ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: The government on Monday revamped the international passengers’ clearance procedures at airports to exempt all incoming and outgoing passengers opting for “Green Channel” from the scanning of baggage. However, the passengers desirous of having their baggage checked for payment of duties and taxes may opt for “Red Channel”.
The rules were notified through Customs General Order (CGO) No.10 of 2006.
The CBR has also established `help desks’ at international arrival and departure lounges across the country. These desks will have the current baggage rules, the single-figure duty/taxes' notification and all the requisite information for the passengers.
According to the procedures, the Green Channel would be for passengers having with them no goods or only goods which could be admitted free of import duties and taxes and which were not subject to import prohibitions or restrictions, while the Red Channel would be for other passengers.
The passenger opting for the Green Channel shall not be subject to examination or scanning and they shall be allowed unhindered walk through the customs area. Their accompanied baggage shall neither be scanned nor checked in routine by the customs staff. However, the baggage may be selected for examination on reasonable suspicion or on an apparent misuse of the Green Channel. The baggage so selected will be first scanned and if the process of scanning gives support to the suspicion, then physically examined.
The passengers carrying baggage in excess of their duty-free allowances shall pass through the Red Channel and their baggage shall be examined for the assessment of duty and taxes. The baggage rules, import and export restrictions and conditions, the amounts of duties and taxes payable on dutiable items and the rights and obligations of the passengers shall be prominently displayed inside the arrival halls all over the country in uniform design and size.
In case of goods liable to duty and taxes, the same will be assessed by the customs on the assessment slip as per the format given at Annex-A (in triplicate). The duty and taxes so assessed shall be deposited by the passenger in foreign currency or equivalent amount in Pakistani rupees at the National Bank of Pakistan booths.
One copy each of the assessment slip shall be retained by the customs and the bank whereas the third copy shall be handed over to the passenger. The calculation and amount of duties and taxes assessed, along with relevant provisions of law, shall be explained to the passengers by the customs staff for their satisfaction, while the practice of 100 per cent checking and examination of each outgoing passenger shall be discontinued immediately.
The baggage and body of passengers shall be examined on the basis of specific information, risk profiling, suspicious behaviour or any other reasonable doubt. Baggage rules and applicable export restrictions for outgoing passengers shall be prominently displayed inside the departure halls all over the country in uniform design and size.
An efficient and well-behaved staff will be ensured to be posted at airports. While an officer, not below the rank of assistant collector, shall invariably be available at the time of the clearance of international flights.