How to Bid at a Customs Auction in Pakistan: Inspect First, Sign the Undertaking, Appeal in 15 Days
Bid at a Pakistan Customs auction under S.R.O. 1630(I)/2026: inspect goods first, sign the bidder undertaking, and appeal to the Chief Collector in 15 days.
Short answer: To bid at a Pakistan Customs auction, inspect the goods before the auction date, sign the bidder's undertaking if you win, and know that you have 15 days to appeal to the Chief Collector if you disagree with an order. These three points are in S.R.O. 1630(I)/2026, notified on 18 September 2026.
A buyer at a customs auction often gets goods that were seized or left unclaimed. You may not see the item closely until the day of sale. The new rule fixes that by giving you a right to look first, and it takes away the right to complain about the condition after you win.
We read the notification on the FBR website on 13 October 2026. It amends Chapter V of the Customs Rules, 2001, covering auctions, in rules 61, 73 and 75.
Inspect the goods before the auction date
Under the amended rule 61, goods must be available for bidders to inspect before the auction, on a timeline approved by the Collector of Customs concerned. Ask the Collectorate for the inspection date and place, and go in person or send an authorised person.
The timeline is set by each Collector, so there is no single national date or time. The notification does not name a portal for inspection bookings. Use the contact in the auction notice, and keep a note of whom you spoke to.
When you inspect, look at the quantity, the condition, any damage and whether the goods match the lot description. Take photographs if the Collectorate allows it. The undertaking you sign later covers the condition you saw.
Sign the bidder's undertaking if you win
New sub-rule (5) of rule 73 says the successful bidder must give a written undertaking that he has inspected the goods. The form is set out in Appendix A to Chapter V. It is signed by the bidder or the authorised representative and witnessed by two people.
The form asks for the name of the bidding firm or company, the CNIC of each person who signs, an NTN or registration number, a contact number and an official stamp or seal. Bring these with you on auction day.
| Item in the undertaking | What you promise |
|---|---|
| Inspection | You inspected the goods yourself or through an authorised person |
| Condition | You accept the goods in their present physical state |
| Later claims | You will not raise an objection, claim or compensation request after the bid is accepted |
| Price | You will not ask for a revision of rates or cancellation of the auction over alleged discrepancies |
| Witnesses | Two witnesses with CNIC numbers sign |
That last point is the one to take seriously. Once you sign, the notification says you cannot later claim that the goods were different from what you expected.
Appeal to the Chief Collector within 15 days
A new sub-rule in rule 75 gives a bidder who is aggrieved by an order of the Collector 15 days from the date of the order to appeal to the Chief Collector concerned. The Chief Collector hears the bidder and decides the appeal within 60 days of filing.
The appeal route is narrow. It is for a bidder who is aggrieved by a Collector's order under the auction rules, not for a complaint that the goods were poor. The undertaking removes the second.
Do not mix this with other customs appeals. Appeals against duty or classification have their own forum and limits, which our guide to a customs appeal to the Collector (Appeals) explains.
What to do on auction day
- Read the auction notice and note the lot number, reserve price and inspection date.
- Inspect the goods in person before the auction, and write down what you see.
- Bid only up to a price you accept for the goods in their present condition.
- If you win, sign the undertaking in Appendix A with two witnesses.
- Keep copies of the undertaking, the bid receipt and any Collector's order.
- If a Collector's order goes against you, file an appeal to the Chief Collector within 15 days.
Tax and fees after you win
Winning a bid is not the end of the cost. Tax may be collected on the purchase. Read the guide to the tax on auction purchases before you set your maximum bid. The notification we read does not state any amount.
Cargo that waits too long at a port can also carry a penalty. Our note on contesting an overstayed cargo penalty explains how that dispute works.
Common questions
Do I have to inspect the goods before bidding?
You must be given the chance to. The rule says the goods shall be available for inspection before the auction. The winning bidder then signs an undertaking that he inspected them.
Can I return goods bought at a customs auction?
Not on the ground of condition. The undertaking says you accepted the goods in their present state and will not claim compensation or cancellation later.
How long do I have to appeal an auction order?
Fifteen days from the date of the Collector's order, to the Chief Collector concerned. The Chief Collector decides within 60 days of filing.
What papers do I need to bid?
The undertaking asks for your CNIC, NTN or registration number, and contact details. Ask the Collectorate for the full auction notice list before you go.
Where is the amendment published?
In the FBR list of customs SROs, as S.R.O. 1630(I)/2026, dated 18 September 2026.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read S.R.O. 1630(I)/2026 in the FBR customs SRO list. The scanned PDF has some unclear words, so the sub-rule numbers and the 60 day period were read from context. We did not read the full Chapter V of the Customs Rules, 2001, and we could not confirm how each Collectorate books inspections.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
