Tag: customs

  • Pakistan Customs officials foil attempt to smuggle PKR 1.5 crore in gold and cash

    Pakistan Customs officials foil attempt to smuggle PKR 1.5 crore in gold and cash

    Customs officials made a significant seizure of gold and cash at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Tuesday. 

    Acting on a tip-off, the officials intercepted a passenger scheduled to depart for Hong Kong on Thai Airways flight TG-342, suspected of carrying a substantial amount of undeclared valuables.

    Following the tip-off, Customs personnel conducted a thorough search of the passenger’s belongings, uncovering over $40,000 (PKR 11 million) in assorted foreign currencies, along with 21 tolas of gold coins and jewelry. 

    The combined value of the confiscated items is estimated to be approximately $56,000 (PKR 15 million).

    The detained passenger failed to declare the cash and gold, a requirement for amounts exceeding $10,000 (PKR 2.78 million), when leaving Pakistan, leading to allegations of money laundering and smuggling. An FIR has been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.

  • FBR restructuring: Govt plans to separate Customs and revenue collection system

    FBR restructuring: Govt plans to separate Customs and revenue collection system

    Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar has announced that the government is implementing significant restructuring measures within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to eliminate apparent conflicts of interest in tax collection and enhance overall performance. 

    Speaking at the Future Summit organised by the Nutshell Group, she outlined the action plan for restructuring Pakistan’s tax administration, emphasising the crucial aspect of strengthening the internal governance of the FBR. 

    One notable decision involves separating customs from the revenue collection mechanism. Customs will focus on tracking smuggling and related activities, while revenue collection will remain the exclusive mandate of the FBR. 

    Akhtar noted that a formal notification for this change will be issued next week, with additional notifications expected for further FBR restructuring initiatives. 

    Discussing FBR reforms, Akhtar highlighted the adoption of innovative digital technologies to broaden the tax base, minimise the tax policy and compliance gap, and increase tax collection. 

    The government aims to reduce the share of the shadow economy by more effectively identifying non-filers and those under-reporting incomes or business activities. 

    Furthermore, Akhtar revealed plans to separate the tax policy and revenue division, making it an independent entity reporting directly to the Minister of Finance. 

    According to Brecorder, this move aims to eliminate perceived conflicts of interest in tax collection, emphasising the need for fair, equitable, and productive tax policy design. 

    Collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is also underway to upgrade data systems, with a technical committee chaired by NADRA and FBR chairpersons established for this purpose. 

    The overall objective is comprehensive tax administrative reforms and increased efficiency in revenue collection. 

  • Nearly 1,000 smartphones and high-tech gadgets seized by Customs at Faisalabad Airport

    Nearly 1,000 smartphones and high-tech gadgets seized by Customs at Faisalabad Airport

    According to reliable sources, customs officials at Faisalabad Airport recently intercepted a significant shipment of smuggled smartphones, drone cameras, and related accessories valued at millions of currency units. This operation led to the arrest of three suspected smugglers upon their arrival from Sharjah to Faisalabad.

    During the inspection of the passengers’ luggage, the customs officials discovered and seized 971 smartphones, 78 iPods, a drone camera, and gaming hardware concealed cleverly within their bags and shoppers.

    In a separate incident at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) apprehended a passenger named Abdul Razzaq, who had just returned from the UAE. The FIA spokesperson disclosed that the accused, Abdul Razzaq, was a wanted criminal in Punjab, specifically in connection with a murder case. Subsequently, the FIA handed over the suspect to the local police for further legal proceedings.

    Moreover, a few days prior to this incident, customs officials successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle iPhones at Sialkot Airport. The authorities seized 30 smuggled iPhones worth nearly Rs100 million from a passenger named Adeel, who had arrived from Sharjah on flight number PK-210. Notably, the accused, Adeel, was identified as an employee of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Investigations revealed that he was involved in the distribution of smuggled smartphones to Karachi and Lahore.

    Additionally, the customs officials disclosed that the accused PIA flight steward, Adeel, had an accomplice named Ali Ahmed, who was also part of the smartphone smuggling operation. Both individuals were employed by PIA.

    These actions by customs officials and law enforcement agencies demonstrate their commitment to curbing smuggling activities and ensuring the safety and security of the nation.

  • Pakistan Customs foils attempt to smuggle chalia worth Rs2.6 crore in Karachi

    Pakistan Customs foils attempt to smuggle chalia worth Rs2.6 crore in Karachi

    An operation on Karachi’s Northern Bypass to smuggle chalia (betel nuts) worth millions was thwarted on Wednesday by Pakistan customs intelligence.

    According to information, the anti-smuggling squad of Pakistani customs stopped a dumper on the northern bypass of Karachi during an intelligence-based operation.

