MULTAN: In a move aimed at bolstering customs procedures and securing goods transport, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has mandated that Iranian transporters provide a bank guarantee equivalent to the customs duties and taxes for goods being transported to Pakistan through key clearance points, including the Multan Dry Port and Faisalabad Clearing Station. This step, outlined in SRO 1913, seeks to tighten regulations on cross-border trade and ensure greater accountability for Iranian consignments entering Pakistan.
As part of the revised rules, Iranian transporters carrying goods to the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) Dry Port in Quetta, as well as those transiting through Multan and Faisalabad, will be required to submit a bank guarantee equal to the assessed customs duties and taxes on their goods. If transporters violate the terms of the agreement, such as misusing transshipment facilities or failing to follow the prescribed clearance procedures, their bank guarantees will be confiscated, and additional penalties will be imposed.
The amendments to the Customs Rules of 2001, which were made in accordance with the 1987 Pakistan-Iran Bilateral Road Transportation Agreement, are aimed at ensuring that goods moving from Iran through Taftan and into major Pakistani dry ports like Multan and Faisalabad are handled with the utmost scrutiny. Previously, Iranian vehicles could only transport goods as far as Taftan, where customs duties and clearance were managed, but now, the new provisions allow the movement of goods to major inland points like Multan and Faisalabad, where further customs clearance is performed.
Sources have revealed that the move comes after repeated requests from Iran for Iranian vehicles to bypass the Taftan checkpoint and proceed directly to inland customs points such as Multan Dry Port and Faisalabad Clearing Station for clearance. This shift is part of a broader effort to streamline the clearance process and facilitate smoother trade between Pakistan and Iran.
The new regulation stipulates that Iranian vehicles carrying imported goods must submit a bank guarantee for the duties and taxes imposed on their consignments. In addition, goods will be sealed upon arrival, and tracking devices will be installed on the vehicles to ensure full compliance with customs regulations.
This decision reflects the FBR’s commitment to modernizing and securing Pakistan’s customs infrastructure, aligning it with international trade standards, and improving trade flow at critical clearance points like Multan and Faisalabad. These measures will further ensure transparency, security, and efficiency in the trade between Pakistan and Iran, contributing to the growth of Pakistan’s trade corridors and enhancing regional commerce.
