The vehicles used for transportation of US transit cargo for Afghanistan would be equipped with the tracking devices by the tracking company duly licensed by the Federal Board of Revenue for tracking and monitoring of US consignments destined for Afghanistan. The FBR has explained the procedure of transportation of the US cargo through land route - from Pakistan to Afghanistan through a procedure notified here on Saturday.
The FBR has said that all vehicles as well as containers of transit goods boarded thereon shall be fitted with tracking devices at the port of entry from a tracking company duly licensed under the Tracking and Monitoring of Cargo Rules, 2012 notified by the Board. The Customs staff at exit gate of port of entry shall verify the installation of tracking device in case of container as well as vehicle, PCCSS Seal Number as per Form A and electronically gate out the goods.
For transportation of cargo, the FBR said that the transit cargo under this CGO shall only be transported by an authorised bonded carrier or transport operator licensed under Chapter XXV of the Customs Rules 2001 or by Pakistan Railways. The vehicles used for transportation of transit cargo shall be equipped with the tracking device from the tracking company duly licensed under the Tracking and Monitoring of Cargo Rules, 2012 notified by the Board.
The transit cargo shall be transported in standard sealed containers. Oversized cargo, which cannot be carried in a container may be transported, fully covered with a tarpaulin and secured with the tamper free Customs seals. The FBR further said that the authorised carrier shall move the cargo only through the routes designated by the National Highway Authority from time to time.
The change of conveyance en-route shall not be allowed, except with the prior written approval of the Assistant or Deputy Collector having jurisdiction and where the same is necessitated by exceptional circumstances such as accident or any other breakdown etc. While allowing such change of transport unit, the Assistant or Deputy Collector concerned shall record reasons in writing and send a copy of his decision to the Collector of port of entry as well as the port of exit.
All cargo being transported via Torkham and Chaman may be parked only in the designated resting areas notified by the Ministry of Communications or National Highway Authority (NHA). The Customs officers having geographical jurisdiction shall have access to these resting areas to monitor the cargo as and when deemed appropriate.
The Collector of Customs having geographical jurisdiction, under exceptional circumstances may after recording the reasons in writing, order for transportation of cargo under Customs escort. All the expenses incurred on such escort shall be borne by the carrier. The FBR further said that the transportation of the cargo from the port of entry to the port of exit in a safe and secure manner shall be the responsibility of the concerned authorised carrier.
In case of any accident, emergency or sabotage on the cargo or transport unit en route the port of exit, the authorised carrier shall immediately report the incident to the nearest Collector of Customs under intimation to Collectors of the port of entry and exit, and shall remain to be the custodian of such goods till the transfer of custody has been completed.
During transportation of transit goods, the carrier shall be responsible to comply with the relevant Customs formalities including the provisions of sub-chapter XVI of Chapter XXV of the Customs Rules, 2001, the applicable laws of the country including those relating to laden or axle weight restrictions or specifications and third party insurance, the FBR added.