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pAkIStAN’S fIRSt INDepth NewSpApeR oN cuStoMS

Daily

Vol 1 Issue No. 183

Karachi, Thu September 17, 2015

MULTAN

IMRAN ALI

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nland Revenue-Intelligence and Investigation Director General Haroon Tareen has said that there is no place for corrupt ofPicials in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and that efforts are being made to bring transparency in tax collection system so that no one can raise a Pinger on the department.

Price Rs. 14.00

While addressing the ofPicials of the Multan Regional Tax OfPice, Haroon Tareen said that the FBR would monitor the performance of the tax ofPicers in order to get the better results for the achievements of assigned targets for the ongoing Piscal year 2015-16.

He said that the Regional Tax OfPice was going to establish a separate Inland RevenueIntelligence and Investigation ofPice in Multan very soon. He said that the presence of FBR staff should be acknowledged through their efforts in favour of the department.

Asif Marghoob’s Customs Intelligence seizes smuggled goods worth Rs 12.5m

ASO impounds 395 smuggled smart phones worth Rs 2.5m

Shahbaz assures FPCCI head to resolve issues soon

DG NAB returns Rs 150m to Sindh Industrial and Trading Estates

ICCI calls for halt in raids on hotels, restaurants without

The DG of Intelligence and InvestigationFBR, Anti-Smuggling Organisation | See pAge 02 |

Model CC Lahore Preventive’s ASO Tuesday seized illegally imported 395 | See pAge 03 |

CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif lauded the contributions of Sitara Group of Industries | See pAge 04 |

DG of NAB Sindh Col (r) Sirajul Naeem returned Rs 150m recovered | See pAge 12 |

ICCI called upon the local administration to halt conducting raids | See pAge 09 |

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Apple delays shipment of iPhone 6s Thursday, September 17, 2015

National

NEW YORK: Apple has already begun accepting pre-orders for its new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, but the company is not expected to complete shipments for another month after its announced shipment date of September 25. The issue appears to have been caused by bottlenecks down the production line, according to KGI Securities analyst MingChi Kuo, who says that shipping times for the new iPhones that have already been pre-ordered could be extended by three to four weeks past their expected date of shipment. In a research note sent to clients that was obtained by 9to5Mac, Kuo says the problem seems to lie with Minebea, Apple’s Japanese supplier of backlight.

Asif Marghoob’s customs Intelligence seizes goods worth Rs 12.5m KARACHI

ISLAMABAD

AftAB chANNA

hAIDeR ALI

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nformation Technology Wing of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that the IT team will find a way out to resolve the matter of bugs within couple of days. The bugs are existing in IRIS (Integrated Risk Management System) module of the FBR that was launched for the taxpayers about two week ago. Sources said that a meeting was held in Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) office to review the problems of taxpayers. During the meeting, senior officials of the IT Wing, commissioner, assistant commissioners, RTOs and other officials concerned were present. Sources said that the IT experts have assured the meeting that the issue will be resolved within days and maximum relief will be provided to the taxpayers.

Source said that several complaints were received during the last two weeks on this issue, on which the IT Secretary directed the experts to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

The member further said that the FBR has already uploaded the guidelines on the website with the name of ‘IRIS Help – e-FBR’ for taxpayers’ on which all patterns are available for users.

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he Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation-FBR, AntiSmuggling Organisation, in its ongoing campaign against smuggling claimed to have seized foreign-origin smuggled goods worth Rs 12.5 million.

According to details, 45,000 litres of smuggled Iranian diesel and petrol were seized and the three tankers used in the transportation impounded near the Superhighway Toll Plaza with active support and help of Sindh Rangers.

The value of seized diesel and petrol, along with three oil tankers, is approximately Rs 8 million.

In another case, more than Pive tonnes of foreign origin smuggled cumin seeds (white zeera) dumped in a shed near Mauripur Road Karachi was taken into custody.

This was recovered on the basis of information that smuggled goods were being stored and dumped in various go-downs and other places.

Legal custom documents, including payment of duty and taxes of cumin seeds, were not produced by the owners.