    In response to a tip, the customs team put in place intense surveillance, which resulted in the seizure of a dump truck carrying betel nuts worth around Rs26 million. A case has been filed, and further investigation is underway.

    The dangerous drug chalia (betel nuts), according to the customs inspectors, was concealed in the stones and several other cars were in the convoy with the dumper.

    Four non-custom-paid cars were also seized by the customs inspectors. The vehicles and chalia (betel nuts) are valued at Rs55 million.

    In an earlier large-scale operation, Pakistan Customs in Karachi seized non-duty-paid products worth over Rs160 million.

    The Pakistan Customs anti-smuggling team conducted the operations in various Karachi neighbourhoods.

    In another raid, the Pakistani customs team seized significant quantities of betel nuts, cigarettes, and gutka from a bus after acting on a tip-off in Liaquatabad. The items reportedly cost Rs26 million.

  • Customs seizes 400 kg of pork at Lahore airport

    Customs seizes 400 kg of pork at Lahore airport

    Around 400 kg of pork was seized from a foreign individual by customs officials stationed at the Lahore airport.

    Sources claim that the customs officials were informed that pork will be smuggled from Dubai aboard private aircraft flight ER 724.

    Customs officers intervened and removed 400 kg of pork from the accused’s hands, thwarting the attempt at smuggling.

    The pork was concealed from the scanning device, according to the authorities, by being packed in 12 large cartons with special black plastic sheets.

    The smuggler was apprehended by deputy collector of customs Saira Batool when she arrived at the airport, and it was later discovered that the pork was being distributed to other hotels, according to reports.

    In a related incident, customs agents apprehended a passenger flying from the United States and thwarted an attempt to smuggle goods worth around Rs 8 million through Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.

  • Pakistan aa rahe ho tou $10,000, ja rahe ho tou $5,000: FBR issues new regulations

    Pakistan aa rahe ho tou $10,000, ja rahe ho tou $5,000: FBR issues new regulations

    A new rule implemented by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) requires incoming international travellers to disclose foreign cash worth $10,000 or more when they arrive at the airports.

    In this regard, the FBR has released the draught of a new “Customs Declaration form” for the declaration of foreign cash valued at $10,000 or more by incoming overseas travellers.

    On Tuesday, the FBR published an SRO.1751(I)/2022 to modify the Baggage Rules, 2006.

    The outbound passenger who owns foreign currency exceeding $5,000 or equivalent, any other prohibited or restricted item, or any other item requiring declaration before Customs, shall file a declaration in the form before or on departure electronically in the WeBOC or manually at the airport, as per the new customs declaration for passengers.

    The inbound passenger must also fill out the form with a declaration if they have any foreign cash worth more than $10,000 or its equivalent, any other items that are prohibited or restricted, or any other items that need to be declared to customs.

    The passenger will mention in the declaration form if they are carrying any of the following items: prohibited or restricted items such as weapons and ammunition, narcotics, psychoactive substances, or satellite phones; gold and precious metals; jewellery made of precious or semi-precious stones; foreign currency in US Dollars (USD) or equivalent; and outbound passengers carrying an amount exceeding $5,000 or equivalent; and incoming passengers carrying an amount more than $10,000.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced the need for travellers entering Pakistan who are bringing cash and/or negotiable instruments more than ten years ago via notice number. F.E.1/2012-SB dated June 16, 2012. The FBR already explained this. This requirement became effective on July 1st, 2012.

    Then, Pakistan Customs launched a thorough “Customs Declaration Form for Passengers,” which was announced by SRO 689(I)/2019 dated June 29, 2019, to expand the scope of declaration to include gold jewellery, precious stones, and other prohibited/restricted products. These guidelines apply to both departing and arriving travellers.

    These declaration requirements are in line with global best practices and standards that the majority of nations have embraced.

    The declaration can be made physically at the Customs desk or electronically using the Customs system. Pakistan Customs has been working with the Civil Aviation Authority, Airlines, and Immigration Authorities to strengthen its outreach to both departing and arriving passengers in order to raise awareness among foreign travellers. Because of this, compliance has been gradually rising.

    The currency declaration procedure for all foreign passengers has been in place for more than ten years, according to FBR, and was not recently implemented as a result of any new FATF review criteria.

  • Govt imposes 100% penalty surcharge to release banned imported items

    Govt imposes 100% penalty surcharge to release banned imported items

    The federal government has approved the release of imported goods with a penalty surcharge of 100 per cent of assessed value that arrived at the ports after June 30.

    The federal government has reportedly permitted the release of all imported products and imposed fines of up to 100 per cent on goods that had arrived at ports by the end of July notwithstanding limitations.

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail made the announcement during a news conference, noting that the restrictions were put in place in response to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) requirements.

    Vehicles, mobile phones, home appliances, and other property may now be released with a 100 per cent penalty surcharge.

