Karachi, April 4, 2025 – In a significant move to streamline import assessments, the Directorate General of Pakistan Customs has issued Valuation Ruling No. 1995 of 2025, establishing updated customs values for ammunition.
This decision directly impacts how duties and taxes are calculated at the import stage and aims to ensure greater uniformity and transparency in valuation practices.
The ruling, issued under Section 25A of the Customs Act, 1969, provides new customs benchmarks specifically for ammunition of various calibers and origins. These customs values are to be treated as the minimum threshold for duty assessment until revised or rescinded by the competent authority. The ruling will remain in effect unless formally amended under the specified legal provisions.
The customs valuation process was initiated following repeated concerns from stakeholders over the existing valuation levels of ammunition, which were deemed higher than prevailing market realities. A formal meeting was held with stakeholders on January 31, 2025, where importers and industry representatives presented their viewpoints. Participants were asked to submit supporting import documentation to justify the revision in ammunition values.
In order to determine the appropriate customs values, the Directorate of Customs carried out a comprehensive analysis. This included evaluating ninety days of import data, cross-referencing declared values, and conducting market surveys. Multiple valuation methods under Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1969 were considered in sequence. Due to a lack of consistent documentary evidence, the transaction, identical, and similar goods methods were found insufficient. Eventually, the Directorate used the computed and fallback methods under Sections 25(7) and 25(9) to finalize the customs values for ammunition.
The new valuation ruling provides specific customs values for different calibers of ammunition, including .30 bore, 9mm, and .223 Rem cartridges, originating from China and other countries. These values will now serve as the baseline for customs duty assessments. In instances where the declared value exceeds the determined customs value, customs officers are instructed to apply the higher declared value.
Traders who are dissatisfied with this ruling may file a revision petition within 30 days under Section 25D of the Customs Act. Customs officials are advised to implement the new values strictly and report any anomalies to the Directorate.
This step by Pakistan Customs reinforces its commitment to regulatory clarity and equitable valuation of sensitive imports such as ammunition.