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Tag: Pakistan Customs

  • Law proposed to end corruption in Pakistan Customs

    Law proposed to end corruption in Pakistan Customs

    KARACHI: The government has decided to take stern action against officials of Pakistan Customs, who are involved in corruption or corrupt practices.

    A new section 156A to the Customs Act, 1969 has been proposed through Finance Bill, 2019 to initiate criminal proceedings against officials involved in accepting bribe or corruption.

    According to EY Ford Rhodes Chartered Accountants Firm said that the Finance Bill 2019 seeks to insert a new Section 156A in the Act whereby the FBR may prescribe rules to initiate criminal proceedings against its officials who willfully and deliberately commits or omits an act which results in personal benefit or undue advantage to the officials or the taxpayer or both.

  • Adjudicating monetary limits of principal appraisers, superintendents enhanced

    Adjudicating monetary limits of principal appraisers, superintendents enhanced

    KARACHI: The government has enhanced monetary threshold of principal appraisers and superintendents for adjudication with condition of reducing time limit to 90 days for deciding cases.

    Through Finance Bill 2019, it has been proposed to redefine the monetary threshold of the officers of customs for adjudication. The bill also proposed to abolish the power of assistance collector in adjudicating matters.

    According to budget commentary of EY Ford Rhodes, the following powers of adjudication have been proposed as compared with existing powers:

    Power of adjudication

    Under Section 179 of Customs Act, 1969

    (i) Collector: No limit – No change in present power

    (ii) Additional Collector: Not exceeding three million rupees – No change in present power

    (iii) Deputy Collector: Not exceeding one million rupees – No change in existing power

    (iv) Assistant Collector: Not exceeding five hundred thousand rupees: the power of assistance collector proposed to be deleted

    (v) Superintendent: Not exceeding fifty thousand rupees: proposed that it should not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees

    (vi) Principal Appraiser: Not exceeding fifty thousand rupees: it is proposed it should not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees.

    The Finance Bill further seeks to reduce the time period to decide the cases within ninety days instead of existing one hundred and twenty days.

  • Customs initiates examining exporters to check under-invoicing, mis-declaration

    Customs initiates examining exporters to check under-invoicing, mis-declaration

    KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has initiated examination of exporters’ profiles to check mis-declaration and under-invoicing for plugging revenue leakages.

    A statement said on Friday that the chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi had directed to identify the extent of mis-invoicing in export declarations in order to ascertain the suspected items or sectors and destinations for such mis-declaration, and to categorize exporters on the basis of risk profiling by segregating compliant exporters from those engaged in mis-invoicing.

    The Customs Operations wing has tasked the Director General Customs Valuation to submit a report in this regard.

    It has been further directed to develop a risk based system to intercept this trend without compromising export facilitation. Punitive action shall be taken against unscrupulous exporters under the proposed Section 32 C of the Customs Act, 1969 and the allied laws.

    This initiative has arisen in the backdrop of reports indicating mis-invoicing in exports, which includes under-invoicing resulting in loss of remittance of forex and over-invoicing used to transfer excessive funds abroad.

    Under-invoicing could be used also possibly as a mechanism for trade-based money laundering. One of the suspected methods used in under-invoicing in exports is through the medium of via port cargo.

    Export cargoes are mis-declared by under-invoicing the values of export commodities, and shipped to a via port wherein new declaration with actual values are re-shipped for a final destination.

    As a consequence, lesser amount of foreign exchange is remitted to Pakistan and a major portion of export proceeds is retained in the other country.

  • Customs unfolds bid to clear mobile phones on passengers’ stolen information

    Customs unfolds bid to clear mobile phones on passengers’ stolen information

    KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has unfolded a bid to steal the data of air travelers for the purpose of mobile phone registration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    According to the details the customs staff posted Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), Karachi detained a person, who was fraudulently obtained data of air travelers including passport numbers for clearing mobile phones at customs stage and for clearing PTA restriction.