The Customs Intelligence staff also seized more than 300 bottles of imported liquor and beer. An FIR of the case has also been lodged in the

It experts will resolve IRIS bug problem soon, says fBR

Customs Court and further investigations are underway.

In response to a query, Customs Intelligence Director Asif Marghoob Siddiqui told Customs Today that the total value of the goods seized in these three operations was around Rs 10 million. He further informed that these antismuggling operations were con-

ducted under the supervision of a team headed by Assistant Director Kaleem Ullah, including Superintendent Raffat Hussain, Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Aslam, Intelligence Officer Akmal Hashmi, Munawwar Ali, Saif Hashmi, Qasim Alvi, Meraj Alvi and Pervaiz Zardari. Formal seizure report of all the smuggled goods is being

sent to the adjudication collector and prosecution action is also in the process. He also said that Sukkur Range Office seized smuggled gutka and black pepper, and impounded a smuggled car, with an accumulative value of Rs 2.5 million. He said that the operation against smuggling would continue with full force.

Customs Court adjourns bail plea of alleged smuggler LAHORE

M IMRAN MehAR

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pecial Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling conducted hearing of 12 cases, including a case of mobile accessories smuggling.

According to details available to Customs Today, the Federal Inves-

tigation Agency arrested a suspect Ghaffar Khan and produced him before the Customs Court. The suspect is on judicial trial and is in jail on a 14-day remand.

On Tuesday during hearing of bail plea of the accused, Assistant Director FIA Mian Asif told the court that the suspect is involved in smuggling and selling of smuggled goods in local market. The court asked him about the owner of a company. Asif said that the FIA is looking for him and he will soon

be arrested.

The Customs court after hearing both sides of the case adjourned bail plea for next week.

Accused Ghafar khan is allegedly involved in smuggling of mobile chargers, hand frees and other mobile accessories from Afghanistan through Chaman and Quetta routes.

Meanwhile, The Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has approved judicial remand of an alleged smug-

gler and sent him to jail.

According to details available to Customs Today, Ghafar Khan son of Durrani was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on charges of smuggling different items from central Asia through KPK province and Chaman. Different items worth Rs 6 million were also recovered from the suspect when he was arrested by the FIA anti-smuggling cell.

After completion of investigations, the FIA presented him be-

fore the court and asked for three days physical remand for further investigations. The Special Duty Judge after hearing arguments of the FIA lawyer approved physical remand of the accused and asked them to complete investigation as soon as possible.

The FIA has registered a case against Ghafar Khan under the section of 156, C, 89, and 98 of customs act. Ghafar Khan will be again presented before the court after three days.

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Sargodha ASO seizes foreign origin sofa cloth FAISALABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Sargodha has seized foreign origin sofa cloth in Sargodha city. The total market value of the seized cloth is Rs 531,945. Sources told Customs Today, that Assistant Collector Muhammad Asim Awan received information regarding the smuggling of foreign origin sofa cloth. After receiving information, he constituted a raiding team comprising Bashir Ahmed, Ansir Saleemi (inspectors), Rana Muhammad Ashrif, Muhammad iqbal, Shafqat Mehmood, Muhammad Feroz and Muhammad Mansha (sepoys). The ASO team seized the smuggled cloth in different colours under consignment No. 9341 issued by 786 Super Star Goods Forwarding Agency Lahore.

fBR chairman tariq Bajwa leaves hajj ISLAMABAD

M fAIZAN

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa has left for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and will come back in October. Before leaving the office, the FBR chairman held a meeting with FBR Inland Revenue Policy Member Shahid Hussain Asad and other members of the board in order to discuss various official matters. In the meetings, he also issued some administrative instructions to the members and other senior officials. On the other, FBR chairman while expressing his views in a ceremony regarding balloting of audit cases, said that department was taking measures to improve the quality of audit, so that reservations of taxpayers.

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Multan ASO seizes smuggled goods worth Rs 11.65m during August LAHORE

M hayat

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nti-Smuggling Organization Multan has seized smuggled goods and vehicles worth Rs 11.65 million during the month of August, 2015. Sources told Customs Today that the ASO Multan prepared 11 seizure cases in various anti-smuggling activities from their jurisdictions.

