The Export Processing Zones (EPZs) have been allowed transshipment of goods under the Pakistan Customs Computerised System (PACCs). Through amendment in the Customs Rules 2001 on Tuesday, the board has issued procedure for the EPZs for import and export of goods, electronically under the PACCs.
All cargo to and from the zones shall be cleared by the Collector of Customs or Collectorate exercising jurisdiction over the zone. For transshipment of cargo, all cargo to and from the zones shall be allowed transshipment facilities by the port of entry in case of imports and the port of exit in case of exports.
Only such goods shall be allowed transshipment facilities from the first port of entry to a zone as have been distinctly manifested for that zone. No separate declaration at the port of entry or, for that matter, any permit except the manifest shall be required for transshipment of goods through PACCS and on receipt whereof, PACCS shall electronically authorise the Terminal Operator to hand over those consignments to a bonded carrier that approaches the Terminal Operator with delivery orders from the shipping line for the goods where the address of the importer in the manifest is of a zone.
The Terminal Operator shall, subject to authorisation by PACCS hand over the cargo to the carriers as may approach the Terminal Operator for carriage of goods to the zone and, soon where after, the Terminal Operator shall electronically communicate the relevant particulars to PACCS.
All cargo consignments for transshipment to the zone may be delivered by the Terminal Operator to the bonded carriers on 24 hours a day and seven days a week basis.
All goods under transshipment to the zones shall be subject to the PACCS risk management system and, in any case, where any consignment is deemed risky by PACCS, it shall either be scanned by the Terminal Operator or examined by the customs authorities before handing over the consignment to the bonded carrier, whereupon, either the scanned image or examination report, as the case may be, shall be transmitted online before the Terminal Operator hands over the consignment to the bonded carrier.
No consignment under transshipment to the zones shall be subjected to examination at the first port of entry, unless illicit fire arms or explosive material is detected during scanning.
Export consignment under transshipment from the zones shall not be subjected to either risk management system or examination at the Model Collectorate of Customs, unless the seals of the containers upon arrival at the port of exit are found to be either missing or broken; container has been damaged en-route and Collectorate of jurisdiction from where the consignment has originated, requests the Model Collectorate of Customs to examine the consignment on basis of specific information. However, the provisions relating to scanning of goods shall be effective from the date the scanners become operational at the port, procedure added.