The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has officially launched the Freight Forwarders Licensing Rules, 2025, through SRO 1222(I)/2025, establishing the first comprehensive regulatory framework for freight forwarding in Pakistan.Â
The rules cover logistics across sea, air, land, and rail transport, aiming to bring structure to an industry previously operating without formal regulatory oversight.
According to news reports, the implementation of the new rules is being led by Director of the Inland Office of Customs Operations (IOCO) Imran Sajjad Bukhari. Under the new framework, freight forwarders must obtain a non-transferable license, valid for two years and renewable thereafter, provided they meet all necessary conditions as set out in the rules.
Licenses are issued on the condition that they cannot be transferred or sub-let, and any change in the composition of a business, such as a shift from a proprietorship to a partnership or a company, requires formal approval, including the submission of partnership deeds and successful completion of interviews or tests.
Additional conditions govern the retirement of partners, dissolution of partnerships, and changes in company structure. In case of the death of a licensee, the license may be transferred to the legal heirs, provided they meet the required criteria.
The new rules also address scenarios like lost or damaged licenses, allowing for the issuance of a duplicate for a fee.
The introduction of these rules marks a significant step towards formalizing and regulating Pakistan’s vital freight forwarding industry, which plays a key role in the country’s trade and logistics sectors.