At least two imported smuggled vehicles were confiscated by Anti-Smuggling Organization in August. The total value of the two impounded vehicles was about Rs 6.40 million. The Anti-Smuggling Organization Multan formed nine miscellaneous seizure cases on the charges of smuggling in August from various region. Sources further revealed that Model of Customs Collectorate seized imported irons, sewing machines, tyres and other items during the month in which most of the cases sent to Customs Adjudication for decision.

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Thursday September 17, 2015

National

ASo impounds 395 smuggled smart phones worth Rs 2.5m LAHORE

M hAYAt

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odel Customs Collectorate Lahore Preventive’s AntiSmuggling Organization (ASO) Tuesday seized illegally imported 395 smart mobiles of Samsung, ofPicial sources told Customs Today.

On secret information by Assistant Collector Saqibur Rehman, the ASO team, comprising Superintendent Mumtaz Ajmal Mian, Deputy Superintendent Saleem Akhtar Ch, Zafar Iqbal, Inspector Shahid Bhatti, Khalid Butt, Hameed Bhatti, recovered 395 mobile phone sets of Samsung brand worth Rs 2.5 million involving huge amount of duty/taxes.

The sources said that mobile set were seized from the accused party coming from Peshawar to Lahore.

The customs authorities however, did not disclose the name of the accused person and informed that the further investigations were underway. They added that it was hoped that more stocks of smuggled phones will be seized on the information of the accused.

Meanwhile, Collectorate of Customs Preventive Lahore reshufPled 88 employees of BS-16 at the Land Freight Unit Wagah.

According to details, the collectorate undertook the routine transfers and postings at the start of the new Pinancial year.

The employees, who are reshuf-

Pled in accordance with the recent roaster, included superintendents, deputy superintendents and inspectors. The collectorate reshufPled four superintendents, including Waqar Ahmad Cheema, Zia Ashfaq, Imtiaz Hussain and Jamil Hussain while six deputy superintendents Ejaz Rasool Shah, Israr Ahmad, Manzoor Hussain Gill, Muhammad Salim Akhtar, Saeed Joya and other inspectors at the Wagah Import and Export Sections. At least 13 inspec-

Mcc Lahore preventive’s ASo seized illegally imported 395 smart mobiles of Samsung, official sources told customs today.

FST hears six cases related to FBR

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he Federal Service Tribunal (FST) on Tuesday heard as many as six FBR related cases. The petitioners Ayaz Hussain, Muhammad Younis and Syed Munawar Piled their complaints in the FST seeking implementation over court’s orders to the FBR. The FST Division

bench comprising Syed RaPique Hussain Shah and Syed Muhammad Hamid heard the cases. Adil Yousaf Khan Piled a petition, seeking promotion while Muhammad Zulifqar sought up-gradation which was not awarded to him by his employer institution.

Adnan Khurshid Piled a complaint regarding ofPiciating charge at ofPice.

tors, including Shahid Mehmood, Abdul Naeem, Muhammad Afzal, Amer Jamal, Jamshaid, Mamood Tippu, Muhammad Arif Mayo, M Asif , Yousaf, Khalid Javid, Rana Hasnain, Rana Pervaiz Ahmad, Shabbir Ahmad and Zafar Iqbal, are reshufPled at the Passenger Facilitation Centre.

Meanwhile, superintendents, deputy superintendents and inspectors have also been transferred and posted at the Railways Station and T-10 Railways Station.

FBR issues notice to PCB, Hafiz for nonpayment of tax ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued a notice to CEO and Financial Officer of PCB regarding the nonpayment of tax by renowned cricketer Muhammad Hafiz. FBR already issued a notice of nonpayment of tax worth Rs 3.97m to Hafiz but he has obtained stay order form the court which is, now expired, therefore FBR again served a notice to Hafiz for submitting the tax dues.

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Excise issues notices to property tax defaulters Saturday, September 17, 2015

Business

SIALKOT: The Excise and Taxation (ET) Department Sialkot has started issuing property tax notices to defaulters.

The department has issued over 1,000 property tax notices to defaulters in August.

Source told Customs Today, the Excise had also collected a handsome amount under the heads of property tax and token tax during the first 45 days of the current fiscal year.