    As per regulations only PTA certified mobile phones are allowed to have active connection in Pakistan. In this regard passengers arriving from abroad are allowed to clear one mobile phone without payment of duty and taxes. However, more than one phone will attract levy.

    Details revealed that customs authorities recovered around 63 mobile phones from a passenger namely Muhammad Umar arriving from an international flight.

    The accused passenger entered details of passengers into the PTA system to get cleared the mobile phones without duty and taxes. The accused passenger managed to get clearance from the PTA for those 63 mobile phones.

    This was confirmed by Muhammad Faisal, Deputy Collector of Pakistan Custom.

    The customs official said that the authorities had lodged an FIR against the accused for smuggling cell phones and stealing information of passengers.

    Faisal said that the accused had indulged in clearing mobile phones by entering details of passengers including CNICs, flight number and passport numbers etc.

    The accused in his statement said that many travel agencies were involved in this scam.

    The customs official said that PTA had been requested to introduce bio-metric system for the clearance of mobile phones.

  • Customs Intelligence Lahore to auction vehicles on May 23

    Customs Intelligence Lahore to auction vehicles on May 23

    LAHORE: Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Customs, Lahore has announced auction of vehicles to be held on May 23 at State Warehouse of the directorate.

    Following vehicles would be presented for the auction:

    1. Toyota progress car, 2927cc, 1999, JCJ11-0005820.

    2. BMW car 745I, 2003, WBAGL22000DP38322.

    3. Honda Civic Hybrid car, 1339cc, 2006, FD3-1006468.

    4. Honda Accord car CL-9, 2002, CL9-1000417.

    5. Toyota Mark-X car, 2005, GRX120-0025787.

    6. Honda Accord car (inspire), 2003, UCI-1007210.

    7. Jaguar X-Type 2.5 car, 2006, SAJAC51MX2XC26667.

    8. Toyota Crown car, 2003, JZS175-0064405.

    9. Toyota Crown car, 2001, JZS171-0075220.

    10. Toyota Crown car, 2007, GRS182-5014070.

    11. Honda Accord car, 2004, CL9-1050040.

    12. Triumph Heavy Motor cycle Colour Black, 2010, PROTOTYPEVH004CP2.

    13. Heavy Motor Cycle Yamaha Brand 1000cc made in Japan, R12000, JYARN041000003182.

    14. Toyota Vitz car, 2005, KSP90-0001037.

    15. Toyota Mark-X car Black, 2008, GRX120-3059202.

    16. Yamaha Dragstar Heavy Motor cycle 1100cc, 2002, VP10J-001201.

    17. Yamaha Heavy Motor cycle 500cc, 2006, JYASJ031000032395.

    18. Honda Heavy Bike 200cc, 2006, TA200-0034612.

    19. Honda Heavy Motor Cycle, 1992, 2073695.

    20. Toyota Mark-X Car 300, 2006, GRX121-1007695.

    21. Toyota Mark-X car 250, 2005, GRX120-3005684.

    22. BMW Car 750Li, 2002, WBAGN62040DE55989.

    23. Honda Civic car, 2006, FD3-1004522.

  • Pakistan Customs launches swift consignment clearance system to improve ease of doing business

    Pakistan Customs launches swift consignment clearance system to improve ease of doing business

    KARACHI: Pakistan Customs on Monday launched the swift consignment clearance software for improving ease of doing business and trading across the border indices of the country.

    The system namely ‘WeBOC Global’ was inaugurated by Member Customs Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha at Custom house, Karachi.

    He introduced the key features of the newly developed ICT system which was attended by a large number of the senior officers of Pakistan Custom and members of the WeBOC-Glo Project team.

    The new version of Customs clearance system was deployed at early in the morning May 13, 2019 which has immediately replaced the previous version of WeBOC clearance system.

