FBR issues procedure for safe transportation of ISAF cargo

FBR issues procedure for safe transportation of ISAF cargo

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued procedure for movement of International Security Assistant Force (ISAF) cargo under Pakistan Customs Container Security System (PCCSS).

The FBR through a notification dated April 17, 2020 said that the procedure as followed for the transshipment cargo shall be applicable for sealing and de-sealing of ISAF cargo with the following modification:

(i) The containers will be sealed with customs machine readable seal at Karachi by PCCSS after representative of ISAF has inspected, verified and confirmed that the Bill of Lading (B/L) seal/ other seal are intact. Sealing will be done in presence of authorized agent.

(ii) The routes shall be specified by the PCCSS, and any different route or time taken en route will be informed to incharge PCCSS by the ISAF representative.

(iii) The private companies authorized by the FBR to carry ISAF cargo in addition to National Logistic Cell (NLC) will have their transport units registered with PCCSS and the Directorate of Transit Trade, Karachi, or as specifically allowed by Incharge PCCSS on, a case to case basis.

(iv) The unloading from Pakistani Transport Unit and loading on Afghan Transport Unit/authorized units will be done at Peshawar/Quetta dry port. In case unloading is done at the respective terminals of the private carriers, the Incharge PCCSS FP Peshawar/Quetta will coordinate with the FP, carriers and ISAF officials and depute PCCSS staff of these terminals for checking of seals. Officials of ISAF/American Consulate will check their own seals and may affix another seal of their own for their checking at Beghrem Base.

(v) The PCCSS FP Peshawar/Quetta will check the Customs seal as well as other seals and unless a discrepancy is noted, allow the change of transport after noting the number of Second Transport of the Form A. The staff on return to PCCSS Focal Point will enter the verification of the seal in the computer.

(vi) The PCCSS seals will be removed at Focal Point Exit Torkham/Chaman, scanned by the bar code reader and stored in the disposal receptacle.

(vii) Returning containers from Afghanistan will be sealed at Torkham/Chaman only if not empty, as per procedure adopted for ISAF at Karachi for container bound for Afghanistan. Empty containers will not be sealed.

Goods not to be sealed: All containerized cargo which is transshipped, in transit or for export is to be sealed. However, in case of large machinery and awkward loads wherein the seals cannot be applied, the decision will be taken by Incharge Focal Point based on the level of risk in transshipment of such cargo. The Incharge Focal Points will also decided if photographs are to be taken and sent to Incharge PCCSS. In such case the Form A will not carry a seal number, but will mention reasons for not sealing the cargo and whether a photograph of the load/cargo has been sent by e-mail.