Sources added that the immovable property tax notices will be issued soon to ensure recoveries within the given time frame.

closing: kSe 100-index recovers 196pts, up 0.59 on institutional buying KARACHI

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he Karachi Stock Exchange benchmark 100-index gained 195.86 points or 0.59 percent to reach 33387.32 points and volume of 50,322,240 shares on Wednesday.

Till midday, the KSE continued positive note of early trading as 100-in-

dex gained 128.88 points to reach 33320.34 points level.

On Tuesday, stocks continued to decline with the KSE-100 index slashing another 193.27 points (0.58 per cent) to close at 33,191.46, recording a cumulative loss of 601 points in the last three sessions.

High and low were 33398.04 and 33191.46 respectively. Total volume traded in the market was 50,322,240 shares.

2,300 acres in gwadar leased to china for 43 years cuStoMS BuLLetIN RepoRt www.customsbulletin.com

or development of first economic zone in Gawadar, Pakistan has leased 2,300 acres land for 43 years to China, a state-owned Chinese news channel report on Monday.

According to CCTV, China has provided financial and technical support in the construction of the deep-sea port since March, 2002 at Pakistan’s request.

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KABUL

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FAISALABAD

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hief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif lauded the contributions of Sitara Group of Industries in social sector and assured that the reservations of Mian Muhammad Adrees, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI regarding local adminis-

he bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has decreased by more than 40 per cent in the last three months. According to the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), the recent souring of relations between the two countries is largely behind this development. The PAJCCI officials said that Afghan businessmen in particular have reduced the number of products, particularly food that they import and are instead turning to other regional countries for supplies.

Last year, Afghanistan and Pakistan’s trade volume totalled an estimated $9 billion - this year, however, projections are that this will top no more than $5 billion. Already, PAJCCI said the recent move has had a negative impact on factories in Pakistan and resulted in the closure of a number of such businesses in the neighbouring country.

“Bad relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have caused this drop in trade between the two countries. Even a number of Pakistani investors have raised concerns over the issue,” deputy chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) Khan Jan Alokozay said.

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Shahbaz assures fpccI head of resolving issues soon

QUETTA

Trade between Pakistan, Afghanistan decreases by 40% to $5 billion

tration of Faisalabad would be resolved within next few days.

This categorical assurance was given by Rana Sanaullah, Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs during a special meeting with Mian Adrees, President FPCCI, Engr. Rizwan Ashraf, President FCCI and business leaders of other trade bodies. He said that CM Punjab fully recognizes the contributions of private sector in social sector. He is of well-considered opinion that SGI and its charitable organizations are playing pro-active role for the welfare and betterment of down trod-

den particularly in health and education sectors.

US diplomat Jarrett Blanc meets Ishaq Dar ISLAMABAD

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he visiting US Acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Jarrett Blanc held a meeting with Finance Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar here. He was accompanied by senior

ofPicials of the US embassy. The also exchanged views about the planned visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to USA. Jarret Blanc said the US government and people looked forward to the visit and outlined the areas of energy, trade and investment for due focus during the visit with a view to enhancing overall bilateral cooperation.

They also had discussion on the meeting of Pak-US Economic Working Group which is likely to be held later this year. Jarrett Blanc apprised Fi-

nance Minister Dar of his meeting with the Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani and said he had a strong feeling that Pak-Afghan relations would move beyond the security domain and Plourish in the spheres of economy, trade and people to people contacts in future. The Finance Minister said Pakistan had close and friendly ties with Afghanistan and was actively pursuing projects aimed at promoting regional connectivity. He cited the projects of TAPI and CASA-1000 in this

regard. The Minister said Pakistan and Afghanistan have covered lot of ground on the issue of transit trade.

We look forward to Pak-Afghan Joint Economic Commission meeting later this year. The Minister shared with Jarrett Blanc, progress achieved by the operation Zarbe Azb and said the government was now also focusing on rehabilitation of the temporarily displaced persons. The whole operation and rehab exercise was estimated to cost 1.9 billion dollars. Meanwhile,

Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that despite 550 million cubic feet (mcf) gas shortfall in winter, the domestic consumers will be supplied gas; however, the industrial units, gas stations and other commercial companies will not get the gas. The minister said this while briePing journalists regarding the recent allegations of the Sindh government regarding reduction in the natural gas share of the province.

