GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN

COLLECTORATE OF CUSTOMS

PORT MUHAMMAD BIN QASIM, KARACHI

NO. SI/MISC/76/99-( PQ)                                                    Dated: 06-11-2003

PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 05/2003 - [PQ] 

            In order to implement the decision of the Central Board of Revenue received vide letter No. 3(18)L&P/2002 dated 21.10.2003 read with Ministry of Commerce office Memorandum No. 8(3)/2002-PT.I dated 1.10.2003 and with a view to streamline the work relating to imports under Afghan Transit Trade Agreement, 1965, the following procedure is notified for the guidance of all concerned.

1.         MANIFESTAION OF GOODS DECLARATION (HEREINAFTER CALLED GD NOTIFIED

All the G.Ds for transit shall by presented at Customs Facilitation Centre (herein after called CFC) Collectorate of Customs Port Muhammad Bin Qasim Karachi and shall comply with the following.

i)          Clearing agent/importer will purchase a service coupon from the sale counter of (CFC), attaching the CFC copy of the coupon on the top left corner of the GD.

ii)         The transit GD alongwith the following documents in the sequence given below, will be presented at the receipt counter of CFC.

a) Service coupon (at top left corner of the GD)

b)  Copy of the invoice

c)  Bill of Lading

d)  Pakistan List

e)  Copy of Jawaznama (Import Permit)

f)   8 Copies of ATTI (Afghan Transit "trade Invoice)

iii)        The receiving clerk will verify/scrutinize the documents, feed the particulars of the service coupon to the computer system and issue a token, bearing machine number and date of GD name of the person submitting the GD.

iv)        Data entry operator will feed all the particulars of the GD and ATTI and affix the machine number on the GD as well as on the ATTI.

v)         Data verifier will verify the contents of computer generated printout with the transit GD and make corrections, if so required. In case of any discrepancy, the transit GD will be sent to the Exception counter for rectification of errors in consultation with the clearing agent and officer of the Afghan Transit Group.

vi)        CFC section will daily generate a statement (as per proforma A) transit GDs manifested during that day and send the same to Afghan Transit Group.

vii)       After receiving their document from CFC the clearing agent or importer shall go directly to the Appraising Officer (Processing) of Afghan Transit Group. Hence the registration of transit GD in the import Section or at the Transit Group counter will not be required.

viii)      The Appraising Officer (Processing) will himself receive the documents in Afghan Transit Group and affix stamp as well as put up his initial on original copy of GD in token of receipt. He will also endorse/post the receipt in the computer terminal available with him.

2.         PROCESSING OF DOCUMENTS.

Appraising officer (Processing) shall scrutinize the GD in the light of documents produced by the importer/clearing agent. The following documents will be provided to the Appraising Officer (Processing) Afghan Transit Group.

a)         Remaining set of the GD

b)         Original Detailed packing list/weight list

c)         Original B/L

d)         Jawaznama

After receiving the requisite documents the Appraising Officer (Processing) of Afghan Transit Group shall scrutinize the documents and will check the importability of the goods in accordance with the orders/notifications issued from time to time by the ministry of Commerce as well as the CBR, and will also affix his stamp bearing his name and designation and shall attest invoice, packing list and bill of lading. He will also feed the relevant details in the on-line system. After processing, Appraising officer will endorse the examination order on reverse of the duplicate GD and send the GD to the Principal Appraise (Afghan Transit Group) for counter-signature. The Principal Appraiser will also endorse “checked and passed” and affix his stamp bearing his name and designation and will also sign the GD. If the description/quantity of the goods is not clear, then the GD will be processed under first examination system.

3.         DETACHMENT OF DOCUMENTS

After processing of the GD, the concerned clerk of the (Afghan Transit Group) will enter the particulars of the GD / ATTI in the relevant register and affix the stamp of the free number, which will be same as the manifestation number already allotted by the CFC and detach the quadruplicate copy of the GD.

4.         EXAMINATION OF GOODS

Appraising Officer (Examination) after ensuring that quadruplicate copy of the GD has detached, will conduct the examination of he goods. He shall inspect 100% of the goods and will verify the transit marks and number and gross quantity. He shall ensure that the goods are marked “IN TRNASIT TO AFGHANISTAN” in bold, clear and legible letters. Normally he shall examine 20% of each class/variety of the goods to verify the declared description, quantity. However, in case of any doubt, the may refer the case o the Assistant Collector incharge Afghan Transit Group of seeking permission to examine the goods upto 100%. The        Principal        Appraiser (Afghan Transit Group) will countersign the GD affixing his stamp and sign   out of Customs charge. He will also inspect the goods regularly and will also examine it on random basis.

