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Guide by Mehran Corporation

Clearance Process

Customs Clearance through Weboc

  • Shipping Documents consisting of invoice, packing list, bill of lading and letter of credit received from the importer (by post or email).
  • Clearing Agent then starts the clearing process.
  • Clearing Agent starts providing the daily status of the goods to importer.
  • Clearing Agent asks for pay orders from the importer prior to arrival of vessel.
  • If payorder Amount exceeds Rs 200,000 then PSID (Payment Slip Identification) is generated in Weboc and payment is made at Bank via Cheque.
  • When the Vessel arrives and if Clearing Agent has negotiable documents then Delivery Order is collected by Clearing Agent from local shipping agent.
  • Clearing Agent files GD (Goods Declaration) & submits it to the Bank for payment. Custom allots GD Number.
  • In case of import being from China/Malaysia and is under FTA (Free Trade Agreement) concession, then original FTA COO (Certificate of Origin) is scanned with GD at the time of submission.
  • After arrival of vessel, Duty, Taxes and Excise Payment is made by Clearing Agent.
  • After payments, GD is forwarded to appraiser or GD is released under GREEN CHANNEL FACILITY.
  • Appraisement Officer can send the GD to DC (Deputy Collector) for approval of examination.
  • If DC approves then AO (Appraisement Officer) requests for examination. Container is then grounded and opened for examination. EO (Examination Officer) examines the container and may ask for literature or send the material for Laboratory test. Sometimes if invoice is not found in the container then a fine of Rs 5,000 is levied or it is at the discretion of DC to impose a fine more than Rs 5,000.
  • AO finalizes the assessment and GD is released by Customs.
  • Bill is received after clearance by Shipping Officer and the same is updated in database by Shipping Officer after verification and sent for approval to Logistic & Material Manager and then Logistic & Material Manager sends to accounts (Finance Department) for payment to clearing agent.
  • Cheque of settlement of Clearing Agents bills is received from Finance Department and updated in Shipping Database by Shipping Officer and handed over to Clearing Agent.

Local Shipping Agent – Delivery order & Container Deposit

  • After receiving of Shipping documents from importer, Shipping Officer / Clearing Agent starts follow-up with the Local Shipping Agent for the status of vessel and also asks for the delivery order charges and amount of container deposit.
  • After arrival of vessel and receiving of negotiable documents from AMP’s, payment of delivery order & container deposit is made by Clearing Agent to the Local Shipping Agent along with Bank endorsed bill of lading (where applicable).
  • Local Shipping Agent normally transfers container deposit pay orders into their account.
  • Local Shipping Agent issues delivery order and NOC (No objection certificate). Then material is lifted from Port by Clearing Agent and handed over to the designated transporter for onward delivery to the locations advised by importer.
  • Transporter delivers the goods to the advised locations and returns back the empty container to the Shipping yard as advised by Local Shipping Agent.
  • Shipping Yard issues EIR (Empty Instrument Receipt) to the transporter, transporter hands over the EIR to Clearing Agent for onward submission to the Local Agent.
  • Clearing Agent submits EIR to the Local Shipping Agent so that Container Deposit may be returned by Local Shipping Agent.
  • Local Agent analyzes EIR. If container is beyond free days allowed by Shipping Line then they charge detention which is around US$ 10 for first 5 days, US$ 20 for second 5 days and US$ 30 for third 5 days (different local agent may have different charges of schedules).
  • Clearing Agent pays detention charges if any and after payment, Shipping Agent starts process of refund of container deposit.
  • Its takes around 1 month for the return of Container Deposit (Clearing Agent can only follow up to expedite the process).
  • Upon receipt of Container Deposit, it will be sent to Accounts Dept for onward processing.

Port Authorities

  • There are 2 types of Shipments, DG (Dangerous Goods) and Non-DG (Non-Dangerous Goods). Port Demurrage starts after 2 days of vessel arrival for DG Shipments whereas for Non-DG shipments it starts after 5 days.
  • Delivery Order, NOC, Duty and Excise Payment Challan, released message of Customs and GD containing machine number are submitted to Port Authorities for the issuance of port charges.
  • Invoice is generated by Port Authorities; payment is made to them by Clearing Agent and then gate pass is issued.
  • Clearing Agent/Shipping Officer calls transporter and Clearing Agent hands over the gate pass to him to load the material from Port and deliver the same at the advised location

Post Dated Cheques

  • When imported goods are placed into Bonded warehouse then Customs asks the Importer to provide postdated cheques (valid upto six months from GD filing date) equivalent to the amount of Duty & Taxes.
  • Postdated cheque is returned by Customs after completion of ex-bonding.

Contravention of the Customs Act 1969:

Any imports that do not comply with the requirements, or are made on the basis of any false or incorrect particulars e.g., wrong HS Code (Harmonized System Codes), wrong Net & Gross weight etc. shall be deemed to have been made in contravention of the Customs Act 1969.

The Federal Government may condone such contravention upon payment of surcharge or on such conditions as it may prescribe.

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