The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has exempted more than 2,403 Chinese goods from the payment of sales tax, income tax, and federal excise duty. This concession will apply to goods cleared through the Sost Customs Dry Port and intended exclusively for use within Gilgit-Baltistan.
Through SRO 2488(I)/2025, issued yesterday, the FBR has introduced a special procedure for the clearance of goods at the Sost Customs Dry Port. These rules will apply to all consignments cleared through the port.
Under the notification, sales tax, income tax, and federal excise duty will not be charged on imports, provided that an individual online permit is issued for each consignment. This permit will be issued by the authorized authority designated by the Gilgit-Baltistan government through the Customs computerized clearance system, in the prescribed format available in the system.
The benefit of tax non-collection (tax exemption) will be granted up to the approved quota on a first-come, first-served basis, as authorized by the Collector of Customs. However, goods imported for use in Gilgit-Baltistan that exceed the allocated quota will be subject to sales tax, income tax, and federal excise duty.
The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan will ensure that all goods imported under this notification are used solely within the territorial limits of Gilgit-Baltistan.
If customs operations are disrupted due to protests or road blockages, the Collector of Customs, Gilgit-Baltistan, after consultation with the Gilgit-Baltistan government, will have the authority to suspend the non-collection of sales tax, income tax, and federal excise duty under this notification.
The Collector of Customs, Gilgit-Baltistan, will also have the authority to withdraw the tax exemption in any individual case where misdeclaration is detected to such an extent that proceedings under the Customs Act, 1969 become necessary, or where goods cleared under this notification are taken outside the territorial limits of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Chief Collector of Customs will take appropriate measures to ensure that goods cleared under this notification are not transported outside Gilgit-Baltistan.
