Pak decides to exempt from all taxes & duties, satellite equipments & cameras & other related goods being brought by Int’l Election Observers

ISLAMABAD, Jan 14 (SABAH): Pakistan has decided to exempt from all taxes and duties, the satellite equipments and cameras and other related goods being brought by the International Election Observers and International Media Teams.

According to the Quarterly election update October December, issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), these decisions were taken during meeting headed by Special Secretary Dr. Syed Asif Hussain, Zafar Iqbal Hussain, and other senior officers, along with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Federal Board of Revenue, and other relevant institutions, participated in the meeting. Joint Election Commissioners from the four provinces, appointed as focal persons regarding the observers, also attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the facilitation of the International Election Observers and International Media Teams that are to visit Pakistan for Monitoring of the General Elections 2024.

The Federal Board of Revenue have been instructed to declare all equipment, cameras, and necessary goods of international observers, including media representatives, exempt from customs duty and provide full support. A Facilitation Action Committee has also been formed in this regard.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to promptly invite all international observers, ensuring completion within a week through the Pakistan Foreign Mission. The visa process for international observers should be expedited to issue visas within a week, facilitating their visit without hindrance.

Ministry of Interior and other security related institutions to ensure the security of all international observers, completing all security-related matters two weeks, so as to provide them complete security during their stay in Pakistan. In this regards, the Ministry of Interior has been tasked as Focal Ministry to ensure complete interaction with all four provincial Home Departments and Intelligence Agencies as well as with federal and Four Provincial Police Chiefs.