QUETTA: Collector MCC Quetta Ashraf Ali said that Quetta Customs would deal with major transit routes for movement of vehicles under TIR Carnet as Taftan border crossing is situated at Pak-Iran border where TIR System would ensure hassle-free clearance and minimum physical checking of goods which would greatly reduce the cost of doing business.
During an interview with Customs Today, the collector said that it gives him great pleasure to announce that Pakistan is on the cusp of formally launching “Transports Internationaux Routiers” commonly known as TIR Convention.
The Collector said that Taftan is situated at a distance of around 640km from Quetta where various customs check-posts exist as Nokundi, Dalbandin, Noshki, Lakpass enroute Taftan and Shella Bagh, Yaro Karez and Balelli enroute Chaman to cater to security needs of the cargo passing under TIR carnet.
He said that dedicated high-speed internet has already been installed at Chaman and Taftan for roll-out of WeBOC and TIR modules. He further said that necessary training has also been imparted to the staff concerned.
In short, he quoted that “the Quetta Customs is ready to roll-out TIR System for all cargo arriving under TIR carnet from the contracted parties to the TIR Convention through the notified stations.” He narrated that in fact, first consignment has already arrived at NLC Dry Port Quetta.
Briefly describing salient features of the TIR System, he said that it basically envisages movement of cargo from one contracting party to the TIR convention to another contacting party without the payment of duty and taxes by authorized transporters/carnet holders who are registered with the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and such registration is done against submission of a guarantee in terms of Guarantee Agreement of the TIR and in case of Pakistan; the Supplementary Guarantee Agreement also applies as the Guarantee Agreement didn’t provide for levy of fine and penalty in case goods are pilfered enroute.
He further said any transporter wishing to get registered as “carnet holder” can apply to Pakistan National Committee of International Chamber of Commerce (PNC-ICC) provided that the transporter fulfilled the conditions laid down in Rule 696 of the Customs Rules, 2001.
Ashraf said that as tracking of the goods is provided, therefore security of the cargo can be ensured enroute, and all sea ports and dry ports have been notified by FBR as Customs Office of Destination/Departure so the impoters and exporters have a wide option of destinations where they can clear their goods.
The TIR module makes the movement of goods electronically visible to the Customs Office of Destination so the importers can file advance declaration enabling Customs to process the GDs after arrival thus eliminating administrative delays. All the TIR operations will be conducted in the WeBOC System which ensures end-to-end automation eliminating the need for any paper-based documents. The whole system is designed for maximum facilitation of trade and transit, he added.
The Collector said that MCC Quetta has established special counters for facilitating TIR carnet holders and any hindrance faced by TIR carnet holders would be sorted out by dedicated Customs staff.
He wished that importers and exporters would take maximum advantage of the new system and shift all their operations to the TIR System which would ensure hassle-free clearance and minimum physical checking of goods which would greatly reduce the cost of doing business. The Collector thanked M/s Mott MacDonald, the Director(R&A), the Secretary (T&T FBR) and the Additional Director (National Single Window) for their incessant efforts in ensuring the smooth roll-out of the TIR system in Pakistan.
