ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday asked terminal operators to provide 15-day free time to imported cargo at port area without demurrage and detention charges in the wake of coronavirus lockdown.
The FBR said that Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) had asked the board to intervene into the matter as a large number of containers were laying pending at the port area for customs clearance due to ongoing lockdown to control coronavirus spread.
The FBR said that Pakistan is currently facing a great challenge to address the issue of spread of COVID-19. As a result a lockdown and restriction of movement of people / vehicles, the time duration for lifting the cargo from the ports is exceeding the free time as allowed to the importers under normal course of business.
“Given the current situation and to facilitate trade, it is requested that demurrage and detention charges may not be charged from the importers for a period of 15 days in addition to the free time already allowed by the port authorities,” the FBR said.
