Pakistan’s Federal Tax Administration (FBR) has instructed cargo ships transporting sea-based cargo from one Pakistani port to another to install online tracking devices to track vessels in real time and follow approved geographic routes.
In this regard, FBR has posted the 2020 Coastal Goods Regulations to be applied from immediate effect.
The new rules require customs authorities to have real-time access to online vessel tracking and can contact any agency to inspect the vessel in transit, in accordance with the provisions of the 1969 Customs Act.
The new rules will apply to goods transported by ships from one port to another in Pakistan, excluding imported goods for which customs duties have not been paid, excluding baggage and warehouses. These rules also apply to full container load (FCL) that is transported in domestic or imported containers, or less than container load (LCL), or bulk cargo, as applicable.
The owner of any coastal goods or his clearing agent must meet with the agent or assistant of the appropriate customs office at least two days prior to dispatch of the goods from the customs port or coastal port to another customs port or coastal port, and the competent agent or assistant collector will authorize and verifies documents for cargo details, checks cargo and ensures cargo delivery to a coastal vessel.
The Station Operator or Port Authority shall communicate to the Deputy or Assistant collector the timetable for the coastal vessel, indicating the details of the cargo, i.e. description, quantity, origin, etc., which are shipped in accordance with these rules.
For each coastal vessel on a voyage, a specific time frame should be provided to be determined by the Council, and the vessel should inform the port of discharge within that specified period. However, in exceptional cases, the customs complex may extend the time frame of the vessel at the written request of the master of the vessel or his authorized agent after written confirmation of the reasons.
In the event that the master of the vessel or his authorized agent does not provide an adequate explanation for the delay, the customs collector of unloading or the collector of the port of unloading may prevent the vessel from transporting coastal cargo in the future. The FBR has stated that a vessel carrying coastal cargo under these rules cannot enter any foreign port after leaving the port of loading and before arriving at the port of unloading or unloading, nor can it load or unload any other cargo. during the flight.
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