    This will be a modern and technologically advanced version of WeBOC which is an end to end automated online goods clearance system home grown by Pakistan Customs in 2011.

    With the introduction of new WeBOC system, the Custom clearance system of Pakistan will enter into the club of modern, upgraded and technologically advanced Custom clearance system of the world, the Member said.

    The WeBOC-Glo in addition to new modules and functionalities will be plugging the deficiencies of earlier clearance system pointed out during the course of time in internal reviews and ICT Gap Analysis by the World Bank.

    Components of Release 1.0 of the WeBOC-Glo were introduced by Iftikhar Ahmad, Collector/Convener of the project which included 13 modules and functionalities.

    The major modules included:

    (1) the Development of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) with Terminal Operators for Export LCL Cargo, which will reduce dwell time at ports

    (2) the Quota Management of Bulk Export Cargo, which will facilitate auto debiting of assigned quota,

    (3) the establishment of IT interface with Ministry of Foreign Affairs for automation of Exemption Certificates,

    (4) the availability of WeBOC Glo on Chrome and Edge to provide convenience to users,

    (5) the enhanced Security Features, to safeguard the User IDs and relevant data of importers /exporters,

    (6) the unified Screens for MIS Officers, to ensure speedy processing,

    (7) the search engine for TARIFF and relevant SROs to empower users in Tariff and import/export policy information for correct filling and assessment of GDs,

    (8) the update on Containers Status, to allow traders the facility to keep track of containers,

    (9) Improved User Interface, aimed at making the system more user friendly and less time consuming and

    (10) the Glo Insight which strengthens the statistical Scrutiny and monitoring of Customs transactions through business intelligence and data analysis tools for informed decisions making.

    In addition to above, the WeBOC-Glo will be instrumental in closure of old Customs clearance system by automating areas that had remained outside its scope so far.

    (1) the Export Processing Zone, whose import and export clearance along with the role and functions of EPZA have been automated for the first time,

    (2) the GD Filing Without NTN, which will facilitate individual importers, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) promoting e-Commerce in Pakistan,

    (3) the Exceptional GD Filing, which caters to all scenarios where auto clearance were held up due to peculiar taxation regimes on items or specific orders of superior courts.

    The team has been further instructed by Dr Agha to plan launch of Release-2of WeBOC Glo by the first week of July, 2019.

    The Release-2 will include further important modules like DTRE, Bulk Exports and Exports through Courier.

    With the development of these modules all the processes related to export will be fully automated which will definitely facilitate export sectors.

    Release-2 will also include E-Auction Module, for auction of confiscated goods in line with modern concepts of Auction.

    Oil imports contribute the major share in Imports Bill. All the processes like Import, storage, transportation and transit of Oil will also be covered in Release-2 Similarly PCA Entity based Audit module will also be part of it, which will dramatically enhance money trial analysis and be handy in detection of money laundering.

    Initial work has already been done on these modules and they are under different stages of development.

    Some less important modules will be launched in Release-3 by Mid September which will complete automation of all the Customs processes under WeBOC-Glo.

    Earlier, Dr Jawwad Agha conceived the idea of up gradation and functionally advanced new Customs system and had put in place a two tier setup, the WeBOC-Glo Domain team and Oversight and Approval Team, in December, 2018.

    In view of highly technical nature of the task officers having vast professional experience and well grounded in automated work environment were grouped together.

    The team lead by Collector Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad (project team leader) included: Additional Collectors Shafqat Niazi, Sanaullah Abro, Ms Mona Mehfooz, Ali Zaman Gardezi and Deputy Collector Ms Nausheen Riaz Khan.

    The project team leader said that packed and strict timeline was given to undertake the Businesses Process Re-Engineering (BPR), development of new modules and functionalities of the WeBOC Glo.

