The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has waived condition of Customs examination for all Afghan transit cargo already arrived at ports to facilitate the fast movement of the cargo stuck up due to the Sindh government levy. It has also allowed the Afghan cargo importers to transport cargo through the National Logistic Cell (NLC) in case Pakistan Railways failed to lift the same within 48 hours of its arrival.
A circular issued by the CBR Secretary Law and Procedure said the CBR had been pleased to extend the following facility to the Afghan transit cargo stuck up at Karachi Port/terminals for levy of infrastructure cess by the Sindh government.
(i) The condition of Customs examination has been waived in respect of cargo already arrived at ports and waiting for transit to Afghanistan.
(ii) All consignments arriving in Pakistan in future and meant for transit to Afghanistan are allowed ex-book delivery except in cases where the concerned Collector has any solid information or which are otherwise de-stuffed for loading in wagons after fulfilment of different formalities.
(iii) The transporter of Afghan transit cargo will have an option to transport the cargo through the NLC in case Pakistan Railways fails to lift the same within 48 hours of its arrival.
A spokesman of Pak Afghan Transit Cargo Clearing Agent Group, Amir Altaf said on Saturday that the CBR had waived examination for all types of transit containers both full container load (FCL) and loose container load (LCL) that had arrived in ports by November 22. However, for the containers arriving after that day, the examination of only FCL containers had been waived.
Meanwhile, under the Afghan Transit Trade Service (ATTS) rules, transit cargo would only be transported through Pakistan Railways. Since the clearing agents group had been facing problems in getting the required railway wagons, the CBR has also waived the condition and allowed the importers to use the NLC trucks if Railways failed to lift the cargo.
The Pakistan Railways had not only recently increased demurrage charges by over 150 percent for Afghan transit cargo but also imposed stiff conditions for loading of cargo in wagons in time.
Amir Altaf thanked the CBR Chairman for facilitating quick disposal of Afghan transit cargo and allowing concessions in Customs procedure.
The Afghan clearing agent group was also grateful to the CBR for giving an option of transportation through the NLC which would also help in fast movement of the cargo presently causing congestion at ports and terminals, the Group spokesman added.