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enator Mohsin Khan Leghari, member of Senate Committee on Finance, has said that instead of imposing new taxes, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) should focus on modernising the techniques in the field to collect taxes at higher level and broaden the tax base.

He shared these views while talking to Customs Today. He added that the FBR should be assigned achievable targets as it has to revise the targets twice or thrice in a year. He said that government wanted to raise tax collection but without developing any mechanism.

The major source was indirect taxation due to which, rich and poor segment of society have to pay equal taxes that was

w c t H s i A F o s p t b o t f H H h a w b

Thursday, September 17, 2015

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worsening the economic condition of country, he said, suggesting that potential taxpayers must be driven into tax net.

He said that every native of the Pakistan should pay the payable taxes considering it a national responsibility.

Appreciating the tax measures taken by FBR during this year 2015 i.e. imposition of tax on banking transactions, Laghari said that such steps would help the department to bring the non-taxpayers into tax net. He also added that different trade bodies were portraying the imposition of withholding tax on banking transactions as huge burden but in fact it was in favour country.

He said that former chairman Ali Arshad Hakeem had conducted a survey during his tenure in which, he calculated that almost three million potential taxpayers were out of taxation that should be brought into tax net.

Saying that the finance ministry should work for revival of the economy rather than to focus on the revenue collection, Leghari added that the ministry should make business-friendly policies to attract foreign and local investors instead of relying on domestic and international borrowings. Responding to a question, he said that the value of our money was already unstable against the dollar, adding that the price of dollar directly affected the trends of trade. A down fall has been witnessed in exports even after obtaining GSP plus status that was another sign of great concern, he said.

Talking about the plight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Steel Mill, he said that political influence in recruitment of the employees should be eliminated as these departments have to issued salaries to employees more than their income.

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Founder & Chairman Zulfiqar Ali Editor Rahil Yasin editor@customsbulletin.com.pk For advertising & subscription marketing@customsbulletin.com.pk www.customsbulletin.com Phones: 042-35781643-4, Fax: 042-35781645 Address: 627, Siddiq Trade Centre, Gulberg, Lahore

eDItoRIAL

wht: No way out

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ielding unbridled authority in the powerful offices for years, the government ministers and senior officials suffer from a kind of wild and extreme paranoia, which leads them to expect from everyone to bow their heads before their lordship.

The decision to impose withholding tax on bank transaction is not an exception as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Finance Ministry officials are not ready to withdraw their decision.

Enhancement of tax net is the need of the hour, but given the level of corruption and mismanagement in the country, no one can make any progress without hobnobbing with the people at the helm of affairs. Therefore, unofficial ‘coordination’ of a businessman with the official concerned is more important than following the set rules and regulations in a particular environment.

There are no two opinions that the tax to GDP ratio is very low in the country, but instead of devising a long term mechanical formulation, the government has opted for hammering out a solution by authority it enjoys in the office. As a result, the bank deposits are decreased by Rs 70 billion in two months and more damage is in the offing. If the issue is allowed to linger on, it will put the entire banking industry in jeopardy. The small business community is already wary of the official machinery which haunts them on one pretext or the other and bank transaction will open up the secrecy maintained by them to save their skin. In the present situation, the government will not be able to document the economy while an exercise to enhance tax base will also be backfired.

The government ministries should avoid expecting compliance through royal decrees in this age of science and technology but have to devise a mechanism to achieve the desired goals. The government should also not make the issue as matter of prestige and respect the people’s mandate who have brought them to power.

Currently, 70 percent revenue is collected through withholding taxes, at least Rs 200 billion from importers. If businessmen are in trouble, the economy will be in trouble. Traders and businessmen are holding protest demonstrations to press for their demands, the finance minister should listen to their problems and remove their fears. The current method of deduction of bank transaction does not differentiate between a common man and a businessman. If a person sells his house to buy or construct a new house, he will also have to pay withholding tax. The best way is the compulsory registration of businesses with respective chamber of commerce and industry and the chamber must collect a specific annual fee to deposit it with the government agency.

