Pakistan Humanitarian Background

For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters:

EMDAT Website information on Pakistan

Calamities and Seasonal Affects

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) is the federal government body to respond to emergencies when officially declared. All Humanitarian efforts are coordinated through NDMA with GoP and PDMA (Provincial Disaster Management Authority) at provincial levels.

For information on Pakistan Government contact details, please see the following link:

4.1 Pakistan Government Contact List

Pakistan Regulatory Narrative

Federal Board of Revenue

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) was created on April 01, 1924 through enactment of the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1924. In 1944, a full-fledged Revenue Division was created under the Ministry of Finance. After independence, this arrangement continued up to 31st August 1960 when on the recommendations of the Administrative Re-organization Committee, FBR was made an attached department of the Ministry of Finance. In 1974, further changes were made to streamline the organization and its functions. Consequently, the post of Chairman FBR was created with the status of ex-officio Additional Secretary and Secretary Finance was relieved of his duties as ex-officio Chairman of the FBR. In order to remove impediments in the exercise of administrative powers of a Secretary to the Government and effective formulation and implementation of fiscal policy measures, the status of FBR as a Revenue Division was restored under the Ministry of Finance on October 22, 1991. However, the Revenue Division was abolished in January 1995, and FBR reverted back to the pre-1991 position. The Revenue Division continues to exist since from December 01, 1998. By the enactment of FBR Act 2007 in July 2007 the Central Board of Revenue has now become Federal Board of Revenue.

For information on Pakistan regulatory department contact details, please see the following link:

4.1 Pakistan Government Contact List

Pakistan Customs Information

WeBOC is the paperless Pakistan Customs system that provides real time integration of agents, brokers, terminal operators, cargo handlers and customs officials for the clearance of trade consignments.

www.weboc.gov.pk

At the time of any natural/man- made disaster NDMA takes a lead and issue NOC for import of cargo (duty free) into Pakistan. Documentation needed is listed below:-

1.         AWB/Bill of Lading

2.         Packing List

3.         Commercial Invoice In normal situation Ministry of foreign affairs are responsible of issuing NOC for import of humanitarian cargo, documents and process is listed below.

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.1 Pakistan Government Contact List

Emergency Response:

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to 'crisis' times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING CUSTOM EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FOR PAK PROJECT CARGO, TO MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

• Upon receiving the original B/L for the commodity, we prepare the EC, to be signed by two WFP International staff members

• Afterwards, the EC is submitted to MoFA and continuous follow up is done to get the EC back from the Ministry.

• Upon receiving the EC from the Ministry, we prepare the necessary letter for the Excise and Taxation Officer and endorse the B/L in the named clearing agent.

• Then the EC and other clearance documents are sent to WFP Karachi office/clearing agent.

• One full set is handed over to the shipping unit for their respective file.

• We update the status of pending cases of EC’s with MoFA.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS HAs TO BE STAMPED:

• All the four (three green & one white) copy of the EC.

• The Note Verbal (before CD initial’s).

• Both the certificates (Excise).

• Digital and electronic copies of B/L not accepted in Pakistan.

• Endorse on the back side of the original B/L and copies with WFP stamp.

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING NOC FROM MINISTRY OF COMMERCE FOR FOOD ITEMS:
MINISTRIES INVOLVED: Ministry of Commerce, State and Frontier Region.

• After the completion of the customs clearance of the cargo at port, we ask the WFP superintendents to provide us the BE (Bill of Entry).

• Upon receiving the BE, we prepare the covering letter, addressed to Joint Secretary, MOC (Ministry of Commerce) for the issuance of NOC for WFP Food Items.

• Before submission to MOC, we get the covering letter signed by CD CO PAK.

Afterwards, the following relevant documents are attached:

• Bill of Entry

• Covering letter of Exemption Certificate along with the allocations.

• Exemption Certificate.

• Bill of Lading

• Certificate of Origin & Phytosanitary Certificate.

• We make two copies of the complete documents and submit one original to MOC along with a copy of the same for SAFRON (State and Frontier Region), and retain the other copy for our own record.

• Continuous follow up is done with MOC for obtaining the NOC.

• On receiving the NOC, we forward it to the requesting WFP office along with our reference letter.

• One copy of the NOC along with all the documents is retained for our file / record.

NOTE

• Both Ministries (MOC & SAFRON) are involved for a commodity that has been internationally purchased (outside Pakistan).

• For Locally Purchased commodities we only send the original set of documents to MOC and do not send a spare copy to SAFRON, as they are not involved.

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements