The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will notify, within a fortnight, the specific routes for the bounded carriers for effective monitoring of vehicles/trucks from Karachi to other cities under the revised transshipment and transit rules to be issued under 'One Customs' clearance system.
Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that previously separate transshipment rules were applicable for movement of trucks under 'One Customs' and Pakistan Customs Computerised System (PACCS) clearance systems.
Now, the board would issue new transshipment and transit rules following a decision in collectors of customs conference under which transshipment of containers would be processed only through 'One Customs'. Sources said that the revised procedure has been specifically chalked out in view of 'One Customs' database and transit system.
The board would issue an integrated procedure to ensure proper tracking of containers throughout the country. The new rules would notify tracking system and time period of movement of containers from port to designated collectorates. One important feature of the new rules is the specification of journey time for movement of containers. A specific time period would be notified for movement of containers from one point to another. Secondly, trucks carrying containers would be bound to reach the destination within the given time frame under revised rules.
Presently, the board has made it mandatory for the bounded carrier to use only such vehicles/trailer units for transshipment having permanently installed/fixed tracking device to monitor vehicles used for transshipment purposes.
Under existing rules, the transshipment shall only be allowed if the bounded carrier possesses a fleet of minimum 25 registered vehicles in his name or company or are leased by them. The bounded carrier will be allowed to use only such vehicles/trailer units, which have permanently installed tracking device of a reputable company. The customs staff will verify the satisfactory working of the tracker and the identity of the vehicle used by the bounded carrier for transshipment of consignments and roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer/prime mover and registration number and other particulars of the vehicles.
The board had introduced the concept of Customs Container Security Unit (CCSU) at Custom House Karachi for controlling the container sealing operations throughout Pakistan. All transport units carrying transshipment goods shall be allowed clearance from the area of delivery on sealing by customs container security unit staff for sealing of containers except in case of over-dimension cargo, notified heavy cargo and goods to be transshipped by Pakistan Railways as allowed by the Assistant Collector in charge.
The container and vehicle shall be sealed with prescribed security and unbreakable seals with progressive serial number by the CCSU or authorised person at the focal points (entry), on first come, first served basis. In addition to the above-mentioned sealing, a wire seal will be used to hold together the locking bolts of the containers, and numbered adhesive tapes will be used on joints where doors of containers close on top and bottoms of the doors and on the hinges.
On focal points, where the computerised sealing system of CCSU is not yet in place, the CCSU staff or authorised person shall issue a sealing certificate in quadruplicate upon sealing each container, (in the presence of designated examining officer if required), in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Board. In case of any accident en route which may cause delay in the delivery of goods beyond the specified time, the nature of accident, exact time and place of accident along with complete details of the carrier shall be communicated to the CCSU telephonically or to the nearest Customs or Sales Tax Collectorate or station.