Arresting falling exports I

LAHORE

DR AftAB AfZAL

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n a meeting with leading exporters and businessmen of the country, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bespoke a paradigm shift in the government policy to arrest the falling exports and sought suggestions and recommendations from the business community to chalk out a strategic trade policy framework for the promotion of trade and industry in the country.

The country is facing shortage of electricity and Pinancial indiscipline, not because of any ill-intention on the part of the government, but due to lack of capacity of the implementation machinery. Some of the demands by businessmen

are genuine such as early release of refund claims, but pressuring the government to opt for so-called “rationalization of the Pakistani rupee” will further ditch the country into economic woes. The national currency has been eroded to the extent that it has lost strength against even the Bangladeshi taka and Thai bhat. However, the exporters demand for a development of mechanism to avoid delayed release of funds needs to be heard.

The businessmen want the government to rationalize taxes on textile industry and revision of electricity tariff to minimize the cost of production to make Pakistani products competitive in the international market. The government should also discourage wholesale dumping of Indian and Chinese

goods and there is a need to impose anti-dumping on semi-Pinished textile products from the neighbouring countries. As we have earlier mentioned in our editorials, the cottage and agriculture sectors of Pakistan are well established and need the government support to introduce indigenous products in the world market. The government should encourage local and foreign investment to expand the volume of economy and not the volume of taxes from the existing taxpayers. The government will have to search causes and effects, which led to stagnation of exports as compared to the countries in the region.

The world is heading toward possible recession as many industrial countries such as China, Japan

and Korea are facing economic slowdown, but Pakistani products have the chances to Pill the vacuum by penetrating in the international market.

No doubt various mega projects have been launched to generate electricity and develop infrastructure, a comprehensive package to revive industrial activities is also need of the hour. The business community should also Pind black sheep within its ranks who wants to avail all the utility services free of cost but does not want to pay taxes. A better coordination between ofPicial machinery and business community is necessary to identify the troubling areas hindering exports and devise a coordinated strategy for the growth of the economy.

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Lakeshore Chamber organizes expo to highlight 60 local business enterprises NEW YORK: Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce will highlight 60 local business enterprises, as they display their wares and services Sept.

23 at the chamber’s 11th annual Business Expo, set for Dynasty Banquet Center in Hammond. Additionally, the chamber’s popular Expo luncheon will feature a panel of economic development experts who will highlight recent victories in East Chicago, Hammond, and Northwest Indiana.

MCCI rejects price hike in gas tariff ultan Chamber of Commerce termed the recent increase in the gas tariff damaging for the growth of industry and would promote further unemployment in the country.

Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Main Iqbal Hussain said the recent increase in the gas tariff is not acceptable at any cost and we will stop the payments of gas bills in case if the government failed to reversed from their decision of hike in gas tariff .

Former President of Chamber of Commerce Dera Ghazi Khan and Manufacturing Association of bed sheets and holster Khawaja Jalal Ud Din Roomi said that increase in gas tariff will badly affect the national exports as it will raise the manufacturing cost and productions. It will also create issues for the exporters to compete with their competitors in the International market due to sudden upsurge in the charges of gas. He told that export production order would also disturb due to this government decision.

He told that due to increase in the prices of gas will increase the unemployment would also go up as a large number of industrial units would be left with no other option but to close down their operations because we will not afford the high production prices.

How the industrial sector would be able to manage export orders worth millions of dollars when the prices of gas are touching the sky.

President Mian Iqbal Hussain asked the government how would convince the local and foreign investors for investment in the country when most of the upcountry industrial sector is unable to manage for industrial activities due to high cost of gas Former President MCCI Khawaja Muhammad Usman told that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has issued a notification in which the prices for domestic consumers have increased up to 3.8%, for commercial consumers 9.9%, while for the industry this increase is 23%.

This clearly indicates that the industry is not a priority for the government and it is actually paving way for its spontaneous death,” Khawaja Usman said He thought that Pakistani products, due to high cost of production, are uncompetitive when compared to regional countries. “Even in our domestic market, we are unable to complete with India and China,” he said.

