KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue FBR has notified measures required for operations at Chaman/Torkham border regrading clearance of transit cargo.
FBR has advised 100% scanning of transit cargo at Karachi Seaports/Port Qasim. This condition also applies to the transit cargo, which is lying at seaports & awaiting to be cleared/gated-out.
The Customs staff would conduct scanning at the terminals and forward Scanned images to the terminal operator at Chaman/Torkham through e-mail.
100% scanning of transit cargo at Torkham/Chaman before cross-border. The images/data available with the colour coding library of SAPT to be shared with terminal operator at Chaman/Torkham.
The test run of forwarding scanned image through email to the terminal operator at Torkham/Chaman to be confirmed by Director General of Transit Trade, Karachi to the Board.
Customs authorities will ensure installation of tracking device on containers before gate-out from seaports, and Ensure En-route tracking & monitoring of the vehicle/containers & to take immediate action on the alerts where required.
The Directorate of Transit Trade at Peshawar/Quetta will conduct coordination meeting with the respective NLC authorities for smooth & efficient transit operations at Torkham/Chaman.
It may be mentioned here that Director Transit Trade Karachi Zeba Azhar had already made arrangements and scanned all the transit trade containers during the lockdown.
AC Shahid Rizvi and AC Azam Khan have been nominated the focal persons, while Additional Director Rehmatullah Vistro would supervise the entire process.
It may be mentioned here that smugglers have become very active during the lockdown, and the authorities are take measures to avoid pilferage and replacement of cargo.
It may be mentioned here that thousands of containers are awaiting clearance at Pak Afghan borders, and the border is opened for three days a week, while there is no influx of cargo from Afghanistan.
Due to the closing of borders, smuggling is contained to the minimal.