    Other imported items were permitted with payment of a premium of up to 35 per cent, according to the announcement. Items received after June 30 and up to July 31 will be released with a penalty surcharge of 25 per cent.

    Three months after the limitation was put in place, the federal government earlier on August 18 relaxed the ban on the importation of luxury and non-essential goods.

  • Government will soon lift the import ban on certain items

    Government will soon lift the import ban on certain items

    The government will lift the import ban on some items in the upcoming weeks, according to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, but restrictions for cellphones, cars, and home appliances will remain in place.

    He stated that the Commerce Ministry has sent a summary to the federal cabinet for removing restrictions on the import of non-essential and luxury items while speaking at a seminar about the performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) here in the federal capital.

    According to the finance minister, the decision was made in light of a lower import bill as a result of restrictions placed on the import of new machinery and raw materials, as well as lower oil prices on the global market. “In the upcoming months, we anticipate a decrease in petroleum product imports. Lower imports will enable Pakistan to conserve its foreign currency, he continued.

    He continued by saying he was hopeful for higher dollar inflows compared to outflows starting in the upcoming month, which would ease pressure on the local currency.

    “Imports in Pakistan as of July 25 were $3.758 billion and our total imports are likely to be $4.824 billion. This number will be less than our exports plus remittance”, he had written on Twitter a day earlier.

    The ban on 30 categories and 83 Customs headings was reportedly requested to be lifted by the finance minister on Tuesday to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    He did, however, suggest that the Commerce Ministry keep the ban on completely built units (CBUs), cars, and home appliances in place.

    Speaking with Profit, sources said that between May 19 and July 19, 2021, Pakistan imported CBU automobiles, mobile phones, and home appliances worth Rs399 million. However, after the ban was imposed on May 19, 2022, the trend of importing these items decreased.

    Pakistan imported goods worth Rs123 million between May 19 and July 19, 2022, a difference of Rs276 million compared to the corresponding months of the previous fiscal year.

    It is important to note that the government has outright banned the import of cars, mobile phones, home appliances, dry fruits (aside from those from Afghanistan), crockery, shoes, chandeliers, lights (except energy savers), headphones, and loudspeakers.

    Some items on the list included condiments, doors and window frames, travel bags and suitcases, sanitary ware, fish and frozen fish, preserved fruits, tissue paper, furniture, shampoos, confectionery, luxury mattresses, and sleeping bags, jams and jellies, cornflakes, toiletries, heaters, blowers, sunglasses, kitchenware, aerated water, frozen meat, juices, pasta, ice cream, cigarettes, shaving supplies, luxury leather apparel, and musical instruments.

  • Pakistan notifies revised export control lists of goods

    Pakistan notifies revised export control lists of goods

    Pakistan has notified revised control lists of goods, technologies, materials, and equipment subject to the Strategic Export Control Division (SECDIV) license for export.

    This was done in accordance with the Export Control on Goods, Technologies, Materials, and Equipment related to Nuclear and Biological Weapons and their Delivery Systems Act of 2004.

    “The act empowers the government to control the export, re-export, trans-shipment, and transit of goods, technologies, materials, and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery systems,” it added.

    According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Strategic Export Control Division (SECDIV) revised/updated the control lists in consultation with other relevant ministries and departments as part of the regular review process.

    In the Pakistani Gazette S.R.O. 551(I)/2022 dated April 12, 2022, the revised control lists were announced. The control lists were first published in 2005 and later updated in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2018, the statement said.

    According to the notification, the updated lists are in compliance with the standards and lists of these export control regimes. Over the years, Pakistan has improved its export control system, streamlined and strengthened it, and increased its interaction with international export control systems like the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Australia Group.

    The notification emphasises Pakistan’s continued commitment and strategy as a responsible nuclear state to advance the common cause of non-proliferation and strictly uphold its commitments, the statement said.

  • Expansion plan for Lahore airport discussed

    Expansion plan for Lahore airport discussed

    Specifics of the Lahore Airport expansion project were recently discussed at a meeting of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) management, and Nespak.

    According to The News, the runway that is now being constructed was also discussed. The discussion went over the operational issues at Lahore Airport, as well as the concerns that travellers confront, and offered remedies.

    Additionally, the attendees discussed the airport’s security status and the importance of developing a comprehensive security policy. The minister was approached with a suggestion to divide the international and domestic lounges at Lahore Airport.

    Lahore Airport’s expansion is urgently needed, according to Federal Minister for Aviation, Khawaja Saad Rafique, since the confluence of flights is causing passengers complications. The presence of birds within airport boundaries threatens aviation safety.

    The meeting was attended by Civil Aviation Authority Director General Khaqan Murtaza, ASF Director General Major General Abid Latif Khan, Nespak Managing Director Dr Tahir Masood, PIA General Manager Syed Zulqarnain Mehdi, General Manager Technical Support Agha Sami, and government officials.