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Thursday September 17, 2015

Chambers

IccI calls for halt in raids on hotels, restaurants without warning ISLAMABAD

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slamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry called upon the local administration to halt conducting raids on hotels and restaurants in Islamabad without Pirst issuing warning as these activities were creating harassment in the business community.

Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, president, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that ensuring cleanliness in hotels and restaurants was a good step on the part of the local administration, however, these businesses should Pirst be warned to improve themselves and if they fail to improve, then action should be taken against them as per law.

He said local administration should also develop proper Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) or check list for hotels and restaurants to ensure neat and clean food.

He said many restaurants and bakeries in the federal capital have

IccI president Muzzamil hussain Sabri

been sealed and photographs thereof were being uploaded on the website of ICT Administration, which was not a good practice.

Muzzamil Hussain Sabri said imposing Pines on hotels and restaurants without waiting for laboratory reports was also not a good approach.

He said businessmen were ready to fully cooperate with local administration for maintenance of neat and clean conditions on food outlets, however, conducting sudden raids on such businesses without providing SoPs or checklist was creating concerns in the businessmen.

He said local administration should take the businessmen of hotels and restaurants into conPidence and develop SOPs or checklist in consultation with stakeholders to improve the standard of food at hotels so that people could avail good food at such outlets.

He said after developing SoPs or check list, local administration should ensure continuous monitoring of hotels and restaurants in order to promote a culture hygienic conditions in hotels and restaurants.

LccI polls: traders assure full support to pLBfA candidate

Longmont Area Chamber elects Bruce as new president

LAHORE

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raders and businessmen from Bilal Ganj, Badami Bagh Auto Parts, Anarkali and Branderth Road assured their full support and vote to candidates of the Progressive and Lahore Businessmen Front Alliance (PLBFA) during their visit to these markets.

PLBFA chairman Ch. Muhammad Amjad and president Khalid Usman led the team of candidates for Corporate and Associate class of the Alliance, contesting the forthcoming elections of the La-

hore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) 2015-16, to introduce them to the traders and businessmen of these important markets of the provincial metropolis.

Speaking on this occasion, PLBFA leadership and candidates said that the parties present in this alliance had joined hands to restore the dignity of the one of the most premier chamber of the country, which was marred because of wrong-doings of the ruling alliance and their policy of promoting their near and dear ones ignoring all ordinary members of this platform.

They vowed that they would open the doors of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Indus-

try to all the members.

Ch. Muhammad Amjad and Khalid Usman said that they were struggling to make the LCCI a platform working for the solution of problems faced by the industrial, traders and other business segments of Lahore.

They said their candidates have been selected from all segments of the businesses and representation has been given to almost all the important markets.

PLBFA Deputy Secretary Muhammad Ejaz Tanveer was optimist that their alliance which was a union of four major opposition groups in the LCCI would win the forthcoming elections with a thumping majority.

ruce R. Partain has been named as the new president/CEO of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce. Partain comes to Longmont after having served as the president/CEO of the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce in Nacogdoches, Texas between Dallas and Houston. He had held that position since 2001. Prior to that he was vice president of membership and communications for the Midland, Texas Chamber of Commerce. "We are very pleased to have someone of Bruce's caliber joining us," chamber board chair Carol Schack said. "After an extensive interview process, involving not only our board of directors but also business and community leaders, we feel that he has the skills and expertise that will help lead the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce now and into the future."

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Bangladesh Customs nabs Indian in gold smuggling case Thursday September 17, 2015

World

DHAKKA: Customs officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport seized 1.75 kg gold and arrested an Indian national on Monday evening, reports news agency UNB. The arrestee was identified as Mukesh Kumar. Sources at the airport said customs officials challenged Mukesh Kumar, who landed at the airport by a fight of Emirates Airlines from Dubai around 5:30pm, for his suspicious movement when he was about to cross the green channel around 6:15 pm.