    He added that the project team had to put in long hours on weekend, over and above their regular work assignments, to meet the deadlines, while Agha continuously monitored the progress and provided his full support to project team. Within short time of four months, WeBOC-Glo project team under guidance of oversight and Approval team, consisting of senior officers of Customs succeeded in accomplishing the task of development of 13 different modules and functionalities of new version.

    User Acceptance Tests (UATs) with relevant stakeholders have been completed too. The PRAL’s Business Analysis and software Development Units provided able resource support and remained instrumental in the achievement.

    With the launch of the WeBOC-Glo, the Customs department moves further ahead as the leading public sector organization mag use of modern technology for hassle free public service delivery.

    The system ensures transparency, efficiency, professionalism and further reduces the interaction with taxpayer besides providing tech ability for future integration with artificial intelligence for RMS analysis.

  • Customs recovers Rs450 million illicit currency, arrests 30 percent in anti-money laundering drive

    Customs recovers Rs450 million illicit currency, arrests 30 percent in anti-money laundering drive

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs (Operation) has taken vigorous actions to counter illicit movement of currency, which is the primary tool used for money laundering and moving proceeds of crime in and out of the country, a statement said on Saturday.

    The current lead taken by Customs Operations FBR, and the effective control measures implemented by enforcement collectorates against currency smuggling has led to record seizures of around Rs. 450 million during July 2018 to April 2019, against seizures of Rs150 million in the corresponding period last year, exhibiting an increase of more than 200 percent.

    During the current year more than 30 persons have been arrested for currency smuggling, with ongoing investigations to unearth their domestic/international linkages.

    This remarkable achievement is a result of various policy and institutional measures taken under Customs Operations – FBR and the field formations.

    After an overall assessment of risks of Cash Smuggling through border areas and entry points, the Customs Operations – FBR is embarked upon an extensive ‘Risk Mitigation Strategy’ to curb cash smuggling.

    Currency Declaration System (CDS) has been implemented at international entry/exit points, which has been recently upgraded and linked with FIA database.

    During January to April 2019, the CDS has captured currency declarations of around US$20 million by incoming/outgoing passengers. Further, suspected travelers are being targeted by accessing the FIA database.

    In the same spirit, Baggage/vehicle scanners have been installed at Torkham, Chaman and Taftan border stations, for passenger and cargo screening.

    At land border Customs stations, Collector of Customs are coordinating with the relevant LEAs and intelligence agencies for information/intelligence sharing and coordinated operations for countering illicit currency movement.

    Further, joint control rooms have been established at international airports, manned jointly by Customs, ASF, ANF and FIA.

    To continue this momentum, a new Directorate of Cross Border Currency Movement (CBCM), has recently been established under Directorate General (I & I-Customs), through Customs General Order (CGO) 04/2019 dated 06.05.2019 which has defined its charter and scope of functions such as, Analysis and profiling of currency seizures/declarations, suspected banking transactions, maintenance of seizure database and sharing of currency seizure cases with other LEAs, institution of money laundering cases emanating from suspicious banking transactions and investigation and prosecution of cases under AML Act, 2010, Customs Act, 1969 and CrPC.

    Under the said order, the guidelines have also been provided to the Investigative Officers for improving investigations such as investigation of accused/arrested person(s) association with any religious/political/social organization or group(s), travel history, past criminal record, professional history, etc., along with the motive/linkages of each currency smuggling case with any of the associated offence, Identification of involvement of any foreign networks other than trans-national terrorist networks in the seizures data.

    The seizing agency (MCC or Regional Directorate) also urged to investigate foreign linkages of the investigation at hand through Chief (International Customs)-FBR, investigation of the source of funding for cash smuggling and the end user of the smuggling proceeds.

    In addition, an Office Order 01/2019 dated 10.04.2019 has been issued, providing a proper mechanism for investigating officers of seizing agency to conduct initial probe of Terror Financing (TF) linkages in all currency seizures, and sharing it with the relevant LEA, through Directorate of CBCM.

