Islamabad, Oct 8: FBR Implements Strict Controls on Duty and Tax-Free Vehicle Imports by Select Firms.Vehicles imported by businesses operating in Gwadar Zone and Free Zone Areas are subject to stringent inspections by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The “Import of Vehicles by Gwadar Zone and Free Zone Area Concession Holder and its Operating Companies Rules, 2024” regulatory mechanism was released by the FBR on Tuesday.
At the time of import, the importer shall give to the Collector of Customs on the established format an undertaking to adhere by the criteria as laid down in the PCT Code 9917 (3)(iii) of Pakistan Customs Tariff and if they do not comply with the regulations set forth therein, they will be responsible for paying any additional fines that may be imposed in line with the law, as well as any duties and taxes that are applicable to each vehicle at the time of import.
To maintain consolidation of records and data and to effectively monitor such imports, the Collectorate of Customs, Gwadar, shall strictly handle the clearance of vehicles. However, if the import is made from any other port, the same shall be handled through a Transshipment Permit (TP) for the destination Port Gwadar for clearance at Gwadar Collectorate.
Details on cars planned to be imported shall be sent by the eligible importer to the Authority or any other officer designated by it in this regard. The Authority or the officer authorized by it, as the case may be, shall determine the actual requirement of such importer based on the nature of activities of the importer strictly in accordance with the scope as defined under PCT Code 9917(3) (iii) of Pakistan Customs Tariff.
Imported for the exclusive purpose of building, developing, and operating Gwadar Port and Free Zone Area. According to FBR, the Authority will also consider vehicles that were already imported before the regulatory mechanism was issued in order to regularize them in terms of their legitimate usage and determine the importer’s future requirements.
To receive an exemption, the qualified importer must provide the Authority with a Declaration Form duly signed by the company’s CEO. This form must be certified by the Authority, or the Chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority, attesting in a prescribed manner that each imported vehicle is a genuine and legitimate necessity for the development, construction, and operation of the Gwadar Port and Free Zone Area in accordance with the prescribed quotas to be determined by the Authority.
The authority must confirm that all requirements outlined in these rules have been met prior to issuing this authorization. Before verifying the authenticity of the importer’s request or declaration, the Authority will have to make sure that the importer has complied with all other requirements outlined in these regulations and that the vehicles are a legitimate need of the business and appropriate for its operations.
After receiving formal approval from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Government of Pakistan, for the import of vehicles, the Authority will confirm the legitimacy of the importing company’s request. The Authority will then use the WeBOC system to submit an authorization letter in the format specified in Annex-B, based on the actual requirements of the eligible company. The importing company will then start the importation process.
