Marine bunkering: FBR to regulate customs processes at ports

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to regulate the customs processes for marine bunkering in Pakistan at customs ports including Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Limits, Karachi Outer Anchorage, Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Limits including Port Qasim Outer Anchorage and the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Limits and Gwadar Outer Anchorage.

The FBR has issued an S.R.O. 967(1)2026 on Thursday to notify draft amendments in the Customs Rules, 2001.

All the bunkering operations by Customs and other authorities shall be done electronically under the port community system developed by Pakistan Single Window (PSW).

The procedure shall apply to customs operations without affecting the powers conferred on any other authority under their applicable laws. Any entity involved in bunkering operations shall be required to strictly comply with all legal requirements of other regulatory agencies and authorities applicable on such operations to the extent, as required under their relevant laws.

No person shall carry out bunkering operations at a bunkering port except under a license granted by Mercantile Marine Department and registered with customs through the port community systems an Authorized Bunker Operator (ABO).

The ABO or his agent may be allowed to bring bunker barges for specialized operations of bunkering of ships on temporary basis, or otherwise, by filing Goods Declaration (GD) and completion of customs formalities under the Customs Act, 1969 and rules made thereunder.

The barges used for bunkering operations shall be registered with the Customs under SRO 122(1)/83 dated 12.02.1983 and the particulars be declared in the WeBOC system providing specified information.

The Master of the Vessel or the Shipping Agent shall, through the PCS system, initiate a Permit to Work (PTW) request against Vessel

Intimation Report (VIR) and select the authorized service provider (ABO).

The exporter duly registered as oil marketing company with OGRA or its authorized clearing agent shall file export GD, with ABO as the

consignee, which must include the quantity intended for supply along with the mode of movement i.e. tanker mode or pipeline mode and approved source terminal/storage facility for Gate-In purposes. Where truck mode is selected, entry of the tanker/vehicle number shall

be mandatory and where pipeline mode is selected, the relevant pipeline shall be selected.

Upon completion of Gate-In formalities, the consignment shall be assigned to the designated officer of Customs who shall verify the particulars of Goods Declaration (GD), as required under the law.

In case of bunkering under international transshipment, the details of cargo shall be distinctly manifested in the IGM or carrier declaration uploaded in the ports community system (PCS) by the shipping line VOCCs/NVOCCs having valid shipping agent licenses, it added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026