    For enhancing international cooperation in controlling smuggling, Pakistan Customs has so far signed 22 MoUs/agreements with foreign governments/Customs administrations for mutual cooperation in Customs matters. Under these agreements, requests for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) have been sent to foreign counterparts for identification of linkages in currency seizures.

    Ongoing initiatives of Pakistan Customs includes further re-structuring of enforcement formations on the basis of ground demands, introduction of Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) at the international airports, and establishing a National Targeting Centre, which shall serve as an integrated database of all LEAs working against the menace of smuggling.

    With the introduction of these initiatives, Pakistan Customs is optimistic of ridding Pakistan economy of the malaise of currency smuggling, and the ancillary ills of TBML, black economy, tax evasion, etc.

  • FBR set asides penalty on four customs officials

    FBR set asides penalty on four customs officials

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday set-aside penalty imposed on four officials of Customs collectorate Quetta with future warning.

    The FBR Member Admin as appellate authority accepted the appeal of four customs officials of BS-16 including Muhammad Arif Dostani, Muhammad Arif, Ghulam Hussain Khoso, Saleem Akhtar, and set aside the minor penalty imposed on the officials.

    The chief management on June 19, 2017 imposed penalty on those four officials of ‘withholding of four increments without cumulative effect.’

  • FBR sets up complaint cell against corrupt officials

    FBR sets up complaint cell against corrupt officials

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has established a dedicated cell to facilitate taxpayers in filing complaints against corrupt practices of officials of Inland Revenue and Pakistan Customs.

    The FBR on Wednesday said that it had established Integrity Management Cell (IMC) to facilitate general public / taxpayers for filing of complaints against corrupt practices of officers/officials of FBR.

    The FBR said that following modes may be adopted to lodge complaints:

    — By directly calling helpline at 111-772-772 for information.

    — By visiting field offices of Inland Revenue & Pakistan Customs.

    — By sending an email at [email protected]

    — By filing complaint on FBR online portal.

    — By submitting either a hard copy of the complaint through post or meeting in person with Secretary (IMC), FBR (HQ), Constitution Avenue, Islamabad.

  • Customs to auction huge quantity of vehicles, motor bikes on April 09

    Customs to auction huge quantity of vehicles, motor bikes on April 09

    KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has announce public auction of used motor vehicles and heavy bikes to be held on April 09, 2019 at Bay West, West Wharf Road, Karachi.

    Auction of fresh vehicles under schedule No. 04/ 2019 to be held on April 09, 2019:

