ISLAMABAD: The federal government has empowered Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), under Finance Bill 2017, to enter into mutual legal assistance agreements on customs matters with other foreign and international organizations.
The Bill has added Section 219A in the Customs Act, which provides that the FBR of its own motion or upon request from an international organization, a foreign customs administration, or any other foreign competent authority, enter into memorandum of understanding pertaining to mutual legal assistance in customs matters, or in pursuance of any bilateral or a multilateral agreement, undertake activities, including coordinated border management; information and data sharing; bilateral and multilateral international special operations, including, by the method of controlled delivery; capacity building and technical assistance initiatives and any other matter to which both or all parties agree.
Moreover, FBR on behalf of the federal government, request an international organization, a foreign customs administration, or any other foreign competent authority for legal assistance on any matter or offence under the Customs Act.
