The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed Collectors of Customs to update authorised banks and ministry of commerce after clearance of every imported consignment of arms and ammunition of non-prohibited bore for providing them up-to-date quota information of the commercial importers.
In this regard, the FBR has issued instructions to all Model Customs Collectorates (MCCs) about the clearance of consignment of non-prohibited bore arms and ammunition.
According to the FBR's instructions to the Collectors of Customs, the customs authorities should strictly follow the relevant order pertaining to the commercial import of arms and ammunition of non-prohibited bore weapons.
The FBR has informed the field formations that the import of arms and ammunition through quantity-based authorisation (QBA) shall be cleared only by the Collectorates of Customs in whose jurisdiction registered business-office of the importer is located.
As per procedure, the customs authorities shall verify the entry made by authorised banks in the Category Pass Book (CPB) at the time of import and shall make amendments, if any, in the quantity ordered and received thereby adjusting the quota as well. No relaxation shall be given in any case where the imported goods exceed the quota ceiling and punitive action, including but not limited to imposition of fine and confiscation of excess quantity, shall be taken against the delinquent importer without prejudice to the action that could be taken by the Federal Government including cancellation of the authorisation and black-listing.
Apart from other documents, following Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certificate or, as the case may be, Pre-Shipment Certificate (PSI) shall be required for clearance of imported weapons, sources said.
In case of Non-Prohibited Weapon (NPW), if the same is imported from OEM, an OEM certificate, otherwise a Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) certificate from the country of export. The OEM certificate or, as the case may be, PSI certificate should specifically mention: Weapon's nomenclature; weapon's calibre or bore or gauge; weapon's type of operation, whether bolt-action, semi-automatic or, as the case may be, automatic; weapon's manufacturer's logo, weapon's serial number embossed thereon and other related information; and the expression that the weapon supplied as bolt-action or semi-automatic, where applicable, cannot be converted into automatic weapon.
In case of PW, the OEM certificate or PSI certificate should specially mention: Weapon's nomenclature; weapon's calibre or bore or gauge; weapon's type of operation, whether bolt-action, semi-automatic or, as the case may be, automatic; and weapon's manufacturer's logo, weapon's serial number embossed thereon and other related information; and the expression that the weapon supplied as bolt-action or semi-automatic cannot be converted into automatic weapon.
Only the weapon's declared as prohibited or, as the case may be, non-prohibited by the concerned Government under the Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965 shall be importable.
The Customs authorities shall, after clearance of every consignment, inform Ministry of Commerce and authorised bank in respect of up-to-date quota position of the importer.
Every importer authorised to import weapons and ammunition shall adhere to the Customs Rules, 2001 in relation to the maintenance of accounts for his imports and where at any point of time these Rules stand repealed such other rules than in force for this purpose shall be adhered to, sources added.
The procedure further specified that a Value Based Authorization (VBA) for import of arms and ammunition by an authorised importer shall be required to be substituted by a QBA. A VBA shall be deemed to have been cancelled where no import was made against it during last three years. For substitution of his authorisation for import of arms and ammunition, the importer of VBA shall make to the Federal Government an application along with supporting documents. No VBA shall, on commencement of the order of Commerce Ministry, be valid for opening of letter of credit or execution of contract: Provided that clearance shall be made by the Customs only against a letter of credit issued or, as the case may be, procedure added.