The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to permit baggage clearance of incoming passengers from the USA and UK at all international airports through 'green channel' without following checking procedure, to save them from inconvenience. According to CBR analysis, flights from USA and Europe have very few items liable to duty and taxes as compared to flights from Thailand and UAE. Cases pertaining to confiscation of goods by customs are much higher in case of flights from Dubai and Bangkok as compared to flights from USA and European countries.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that CBR has decided that passengers coming from European and American destinations should be allowed to avail the 'green channel' facility at international 'arrivals'. The scanning of the baggage of the passengers coming from Dubai and Bangkok will continue as per present laid down procedure.
The customs authorities said that the baggage of all incoming passengers, irrespective of their origin, is being scanned which is cause of inconvenience especially to ladies and aged persons.
Besides this, hardly any substantial contravention has been noticed in case of passengers coming from European and American cities. Most of seizure cases have been framed against passengers coming from Dubai and Bangkok sectors.
Therefore, the CBR has strongly proposed that passengers coming from Europe and USA, who generally do not bring taxable goods, may be allowed to avail 'green channel' facility.
Sources said that the decision would not only help in speedy clearance of baggage of passengers coming from these countries, but would also create better impression of the country when passengers reach Pakistani airports.
It may be recalled that the government has decided to deploy law enforcement agencies staff in plain clothes for dispelling the negative impression among the foreign investors. It was decided that to have security personnel in plain clothes at airports, as large number of uniformed persons during international arrivals create a negative image.
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