KARACHI: Pakistan government has enacted amendments to the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules of 2019, introducing a new fee schedule and mandating digital payments through the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) system.
A key feature of the amendments is the complete replacement of the previous fee structure. The updated rules specify clear, per-ton rates for biosecurity clearance based on the type of imported goods. Fees now range from Rs55 per metric ton for goods under specific tariff chapters, up to Rs28,000 per metric ton for betel nuts, according to the official notification.
A fee of Rs50 per metric ton is now set for the inspection and issuance of phytosanitary certificates for all exported goods.
The amendments introduce a mechanism for automatic annual fee adjustments. Starting July 1, 2027, the rates will be revised to match the Pak Rupee equivalent of the U.S. dollar value as of the preceding June 30, based on the State Bank of Pakistan’s inter-bank exchange rate. The notification specifies that the revised rate can never be lower than the one it replaces.
All fees must now be collected and processed through the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) at the time a declaration or request is filed. This move aims to centralize and modernize the payment system for plant quarantine services.
Furthermore, the regulations have been updated to replace multiple references to payments via “bank challan 32-A” with deposits into the newly established “National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Fund.” This aligns the rules with the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Act, 2026, which created the authority to modernize food safety and trade processes.
