KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued orders to Pakistan Customs and other authorities concerned to release and clear the stuck consignments of cell phones by March 25 after getting the assurance from cellular companies that they will arrange Type Approval Certificate (TAC) within three months.
SHC in its verdict directed the authorities concerned to clear the consignments of imported cell phones stuck at Air Freight Unit (AFU) of Jinnah International Airport.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Customs authorities had halted the consignments of cell phones at AFU due to absence of TAC on the imported cell phones.
A senior FBR officer informed Customs Today that Pakistan Customs according to Section 223 of the Customs Act, 1969 was bound to obey the FBR rules regarding release of the cell phones and tablet PCs after confirming the TAC.
It may be mentioned here that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority through its notification in 2011 had directed all cellular companies that they must have TAC in the clearance of imported cell phones.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan during the hearing of Karachi unrest case in 2013 has directed the authorities of PTA, Pakistan Customs, Rangers and other law enforcing agencies to constitute a ‘task force’ and informed Supreme Court about the further development.
In this regard, the authorities informed the apex court during the hearing of Karachi unrest case in 2014 that the task force committee has decided that no cell phone or tablet PC was allowed to clear without TAC.
Thousands of cell phones of various cellular companies were stuck at Air Freight Unit due to absence of Type Approval Certificate.
