KARACHI: In bid to facilitate foreign and local investors, Pakistan Customs has asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to establish separate customs stations and dryports in the each industrial zones that would be set up under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Sources said that the proposed customs stations and dryports would help ensure smooth and quick clearance of cargos. A total of 32 industrial zones have been proposed in the Punjab, 33 in Sindh, three in Islamabad, seven in Balochistan and 17 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Special Economic Zones Act 2012 allows duty/tax-free import of capital equipment, such as plant and machinery.
In October 2016, the FBR had constituted a committee for preparing draft rules for special economic zones and Gwadar port and free zone areas. In order to ensure effective monitoring of the movement of CPEC related cargo, Pakistan Customs also suggested establishment of dedicated offices at every 100-kilometre along the CPEC route.
