GDs filing deadline extended

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has extended the time limit for filing goods declaration to facilitate traders and importers in the wake of lockdown related to coronavirus.

In a notification issued on Monday, the revenue board extended the time limit for filing goods declaration from the existing 10 days of arrival of goods to further 15 days (total 25 days) for all Import General Manifest (IGMs) filed between March 17, 2020 and April 7, 2020.

The Customs collectorates across the country were operating normally; however, on account of the ongoing lockdown by provincial governments to address the prevailing pandemic of COVID-19, the importers and clearing agents were facing hardships in filing goods declaration within the time limit prescribed under the Customs Act, 1969, it said.

“The consequent penalty on this account is causing undue hardships to the traders, as the circumstances for late filing was beyond their control.

The FBR said it had received requests from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) for extension in the time limit for filing goods declaration.