FBR revises transhipment rules, allocates temporary storage at Port Qasim amid Gulf crisis

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revised international transhipment procedures and designated a temporary storage facility at Port Qasim to manage cargo disruptions caused by the ongoing security situation in the Gulf region.

The tax authority issued two separate customs notifications — SRO525 of 2026 and SRO518 of 2026 — amending existing rules to address the emergency and war-like conditions in the Gulf that have disrupted cargo flows and port operations.

Temporary storage facility at Port Qasim

Under one of the notifications, the FBR authorised M/s DP World to use a 16.9-acre berth backup area situated in the North Eastern Industrial Zone of Port Qasim for the temporary storage of international transhipment cargo. The designated facility is aimed at alleviating congestion and ensuring smoother handling of transhipment consignments arriving at the port.

Tighter monitoring and documentation rules

Through the second notification, SRO525, the FBR introduced wide-ranging amendments to the Customs Rules 2001. The changes are understood to significantly tighten monitoring, documentation, and liability requirements related to transhipment cargo.

The twin notifications reflect the government's effort to respond swiftly to the disruption in maritime trade caused by the prevailing security environment in the Gulf. With cargo flows to and from the region facing significant hurdles, the revised rules and the allocation of additional storage space are intended to keep trade moving through Pakistani ports without major bottlenecks.

Port Qasim, one of Pakistan's key deep-water ports located near Karachi, handles a substantial volume of the country's transhipment and international trade cargo. The temporary measures announced by the FBR are expected to provide relief to importers, exporters, and shipping lines dealing with rerouted or delayed consignments as a result of the Gulf crisis.

The move to assign the 16.9-acre area to DP World — a major global port operator that already manages terminal operations at Port Qasim — signals the authorities' reliance on existing infrastructure and private-sector partnerships to manage the logistical challenges posed by the regional security situation.

By amending the Customs Rules 2001, the FBR has also sought to ensure that the temporary arrangements do not compromise regulatory oversight, with stricter documentation and monitoring protocols now in place for all transhipment cargo passing through the facility.