    01. Nissan Moco Car, Chassis No. MG33S-1434760, year 2014

    02. Honda-N car, Chassis No. JGI-1208909, year 2016

    03. Toyota Aqua Hybrid Car, Chassis No. NHP10-6492089, year 2016, capacity 1496ml

    04. Toyota Passo, Chassis No. M700A-0068740, Year 2017, Capacity 996cc

    05. Toyota Aqua Hybrid Car, Chassis No. NHP10-6675744, year 2017, capacity 1496ml

    06. Daihatsu Move Car, Chassis No. LA160S-0022740, year 2016, capacity 658cc

    07. Honda Vezel Hybrid Car, Chassis No. RU3-1009600, Year 2014

    08. Suzuki Alto, Chassis No. HA36S-318639, year 2019-04-07

    09. Toyota Prius Hybrid car, chassis no. ZVW50-6057948, capacity 1797ml, year 2016

    10. Suzuki Wagon-R, chassis no. NH34-535805, year 2016

    11. Suzuki Alto, Chassis No. HA36S-283360, year 2016

    12. Toyota Prius Hybrid Car, Chassis No. AVW50-6040670, year 2016, capacity 1797cc

    13. Toyota Aqua Hybrid Car, chassis No. NHP10-6489786, year 2016, capacity 1496ml

    14. Suzuki Alto Lapin Car, Chassis No. HE33S-114646, year 2015

    15. Suzuki Every Wago, Chassis No. DA17W-160902, Year 2018

    16. Honda-N WGN Car, Chassis No. JHI-1399120, year 2018, milage 562kms

    17. Honda Fit Hybrid Car, Chassis No. GP5-3313188, year 2016

    18. Suzuki Every Van, Chassis No. Da64V-827933, year 2013

    19. Toyota Aqua Hybrid Car, Chassis No. NHP10-6537080, year 2016, Capacity 1496ml

    20. Nissan Dayz Car, Chassis No. B21W-0473466, Year 2017

    21. Honda Vezel Hybrid Car, Chassis No. RU3-1129894, year 2016

    22. Suzuki Wagon-R Car, Chassis No. MH35S-109600, year 2017

    23. Nissan Dayz Roox Car, Chassis No. B21A-0346728, year 2017

    24. Daihatsu Hijet Cargo Van, Chassis No. S331V-0119751, year 2014, Capacity 658cc

    25. Honda Fit Hybrid Car, Chassis No. GP5-1213366, Year 2016

    26. Toyota CH-R Hybrid, Chassis No. ZYX10-2030563, year 2017, capacity 1797ml

    27. Daihatsu Mira E:S, Chassis No. La350S-0087051, year 2018, capacity 658cc

    28. Toyota Aqua Hybrid Car, Chassis No. NHP10-2545720, year 2016, capacity 1496ml

    29. Suzuki Alto Car, Chassis No. HA36S-339803, year 2017, capacity 658cc

    30. Daihatsu Move Car, Chassis No. LA160S-0029143, year 2017, capacity 658cc

    31. Toyota Voxy Van, Chassis No. ZWR80-0035138, year 2014, capacity 1794ml

    32. Suzuk Wagon-R, Chassis No. NH34S-532308

    33. Honda Vezel Hybrid, Chassis No. RU3-1202746, year 2016

    34. Suzuki Singray Wagon-R, Chassis No. MH44S-509107, Year 2016

    35. Suzuki Alto Car, Chassis No. HA36S-367262, year 2017

    Auction of leftover vehicles:

    01. Suzuki Audi, Chassis No. WAUZZZGAIJ018984, mileage 3664km

    02. Suzuki Bandit Car, Chassis No. MA36S-609297, year 2015

    03. Toyota Passo Car, Chassis No. M710A-0005138, year 2016, capacity 998cc

    04. Toyota Prius Hybrid Car, Chassis No. ZVW41-0037004, year 2016, capacity 1797

    05. Toyota Aqua Hybrid Car, Chassis No. NHP10-6360564, year 2014, capacity 1496ml

    06. Range Rover Evoque, Chassis No. SALVA2AG70H828587, year 2013

    07. Suzuki Lapin Car, Chassis No. HE33S-179190, year 2017

    08. Daihatsu Copen Car, Chassis No. LA400K-0007555, year 2014, capacity 658cc

    09. Mitsubishi Mirage Car, Chassis No. A03A-0034375, year 2015

    10. Daihatsu Move Car, Chassis No. LA150S-0119262

    Used motor bikes:

    i. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Chassis No. RFB14ATV3EK6T0888, year 2014, Capacity 90cc

    ii. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Casssis No. RFB14ATVXEK6T0905, year 204, capacity 90cc

    iii. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Chassis No. RFB14ATVXEK6T0919, year 2014, capacity 90cc

    iv. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Chassis No. RFB14ATV2EK6T0896, year 2014, capacity 90cc

    v. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Chassis No. RFB14ATV9EK6T0928, year 2014, capacity 90cc

    vi. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Chassis No. RFB14ATV9EK6T0894, year 2014, capacity 90cc

    vii. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Chassis No. RFB14ATV3EK6T0910, year 2014, capacity 90cc

    viii. New Arctic Cat ATV Bike, Chassis No. RFB14ATV3EK6T0938, year 2014, capacity 90cc