karachi.

    09. Shafiullah, Principal Appraiser, MCC (Appraisement and Facilitation) – East, Karachi.

    10. Abdul Hameed, Principal Appraiser, Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi.

    The FBR said that promotion of the officers will take effect from the date of their joining/change assumption, subject to the condition that no disciplinary proceedings/inquiry is pending against them. Their formal posting will b notified separately.

    The FBR said that the officials will be on probation for a period of one year, extendable for further period, not exceeding one year, provided that if no order is issued the day following the termination of probationary period, the appointment shall deem to be held until further order.

  • Customs collectorates to observe extended working hours on June 29-30

    Customs collectorates to observe extended working hours on June 29-30

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday said that the collectorates of Customs will observe extended working hours on June 29 and 30, 2020 to facilitate trade and business in payment of duty and taxes.

    The FBR said that all filed offices of customs will remain open and observe extended working hours till 10:00 PM on June 29, 2020 (Monday) and till 12:00 midnight on June 30, 2020 (Tuesday) for collection of duty and taxes.

    The FBR directed chief collectors of Customs to establish liaison with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and authorized branches of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to ensure transfer of the duty and taxes collected by these branches on June 30, 2020 to the respective branches of State Bank of Pakistan on the same date so as to account for the same towards collection for the month of June 2020.

  • ECC decides to abolish regulatory duty on smuggling prone items

    ECC decides to abolish regulatory duty on smuggling prone items

    ISLAMABAD – The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved the abolition of regulatory duty on several items prone to smuggling, in a move aimed at discouraging illegal trade and enhancing legal imports.

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  • Customs barred from auction of cigarettes without health warning

    Customs barred from auction of cigarettes without health warning

    ISLAMABAD: Customs authorities have been barred from auction of confiscated cigarettes without printed health warning.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday issued draft amendment to Customs Rules 2001. In this regard SRO 554(I)/2020 has been issued to invite comments from stakeholders.

    The FBR proposed amendment to sub-rule (3) of rule 58 of Customs Rules, 2001. The proposed amendment is: “(vi) cigarettes packing whereof does not bear printed graphical health warning in accordance with Section 3 of the Cigarettes (Printing of Warning) Ordinance, 1979.”

    Prior to this proposed amendment, as per sub-rule (3) the following goods shall not be put on auction and be sold or disposed off in the manner as prescribed by the FBR, namely:

    Arms and ammunition;

    Liquor/narcotics and like goods;

    Confiscated books, written material which in obscene, subversive, anti-state or anti-religion;

    Transit goods excluding confiscated goods; and

    Diplomatic cargo excluding confiscated goods.

  • FBR promotes 14 customs officers to BS-19

    FBR promotes 14 customs officers to BS-19

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday announced promotion of 14 officers of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) from BS-18 to the post of Additional Collectors BS-19 on regular basis with immediate effect.

    Following officers have been promoted to BS-19:

    1. Ali Raza Turabi

    2. Dr. Imran Rasool Khan

    3. Muhammad Hassan Farid

    4. Ghulam Hyder Mahesar

    5. Muhammad Nauman Tashfeen

    6. Moeen Afzal Ali

    7. Junaid Usman Akram

    8. Rana Irfan Shaukat

    9. Saad Ata Rabbani

    10. Wajid Zaman

    11. Zakir Muhammad

    12. Ihsanullah Shah

    13. Ammara Durrani

    14. Muhammad Qasim Khokhar

    The FBR said that the officers who are already working in BS-19 on OPS basis will actualize their promotion against these posts.

    Posting / Transfer of the remaining officers will be notified separately, and they shall actualize accordingly.

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

  • DG Transit Trade Zahid Khokhar dies of COVID

    DG Transit Trade Zahid Khokhar dies of COVID

    KARACHI: Muhammad Zahid Khokhar, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) and Director General of Transit Trade, passed away on Monday morning due to complications related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). He was one of the most senior and respected officers in the PCS and had only recently been promoted to the rank of BS-22.

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  • FBR allows Rs9.4 billion regulatory duty exemption on vehicle import

    FBR allows Rs9.4 billion regulatory duty exemption on vehicle import

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed exemption from regulatory duty to the tune of Rs9.4 billion on import of vehicles during outgoing fiscal year.

    According to official documents, the revenue body granted exemption from regulatory duty under SRO 640(I)/2018 and SRO 1265(I)/2018 on import of vehicles by new entrants.

    The FBR allowed regulatory duty exemption of Rs6.46 billion under SRO 1265(I)/2018. The FBR issued details of the exemption of regulatory duty under this SRO granted under Para 2 of SRO for import under SRO678-2004, Fifth Schedule, Chapter 99, SRO 492-2009, 565-2006, import of vehicles by new entrants.

    Another amount of Rs2.93 billion granted as exemption from regulatory duty under SRO 640(I)/2018. Giving description, the FBR said that exemption of RD was given under Para 2 of the SRO for imports under SRO 678-2004, Fifth Schedule, Chapter-99, SRO 492-2009, 565-2006, import of Vehicles by new entrants, etc.  

  • Key changes to customs laws amended through Finance Bill 2020

    Key changes to customs laws amended through Finance Bill 2020

    ISLAMABAD: The government has announced major changes to Customs Act, 1969 through Finance Bill, 2020.

    EY Ford Rhodes Chartered Accountants highlighted the key changes to Customs Act, 1969 that are amended through Finance Bill, 2020.

