ISLAMABAD: To clear large consignments of banned items from ports, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has empowered the customs officials to direct shipping lines to re-export out of Pakistan any banned or restricted goods. The FBR has conveyed to the Collectors of Customs that a number of consignments containing banned or restricted goods are lying at the ports for long time.

The Para 20 of the Import Policy Order prescribes that banned items imported in commercial quantities shall be re-exported at the expense of the importer or the shipping line. There is no such corresponding provision in the Customs Act, 1969.

In order to make shipping lines responsible for re-export of such consignment and to harmonise the provisions of the Customs Act, 1969 and the IPO, Section 82 has been amended, the FBR added.

Under the amendment made in the Customs Act 1969, provided that Collector of Customs may direct the importer or in case importer is not traceable, the shipping line to re-export out of Pakistan any goods, banned or restricted through a notification issue by the federal government, if the same are not cleared or auctioned within 60 days of the date of their arrival, it added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021