KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has issued travel guide for persons departing to or arriving from abroad regarding clearance of goods under prevailing laws.
GREEN CHANNEL
Green Channel, as the color signifies, means freely passing without any Customs formalities. This is for the passengers who do not posses articles or goods that are restricted or in excess of the admissible duty-free allowance, if any.
Customs officials are authorized to randomly request the passengers availing the facility of Green Channel to allow scanning of their luggage and if necessary to allow physical examination by opening the luggage. This is normal custom procedure adopted world wide to counter misuse of Green Channel facility.
If you are so requested by a custom official, please understand that you have been picked up either randomly or on the basis of certain risk parameters and you are expected to cooperate with the customs officials.
Passengers passing through the Green channel with articles or goods that are prohibited, restricted or dutiable are liable to prosecution, penalty as well as confiscation of the articles or goods.
RED CHANNEL
Red Channel, as the color signifies, means passing after completion of customs formalities. This is for the passengers having restricted or dutiable articles or goods.
REGULATION ON ARTICLES OR GOODS
Articles or goods brought in commercial quantities are released only on payment of fine equal to 30% of the value of articles or goods or in addition to the applicable duty and taxes.
COMMERCIAL QUANTITY
A quantity of goods imported prima facie for trading or pecuniary gain and not for personal use or gift.
PROHIBITED ARTICLES OR GOODS
Are those which cannot be imported in to or exported from Pakistan under any circumstances being prohibited or banned to protect society, health and the environment.
RESTRICTED ARTICLES OR GOODS
Are those which can be imported to or exported from Pakistan subject to certain certifications, conditions, licenses, permissions or restrictions.
Some of the most common prohibited and restricted articles or goods that cannot be imported to or exported from Pakistan, are listed in the baggage rules brochure.
RE-IMPORT OF ARTICLES OR GOODS
Re-import of articles or goods earlier taken out of Pakistan can be brought back free of custom duty and other taxes. Passengers intending to re-import articles or goods are advised to obtain export certificate or an endorsement on the passport, as to the exact description of the articles or goods, and distinguishable marks thereof certified by the Assistant Collector of Customs at the time of passenger’s departure from Pakistan.
Duty free re-import of articles or goods is not allowed in the absence of the export certificate or endorsement on the passport.
FOREIGN CURRENCY REGULATION
Bringing in of foreign currencies is permitted without any limit. A passenger can bring any amount of any foreign currency to Pakistan. Taking out foreign currencies is permitted up to US $ 10,000 un-conditionally.
Taking out Pakistan currency exceeding Rs. 3,000 is not permitted and in case of departing for India a maximum of Rs. 500 is permitted.
DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE
Regulations related to duty free allowance for Pakistani nationals are laid out in the baggage rules brochure.
TRANSFER OF RESIDENCE
The concept of Transfer of Residence means return of Pakistani national after staying abroad for a period of two (2) years or more. It also includes the transfer of residence by a foreign national coming to Pakistan for a period of not less than two (2) years.