    Following are the key changes introduced through Finance Bill, 2020:

    • Procedure to obtain advance ruling has been prescribed along with revision in the definition of advance ruling
    • The penalties related to smuggling are proposed to be more rationalized along with the change in the definition of smuggling, to broaden its scope.
    • It is proposed to decide cases related to smuggling by the ATIR within a period of thirty days.
    • Exemption of customs duties on imports for setting up new industries in erstwhile FATA area is proposed to be extended up to year 2023.
    • Concessions available to Special Economic Zones are proposed to be enhanced.
    • Tariff protection is proposed for domestic industry by increasing / levy of regulatory duty on import of items which are locally manufactured.
    • Customs duty on 90 Tariff lines are proposed to be reduced from 11 percent to 3 percent and 0 percent for the purpose of Tariff rationalization under National Tariff Policy, 2019.
    • To boost exports and to secure domestic manufacturing sector, duties on more than 40 tariff lines are proposed to be exempted or reduced.
    • Reduction in regulatory duty on several items is proposed to discourage the smuggling of goods and to decrease the cost of doing business in several sectors.
    • Extension in exemption period, which was due to be expired on 20 June 2020, from customs duties on import of goods including edible oils and oil seeds covered under COVID-19 relief package.
    • Exemption / reduction in customs duty is proposed to be available to the manufacturers, subject to IOCO quota determination, in respect of the following-
    • Exemption – Butyl Acetate, Syringes and saline infusion sets, buttons, raw material for beverage can manufacturing and import of machinery, equipment and other project related items for setting up of internet cable landing station.
    • Reduction – Raw material for manufacturing of interlining/bukram, wire rod, food packaging.
    • Additional customs duty is proposed to be reduced on those tariffs lines on which customs duty is applicable at 0 percent, including on Palm Stearin for incentivizing soap manufacturing industry.
    • Regulatory duty on Hot Rolled Coils (HRC) of Iron and steel falling under PCT Codes 7208 and 7225 & 7226 respectively is proposed to be reduced from 12.5 percent and 17.5 percent to 6 percent and 11 percent respectively.
    • Exemption in duties & taxes on import of dietetic foods for children with inherited metabolic disorders, diagnostic kits for cancer and corona virus, Ready to use Supplementary Foods (RUSF), lifesaving drug Meglumine Antimonite for treatment of leishmaniasis.
  • Customs law amended related to burden of proof

    Customs law amended related to burden of proof

    ISLAMABAD: The Finance Bill 2020 has made amendments to Customs Act, 1969 and made it mandatory for a person alleged of any offence is required to prove that property acquired by him is not from proceed of crime.

    The Finance Bill 2020 proposed to amend Section 187 of Customs Act, 1969. Following amendment has been proposed (changes in red):

    187. Burden of proof as to lawful authority etc.- When any person is alleged to have committed an offence under this Act and any question arises whether he did any act or was in possession of anything with lawful authority or under a permit, license or other document prescribed by or under any law for the time being in force, the burden of proving that he had such authority, permit, license or other document shall lie on him:

    “Provided that any person, alleged to have committed an offence under this Act, shall bear the burden of proof that any property owned by him in his name or someone else name was not acquired from the proceeds of such crime:

    Provided further that the procedure for forfeiture of such property shall be prescribed by the Board under the rules.”;

  • Law tightened to prevent fiscal fraud on imported goods

    Law tightened to prevent fiscal fraud on imported goods

    ISLAMABAD: The Finance Bill, 2020 issued on Friday has proposed tightening customs law to prevent fiscal fraud on imported goods.

    The bill proposed amendment to Section 32A of Customs Act, 1969 which is related to fiscal fraud.

    A new clause (ca) has been proposed to insert to the section, which is:

    “(ca) declares value which is significantly higher or lower than the actual value, that is, the price actually paid or payable for the goods when sold for export to Pakistan, proceedings may be initiated under this section subject to conditions or limitations as may be prescribed by the Board under the rules;”; and

    in clause (e), for the expression “(c)” the expression “(c), (ca)” shall be shall be substituted; and

    In sub-section (2), for the full stop at the end, a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following proviso shall be added, namely:-

    “Provided that an offence, having no revenue implication but covered under sub-section (1), shall also be served with show cause notice within a period of one hundred and eighty days of detection of such fraud for penal action under the relevant provisions of law.”;

    The existing text of the Section is read as:

    32A. Fiscal fraud.- (1) If any person, in connection with any matter related to customs-

    (a) causes to submit documents including those filed electronically, which are concocted, altered, mutilated, false, forged, tempered or counterfeit to a functionary of customs;

    (b) declares in the goods declaration electronically filed customs declaration, the name and address of any exporter or importer which is physically non-existent at the given address;

    (c) declares in the goods declaration electronically filed customs declaration, an untrue information regarding payment of duties and taxes through self-assessment, description, quantity, quality, origin and value of goods;

    (d) alters, mutilates or suppresses any finding of the customs functionary on any document or in the computerized record; or

    (e) attempts, abets or connives in any action mentioned in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.

    (2) Where, by any reason as referred to in sub-section (1) as aforesaid, any duty or tax charged or fee or fine and penalty levied under any provision of law has not been levied or has been short levied or has been refunded, the person liable to pay any amount on that account shall be served with a notice within a period of 180 days of the date of detection of such custom duty and tax fraud, requiring him to show cause as to why he should not pay the amount specified in the notice along with any other amount imposed as fine or penalty under the provisions of this Act.

    (3) The appropriate Adjudicating Officer, after considering the written or verbal representation of such person, may determine the amount of duty or tax chargeable or fee payable by such person which shall in no case exceed the amount specified in the notice and such person shall pay the amount so determined besides the fine or penalty or both.