The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched a mobile phone application called “Pass Track,” which will make currency declaration easier and faster for international travellers. Member Custom Mukarram Jah Ansari informed the media at its launch that anyone travelling overseas with foreign currency may now easily download the FBR’s Pass Track application and declare how much cash he is carrying with him.

Last month, the State Bank of Pakistan amended the cash-carrying restrictions for departing travellers and mandated that anybody carrying foreign money submit a report to Pakistan Customs. The FBR has thus announced the updated cash-carrying limitations. Pakistan Customs worked with the National Technology Board to create a web-based mobile app to electronically file the declaration to make it simple for international travellers, Ansari said.

The application after testing is now open to the general public. Mukarram Ansari said that the App can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The App also has a web-based version that is accessible. The App makes it simpler for travellers to file declarations by providing step-by-step instructions. Anyone may register on the App using the cell phone number, and then complete the declaration form.

Ansari said that the App would also display the previous declaration in the calendar year and the available yearly limit. Passengers will only need to give personal information once, after which the system will automatically fill out the form upon logging in on the subsequent visits.

Mukarram Jah stated that the new notification has cut the maximum limit per person per visit to $5000 and set the yearly limit to $30,000. The maximum monetary limit for those under the age of 18 has also been reduced to $2,500 for each visit and $15,000 per year, he added.

The maximum amount of foreign currency that can be taken to Afghanistan per person and each visit is $1,000, while the maximum amount per year is $6,000, he said. Any entering travellers with foreign money above US$10,000 or its equivalent are also obliged to make a declaration, according to Ansari. Moreover, a maximum of Rs 10,000 can be taken out in Pakistani money, he added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk