ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday issued draft rules to make indemnity bond mandatory for shipping lines intending to use facility of international transshipment cargo within Pakistani sea ports.
The FBR issued draft rules through SRO 685(I)/2020 to amend Customs Rules, 2001.
According to the draft rules, shipping lines intending to use the facility of international transshipment would require to furnish an indemnity bond for an amount equal to the approximate value of goods expected to be imported in thirty days as security to ensure exit of goods outside the country within 30 days from the berthing of inward vessel.
The FBR said that the indemnity bond would be forfeited apart from other consequential penal action under the Customs laws, if the shipping line misuses the facilitation of international transshipment.
If goods still remain on the port after the expiry date including extended time allowed under the law, the shipping line would be responsible to remove the goods immediately unless the delay was attributed to the port authorities, the FBR added.
According the draft rules the shipping lines would also liable to submit complete details of Import General Manifest (IGM).
The shipping lines would require providing details, such as: port of loading; name of transshipment port of Pakistan; port of destination (final port of discharge at foreign destination); bill of lading number; name of foreign exporter; name of foreign importer; weight; seal number; and container number.
