Daily Times

KARACHI: In order to facilitate stakeholders and strengthen monitoring of import payments from the country, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Pakistan Customs started a joint project for issuance of Electronic Import Form (EIF).

The EIF module in the Pakistan Customs’ electronic goods clearance system called WeBOC (Web based One Customs) has been developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

In order to import goods into Pakistan, all importers shall be required to submit EIF request through their WeBOC User ID to any authorized dealers of their choice in the country.

According to SBP, the authorized dealers (ADs) invited to Chapter 13 of Foreign Exchange Manual-2016 and SBP Notification No. F.E.1/2016-SB dated July 26, 2016 which, inter-alia set out rules related to payments against import of goods into the country.

The request for EIF shall be submitted electronically by the importer and the AD shall approve or reject EIF electronically in WeBOC. User Manuals for issuance of EIF through WeBOC for importers and ADs are attached as Annexure-I & Annexure-II respectively. It may be noted that EIF will be applicable for imports cleared through both WeBOC and the old “One Customs” systems.

The Goods Declaration (GD) for import of goods cannot be filed with Pakistan Customs unless the approved EIF has been attached with respective GD. The import payments shall be recorded in EIF module by the concerned AD through Bank Debit Advice (BDA).

The ADs shall start approving EIF requests in WeBOC with effect from August 15, 2016. However, attachment of EIFs with GDs shall start from September 1, 2016. Consequently, manual Form-I shall no longer be issued / used by the ADs from September 1, 2016.

Accordingly, the following new paragraph 6A has been inserted in Chapter 13 of FE Manual 2016: Para 6A – Issuance of Electronic Import Form (EIF) Form Prescribed for Imports.