How to deal with custom agents at airports in Pakistan? Openly robbing passengers

[faiz.aslam.121]

I live in norway, been living here my whole life. I travel to pakistan once-twice a year and even as a kid I have had some issues. Islamabad is defiantly the worst. I travel mostly alone and have been since I was 16. I remember this one incident where I brought my personal projector with me and they wanted to impose 18.000 rupee in tax while the damn thing was worth like 40K or something. After much back and fourth I had a card given to be my father for the Deputy Director for something something at the airport. I called him and then they let me go.
In lahore I bribed the guys at the gates twice for letting me bring copied cds with me. In islamabad when flying back to norway twice the search everybodys bag for narcotics at the entrance. The guy just told me if I gave him 500 rupee they wouldent open my bags. I did it. Not because I had something to hide but because I couldent be bothered to open all my stuff.

And where bout's do you live in Norway, gosh first time seeing a Norwegian dude here

[almynoon]

http://atfmslive.caapakistan.com.pk/pcs/Default.aspx

complains on airport issues on this sites......

[mr_jiic]

And where bout's do you live in Norway, gosh first time seeing a Norwegian dude here

				Right now Im in Tonsberg because I go to Uni here but for the past 20 years I lived in Oslo. 						Im guessing you have some sort of connection to Norway aswell judging from your flag. Their is actually one other dude her aswell who lives in bergen which I got to know a couple of years ago.

[mubeenshahid]

Right now Im in Tonsberg because I go to Uni here but for the past 20 years I lived in Oslo. Im guessing you have some sort of connection to Norway aswell judging from your flag. Their is actually one other dude her aswell who lives in bergen which I got to know a couple of years ago.

Norway is a very beautiful country.A great tourist station indeed

Sent from my GT-N7100

[Husnain85]

my cousins came after almost every 6 months from uk. the best thing is pay rs 500 to the troly man and he will get you in as well as out without any problem.if you have got some "maall" with you then it wil cost you 1500 rs.!

Thats the best solution.
Thats wat i do all the time....pay trolly man 5?.
Ask him that u will pay him but u dnt want to go to this customs desk n want ur bags to b opend.
This way u can bring as many mobiles/ipads/laptops u want.

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[faiz.aslam.121]

Right now Im in Tonsberg because I go to Uni here but for the past 20 years I lived in Oslo. Im guessing you have some sort of connection to Norway aswell judging from your flag. Their is actually one other dude her aswell who lives in bergen which I got to know a couple of years ago.

awesome! I was born in Norway too, as is the case with my older siblings. Lived in Stavanger until I was 7, then I moved to Oslo. Been living there Since. Moved to uk for 4 years, and currently I am in Pakistan. Nice to meet ya:)

[lahori1990]

awesome! I was born in Norway too, as is the case with my older siblings. Lived in Stavanger until I was 7, then I moved to Oslo. Been living there Since. Moved to uk for 4 years, and currently I am in Pakistan. Nice to meet ya:)

Do they give you their citizenship just like in US/Canada or is it like middle east, where you are still a pakistani citizen?

[mr_jiic]

awesome! I was born in Norway too, as is the case with my older siblings. Lived in Stavanger until I was 7, then I moved to Oslo. Been living there Since. Moved to uk for 4 years, and currently I am in Pakistan. Nice to meet ya:)

Yeah you to man.

Do they give you their citizenship just like in US/Canada or is it like middle east, where you are still a pakistani citizen?

Yes, you do get citizenship and Norwegian passport when you are bourn here and if you immigrate you get if after a certain number of years.

[mateen001]

Im so frustrated and confused about what to do. I'm coming to Lahore from Sweden in a couple of days and I'm bringing -

2 desktop pc's in parts, with 2 flatscreens (most of the components are old parts I had laying idle at home and I decided to build two computers for my nieces in Pak). Total value isn't more than 20-30k rs and it will be very annoying if I'm asked to pay customs on a well intended gift.

1 laptop gift for my cousin, 3 cellphones in pack for cousins, nephews, old PS2, Gamecube for nephews, nieces, toys, another laptop for family friend and an iphone.

We're coming as a family - 4 ppl. Are we doomed to pay several thousand rs in bribes or is there a way to clear this legally???

Please advice or contact me if you work in this field and can help.

[Haroon_Tarar]

^^ 4 people can bring that much stuff. Laptops and fones can be classified as for personal use. No big deal. These days one person uses 2-3 fones on an average.
Custom people normally do not say anything when you bring toys for children.
Only the LCD screens may create some problem but that also may not be much of an issue.
I am very sure no one is going to even look at you.

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[mateen001]

^^ 4 people can bring that much stuff. Laptops and fones can be classified as for personal use. No big deal. These days one person uses 2-3 fones on an average.
Custom people normally do not say anything when you bring toys for children.
Only the LCD screens may create some problem but that also may not be much of an issue.
I am very sure no one is going to even look at you.

Sent from my LT30p using PW Forums mobile app

The thing is that all the cellphones are giftwrapped, the iphone is in it's sealed package aswell. The desktop pc's are in 1 box of 26kg. The lcd's were taken from a recycling storage in the neighbourhood for free :l

I have been reading around alot trying find out ways around this but I don't know. I hate the unjust bakwas that ppl face at Pak airports but now I'm thinking if I can avoid being harassed or get a headache from some officer at 2-3 am when we arrive from a 20 hr trip, then 500 rupees to a trollyman would be great...

