‘FBR Hasn’t Blocked POL Supplies To Nato’

ISLAMABAD:The Federal Board of Revenue has not issued any administrative instructions to the Collectors of Customs to block clearance of consignments and POL products supplies to the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), Nato forces or Defence Energy Support Centre (Desc) based in Afghanistan.

Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that the customs department has not issued any kind of customs general order (CGO), administrative instructions or letter to the Collector, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Peshawar and Quetta to block supplies to Isaf and Nato force in Afghanistan.

There were some media reports that the supplies to the international security forces in Afghanistan have been stopped. It was reported supply lines to the allied forces stationed in Afghanistan has been disconnected through Pakistan. There were other reports that the Torkham highway was closed down due to Taliban threat to trucks carrying consignments for international forces. The decision appeared to be taken in the wake of the growing unrest in the Khyber Agency.

However, senior customs officials opined that the FBR has yet not notified any order to the customs machinery for blocking such international consignments. Although, Ministry of Commerce has powers to allow or restrict imports and exports, but the concerned ministry also not issued such kind of order.

Sources said that the CGO mainly deals with the regulations of movement of goods etc. Such kind of administrative order is required where regulations for specific practice or enforcement are required. However, the government has not ordered customs department to stop clearance of supplies to the forces in Afghanistan.

Sources said that if something has happened to block consignments of Isaf/Nato routed through Pakistan, this has happened at the local level at the Torkham Highway to stop Afghanistan-bound supplies for Nato forces. The customs officials have not been involved in any kind of activity to block supplies for the international forces.

The FBR has already implemented a new system for transportation of petroleum products to Afghanistan and exports meant for Isaf/Desc in Afghanistan. Board wanted proper documentation and monitoring of the petroleum products exports to Afghanistan under Duty and Tax Remission for Export (DTRE) scheme.

Sources said that all vehicles meant for transporting goods to Afghanistan would be fitted with tracking system enabling oil exporting company or refinery as well as the Collectorates to monitor them. All transport units and conveyances used by the carrier for carrying goods shall be properly secured, locked and sealed.

It has been made compulsory for the oil exporting company or the refinery to submit monthly statement to the Collectorate of Customs and the Collectorate of Sales Tax giving details of all the consignments dispatched for export to Afghanistan.

The goods loaded by the carrier shall be weighed and the vehicle carrying such goods shall be sealed with high security seals by the oil exporting company/refinery, or by the duly authorised agent of Isaf or Desc before its departure from the premises of oil exporting company or refinery. The details of weighing and sealing shall be recorded in the permit by the authorised representative of the carrier in the presence of the authorised representative of the oil exporting company/refinery.