FBR Suspends 0.25% Customs Penalty Temporarily

Islamabad, August 1, 2025, 09:05 PM PKT — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has abruptly suspended the 0.25% penalty on the declared value of goods, pending a formal notification under Section 82 of the Customs Act, 1969, as reported by Business Recorder citing sources, a move to alleviate pressure on customs clearing agents amid the lack of official guidance. The FBR had initially proposed amendments to reduce port congestion and minimize dwell time, targeting goods owners with penalties for failing to file goods declarations within 10 days of arrival for home consumption, warehousing, or transshipment, with removal deadlines of three days post-assessment (pre-arrival filings) or post-clearance (post-berthing filings).

The Association of Customs Agents fiercely opposed these provisions, pressing FBR and Pakistan Customs for clarity, triggering this temporary halt. Web context on customs reforms shows implementation delays, while posts found on X reflect relief and skepticism—some welcome the reprieve, others question policy coherence. Critically, the narrative of “burden relief” may mask regulatory uncertainty—web data hints at past enforcement gaps, and X sentiment suggests distrust in consistent policy, pointing to potential challenges.