But in all honesty there should be some clear accessible information on what rulings they have on bringing gifts and things. I read by some comment at an article that if you ask the custom person for a receipt to write out the bill then they become afraid as you have documented proof on them.

Obviously I don't intend to sell any of these items, they're all gifts, but if there's a clear rule that can be quoted from "somewhere" then atleast I won't need to argue about the officer putting the money down his pocket.

[mateen001]

This is the 2nd time I get to hear this. Custom agents and the airport management at Islamabad airport have openly robbed my relatives. My relatives were going to canada from Islamabad and the agents stopped them, and asked them to open every single luggage. They then started imposing duties and other complicated terms on the luggage.

I will be visiting pakistan soon and I am a little scared as I am not sure what to expect at the lahore airport. How do I deal with these bully Jayala custom agents?

I just told this pampers story to my mom and she started laughing. - Insane and absurd as it is, pissing me off from reading your story, the mother who brought the pampers should have thrown it on the officer and tell him to keep it.

I feel airports are a no-mansland where average people have no rights whatsoever and the only weapons you have at your disposal are bribes (sometimes) or good connections.

I need to get my hands on a blue or red, Pak passport someday :l

[faiz.aslam.121]

2 years ago, my mom brought me a 32" LCD TV which she bought from a sale.
This happened at Islamabad Airport- She was about to exit the airport and there was a last set of scanners.
A porter asked her if she had anything that needed clearing, she asked about her TV.
Instead of replying, the porter ran to the Custom walas and spread the word about the TV lol.

Then, she got stopped. They demanded $200 for the TV- despite it costed her roughly $170 in the sale.
She just sat calmly and started calling us. After 15 or so minutes, the Custom walas lost patience and started bugging my mom to pay the Custom duty. She told them that she will do it afterwards. They started saying that new Shift will start soon and she has to hurry up.

My mom told them to go- She wasn't bothered and the Custom walas were dying lol. She was surrounded by a few of them.

After a few minutes, she went and spoke to their senior inside the office- He was busy with and just told her to go, without paying anything. She told the Custom walas what happened and they kept on bugging her for Custom...-.-

She took 1 person to the office with her and spoke face to face with their seniors. No Custom paid, I got my TV and it got burnt after 2 weeks. So much for nothing

[lahori1990]

2 years ago, my mom brought me a 32" LCD TV which she bought from a sale.
This happened at Islamabad Airport- She was about to exit the airport and there was a last set of scanners.
A porter asked her if she had anything that needed clearing, she asked about her TV.
Instead of replying, the porter ran to the Custom walas and spread the word about the TV lol.

Then, she got stopped. They demanded $200 for the TV- despite it costed her roughly $170 in the sale.
She just sat calmly and started calling us. After 15 or so minutes, the Custom walas lost patience and started bugging my mom to pay the Custom duty. She told them that she will do it afterwards. They started saying that new Shift will start soon and she has to hurry up.

My mom told them to go- She wasn't bothered and the Custom walas were dying lol. She was surrounded by a few of them.

After a few minutes, she went and spoke to their senior inside the office- He was busy with and just told her to go, without paying anything. She told the Custom walas what happened and they kept on bugging her for Custom...-.-

She took 1 person to the office with her and spoke face to face with their seniors. No Custom paid, I got my TV and it got burnt after 2 weeks. So much for nothing

Whose the senior officer? I know one of my family friend who works at islamabad airport and he's probably the most senior there.

[faiz.aslam.121]

Whose the senior officer? I know one of my family friend who works at islamabad airport and he's probably the most senior there.

I don't know, neither does she. She just walked into the office.

[lahori1990]

I don't know, neither does she. She just walked into the office.

Islamabad airport pe bohot lut machi hoi hai lol.

[dexter1377]

Im so frustrated and confused about what to do. I'm coming to Lahore from Sweden in a couple of days and I'm bringing -

2 desktop pc's in parts, with 2 flatscreens (most of the components are old parts I had laying idle at home and I decided to build two computers for my nieces in Pak). Total value isn't more than 20-30k rs and it will be very annoying if I'm asked to pay customs on a well intended gift.

1 laptop gift for my cousin, 3 cellphones in pack for cousins, nephews, old PS2, Gamecube for nephews, nieces, toys, another laptop for family friend and an iphone.

We're coming as a family - 4 ppl. Are we doomed to pay several thousand rs in bribes or is there a way to clear this legally???

Please advice or contact me if you work in this field and can help.

With four people coming no problem for that many items
Packed cell may attract them

Sometime they just let you go

Sent from somewhere

[123niazi]

Islamabad airport pe bohot lut machi hoi hai lol.

These buggers are found at each airport of Pakistan for looting as if this is one of their obligations Fu**ing management

[arfan100]

can anyone tell the custom for lcd tv 32" or above i m coming to pk and want to know about tax

[husnainkhan]

can anyone tell the custom for lcd tv 32" or above i m coming to pk and want to know about tax

You wont face any if you unpack it and impose an image on them as its for your own personal use..give it a look of packing as if youve been using it personally.