 

a)         The Appraising Officer (Examination) shall endorse the examination on the back of the original copy of the GD. The examination report shall also be endorsed on the duplicate and triplicate copies of the GD by putting carbon paper underneath the Original copy, pointing out clearly if any discrepancy is found or not.

b)         Any difference in marks and numbers or in case marks and numbers are not clearly visible, shall be pointed out by the Appraising Officer (Examination). The marks and numbers may be allowed to be re-marked under customs supervision on request and after thorough enquiry by the Assistant Collector in-charge.

c)         Any variation or discrepancy found at the time of examination alongwith decision taken on it shall be reflected in the ATTI. Such variations shall also be fed in the on-line system.

5.         LOADING

After completion of the GD, the importer or his clearing agent will approach the concerned Senior Preventive Officer (SPO) for “Allow Loading” of the goods in railway wagon. The SPO will enter the request in the internal delivery register maintained in the office of the SPO. The SPO will then issue a “Loading Slip” in duplicate and affix the “Allow Loading Stamp” on reverse side of the duplicate copy of the GD and will sing it by stamping bearing his name and designation and will depute a Preventive Officer to supervise the loading. The goods will be loaded on the wagon in the presence of the Preventive Officer and the representative of the QICT, Pakistan Railways and the import/clearing agent.

The loaded wagon will be sealed by the authorized security agency i.e. M/s Brinks, the Preventive seal and Railways seal. The Appraising Officer (Examination) Afghan Transit Group, Preventive Officer and the representative of Pakistan Railway will sign the ATTI, after indicating the Railway receipt (R/R) No. the Railway wagon No. and the seal number thereon, the representative of the authorized security agency will issue a sealing certificate in quadruplicate also indication the relevant particulars like GD No. and date, seal No. Railways wagon No., etc. the original certificate shall be retained by the security agency, the duplicate will be given to the Afghan Transit Group for record, the triplicate will be meant for carrier, and the fourth copy will be dispatched to the Customs Officer at the destination for verification.

After completion of the formalities, the duplicate copy of DG to the Afghan Transit Group.

6.         COMPLETION AND DISPATCH OF ATTI AND ANNEXURE-I

The Railway wagon No. R/R No. and the authorized agency’ seal number will be centered on the ATTI and Annexure-I. The concerned clerk will prepare Annexure-I in the triplicate on the prescribed format. It is to be signed and stamped by the Principal Appraiser (Afghan Transit Group) and dispatched to the relevant customs station at the Afghan border alongwith duplicate GD and the copy of sealing certificate through UMS.

7.         RECORD KEEPING AND RECONCILIATION

The Afghan Transit Group staff shall maintain all record relating to goods resealed for transit to Afghanistan, for which purpose a Register of Dispatches will be properly maintained. The officer will also dispatch the copies of the Goods Declaration (GD) and ATTI as follows:

The respective customs station at the border will send the cross border certificate confirming that the goods have crossed over to Afghanistan, within 45 days of the dispatch of the copy of the ATTI from Karachi. The Afghan Transit Group shall reconcile its record on receipt of the cross border certificate and will immediately report to the Assistant Collector (Afghan Transit Group) if any discrepancy is found.

8.       PERIODIC POST IMPORTATION AUDIT

The Afghan Transit Group will not only properly maintain the record pertaining to Afghan Transit Trade but will also regularly conduct on weekly basis post importation audit of the ATT documents/record. In case any discrepancy is found during audit the same should immediately be reported to the Assistant Collector incharge for initiation of appropriate action under the law.

9.       OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

The above procedure has been prescribed in order to prevent any misuse of -e Afghan Transit facility by unscrupulous importers, to ensure that only genuine -''sit goods are allowed to transit through the territory of Pakistan to reach Afghanistan and  Prevent goods destined and declared for transit finding their way into the market of Pakistan.

Any attempt at misusing he Afghan Transit facility to bring in/smuggle goods into Pakistan without payment of duty and taxes livable thereon or in contravention of any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force, is an offence under the relevant revisions of the Customs Act, 1969 which include inter alia, section 2(s), 15,16,32 and 129 and appropriate legal and penal action will be taken accordingly.

Import against fake, forged, tampered or invalid documents (Jawaznama. invoice, bill of lading etc.)

Non-confirmation of crossing over the goods into Afghanistan within reasonable time (a maximum of 45 days) or any discrepancy in quantity or description at the time of re-examination at the border.

10. All concerned officers/staff i.e. Appraising Officer, Principal Appraiser, Assistant Collector, Preventive Officer and Senior Preventive Officer will put legible signature and also affix their stamps bearing their names and designation on goods declaration (GD) and all other ATT related documents while processing/examining or dealing in any manner with these documents.

11. This Public Notice is to be read with relevant SRO and provision of the Customs Act, 1969 relating to Afghan Transit Trade. It is clarified that the instructions and directions issued by the CBR and the Ministry of Commerce are mandatory and thus take precedence over this Public Notice.

12. The concerned staff of Afghan Transit Trade Group must report discrepancy in the Public Notice of so noticed. They should also propose amendment, addition of deletion, if so needed in the provision of this Public Notice.

NOTE: This Public Notice contains seven pages and each page bear may seal and signaturSigned by

(AMIR M. KHAN MARWAT)

Collector

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