ISLAMABAD, AUGUST 14: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been requested by the Collector, Collectorate of Customs Gilgit Baltistan, to enhance enforcement efforts in order to prevent the theft of untaxed imported products into regions outside of GB.
In a letter to Member Customs Operations and Member Inland Revenue Service, the collector, Collectorate of Customs GB, requested that a “restraining Order on Collection of Sales Tax and Income Tax at Import Stage Issued by Chief Court Gilgit-Baltistan in Writ Petition No. 201/2024” be put into effect on August 9, 2024.
The FBR’s upper management was tasked by the customs collector with acting quickly to prevent the theft of untaxed imported commodities into regions outside of Great Britain.
He clarified that, under the board’s directive, importers have been granted permission till the following hearing date provided they submit post-dated checks for delayed taxes. The letter also stated that in order to help with imposters, provide clarity, and preserve uniformity in the clearance process, a Standard Operating Procedure has been established.
The importers association, the petitioners, have been verbally and in writing notified that their demand for post-dated checks to be submitted as security has been granted, and they have been directed to clear their products right away.
They went on to say that the establishment of monitoring mechanisms, such as checkposts at the three designated entrance sites in KPK from GB, has been asked of the Regional Tas Offices in Peshawar and Abbottabad.
Additionally, the Customs Collectorate has requested permission from the Home Department of Gilgit-Baltistan to station Customs personnel at three exit locations from the country.
The collector asked the board to implement a mechanism for enforcement and coordination in order to prevent the theft of untaxed imported goods outside of Gilgit-Baltistan. The measures included issuing instructions to the Directorate General of Intelligence Customs, IRS, and relevant enforcement formations.
In addition to assigning six inspectors and twelve sepoys to this customs collectorate, the GB Collector has also asked the FBR to notify check-posts and mobile squads to be operated by RTO Peshawar and RTO Abbottabad.
Additionally, the GB Collector has requested posts and funding to staff three check-posts on exit points within GB and to urgently fill one open position of Assistant Collector in MCC Gilgit-Baltistan.
It is important to note that since April of this year, problems with customs clearance have prevented cross-border commerce at the Sost Dry port in Great Britain.
