Pakistan, India decide to set up joint customs border liaison bodies

Pakistan and India have decided to establish joint customs border liaison committees at each point of crossing between border customs stations, official sources told Business Recorder. Members of the border liaison committees will be nominated by the respective customs administrations as soon as possible after the agreement on co-operation and mutual assistance in customs matters comes into force.
Both countries signed the agreement on February 15, 2012 during the visit of Indian Minister for Commerce, Industry and Textile, Anand Sharma, to Pakistan. The sources said the committee will meet at least once in two months on either side of the border customs station on rotational basis to discuss progress in the development of infrastructure on both sides of the border stations enabling expeditious clearance of goods, resolve other operational issues in order to facilitate trade and any other matter of joint interest.
Both countries will apply electronic risk based management systems, to the extent possible to focus on inspection activities efficiently and effectively and facilitate the clearance and movement of legitimate trade. The customs administration of a contracting party, if, specifically requested by the customs administration of the other country, will provide certified copies of customs documents, shipment documents, records of evidence that give information on actions, carried out or intended, which constitute or may constitute an offence against the customs laws in force in the territory of the other customs administration.
Both countries will exchange information and intelligence. Each country will be bound to provide certified copies of customs documents and shipment documents. The required information will be transmitted via electronic means. Any information or documents received under the agreement will be used only by the requesting customs administration solely for the purpose of assistance and under the terms set out in the agreement.
The information or documents received under the customs co-operation agreement will be eligible for use in administrative, quasi judicial or judicial proceedings and in inquiries by the respective country. Both countries will also establish joint co-operation committee immediately after the agreement comes into force, consisting of representatives of customs administrations of the two countries. It will meet at such a place and time and with such agenda as may in advance be mutually agreed upon by the customs administration.
Regarding grievance mechanism, the source said, a Nodal Officer will receive the grievance of the stakeholder(s). After initial assessment of the grievance, the Nodal Officer will take necessary action to resolve the issue. In case the grievance cannot be resolved at that level, the Nodal Officer will then refer the case to its national Ministry/ Department relevant to the issue as soon as possible but not later than seven working days. Commerce Secretaries of both countries in their biannual meet will review and resolve any unresolved grievance. The review and redressal of grievance will also be done using all means of communication such as electronic mail and fax.