No customs duty on relief goods: official

Munir Qureshi directed Customs officials to immediately clear flood relief goods without customs duty.

KARACHI: Member Customs, Munir Qureshi on Wednesday directed Customs officials to immediately clear flood relief goods without customs duty and other import related taxes, subject to the production of no objection certificate (NOC) issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

In case the imported goods are not covered under the existing exemption regime, the importers can approach the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to get an exemption, he said and added that FBR will take all necessary measures to allow duty-free import of relief goods.

He was reviewing the existing procedure for the smooth, prompt and hassle-free release of imported relief goods for flood victims  across the country.

Qureshi observed that the existing provisions provide an adequate legal framework to ensure clearance of relief goods.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2010.