Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Oct 1, 2024 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has scrapped the mandatory physical inspection system for importing products from Pakistan in a bid to save time.

A letter has been issued in this regard from the revenue board recently to all customs houses across the country.

In the letter, it was mentioned that all consignments from Pakistan are selected for 100 percent manual inspection by National Selectivity Criteria of ASYCUDA World system.

As a result, much more time is being spent by Assistant/Deputy Commissioner-level officials in clearing Red Lane, the letter said.

A low-risk shipment passes through the "green lane" without documentary review or physical inspection. A moderate-risk shipment passes through the "yellow lane" and is subject to document review only. A high-risk shipment passes through the "red lane" and is subject to document review and physical inspection.

The letter mentioned due to the fact that no significant results are available in the physical examination, a request has been made from the Dhaka Customs House to exclude it from the National Criteria.

Taking such proposal into consideration, a decision has been taken to exclude all goods coming from Pakistan from the National Criteria.

However, the customs houses will undertake necessary activities regarding the implementation of Product Based Risk Management in case of imports from the countries mentioned under the Local Criteria from time to time considering the risk.

In such a situation, the letter mentioned, Customs Houses need to formulate their own Risk Management as required under Local Criteria in respect of goods imported from Pakistan.