Searching the body of Mukesh, the customs officials recovered 13 gold bars and a bracelet weighing around 1.75 kg. The gold was kept hidden under the belt of his waist, said Joint Commissioner of Dhaka Customs House Sohel Rahman.

uS customs seizes $51k in unreported Dubai Customs launches ‘Rafed’ services for currency at philadelphia airport reporting Customs violations

PHILADELPHIA

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DUBAI

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.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ofPicers seized $51,851 in unreported currency, much of it concealed within clothing, from a Nigerian woman at Philadelphia International Airport Sunday.

There is no limit to how much currency travelers may bring to, or take from the U.S. However, federal law requires travelers to complete Pinancial reporting forms for any amount that exceeds $10,000 in U.S. dollars or equivalent foreign currency.

The woman arrived on a Plight from the United Kingdom and reported to a CBP ofPicer that she possessed $9,800. During a secondary baggage inspection, CBP ofPicers discovered U.S. dollars, British pounds and Nigerian nairas that equaled the equivalent of $51,851 in U.S. dollars.

CBP ofPicers seized the currency and

Indonesia customs revenue falls to $7.2bn in 2015 he Finance Ministry's directorate general of customs and excise says it is unlikely to meet this year's revenue collection target, as it has so far only collected 53 percent of the target set in the 2015 revised budget.

Data from the directorate showed that it has collected Rp 103.7 trillion ($7.2 billion) from January until the first week of September. That would be just 53 percent of the Rp 195 trillion target in the revised budget for this year.

Heru Pambudi, the director general, said his division is likely to only reach 95 percent of the target this year, with the bulk of the figure coming from tobacco excise.

Tobacco excise still the biggest contributor to Indonesia's excise revenue, followed by alcoholic beverages.

The government recently eased custom payments for manufacturers of excisable goods with the aim of boosting state revenue.

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released the woman to continue her visit to the U.S. CBP ofPicers provide travelers with multiple opportunities to truthfully report all of their currency. Travelers who refuse to comply with federal currency reporting requirements risk having their currency seized, and potentially face criminal charges.

“There are severe consequences for violating U.S. laws,” said Susan Stranieri, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “We hope

that this seizure is a lesson for all travelers that the easiest way to hold on to their currency is to honestly report it all to a Customs and Border Protection ofPicer.”

In addition to currency enforcement, CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on arriving and departing international Plights and intercepts narcotics, weapons, prohibited agriculture products, and other illicit items. View CBP’s ‘Typical Day’ enforcement stats at CBP Snapshot.

Nigerian Customs seizes goods worth N56.4m in 2 weeks

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igeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja Lagos has seized goods worth N56, 479, 200 within two weeks.

Addressing reporters in Lagos yesterday, its Area Controller, Amade Abdul, said the prohibited items were seized within the two weeks of his assumption of duty at the unit.

The seized items included 1,887 bags of parboiled rice with Duty Paid

Value (DPV) of N12, 256,500; 4,854 cartons of smuggled poultry products with a DPV of N26, 211,600 and two vehicles with DPV of N9,990,000.

Other items seized included new and used tyres, textile materials, vegetable oil, used hoes, fruit juice and spaghetti worth over N8million.

Abdul said the feat achieved was possible because of the cooperation of ofPicers posted to the unit.

n line with its mission of “Protecting the society and sustaining economic development through compliance and facilitation”, Dubai Customs has launched Rafed service; an innovative and secure community-Customs communication channel that helps employees, clients or the public report customs violations and illicit trade practices that may harm national economy and trade. Information submitted through the service are guaranteed conPidentiality.

Under the motto ‘Report it and Stay Safe’, the service was launched in a ceremony attended by a host of Dubai Customs senior ofPicials and employees.

Dubai Customs Director Ahmed Mahboob Musabih reafPirmed DC’s commitment to adopting the latest best practices and technological breakthroughs in order to leverage Customs processes.

Talking about the new service, Musabih said, “Rafed is introduced by the Customs Intelligence Depart-

ment of Dubai Customs to facilitate reporting of any information – in a completely conPidential environment - that may indicate the existence of customs violations or illicit trade acts.”

The World Customs Organization (WCO) Enforcement Committee had hailed this unique service during its last meeting, in March, in Brussels.

The Director of Dubai Customs added that Rafed service encourages UAE citizens and residents, as well as people living abroad, to be proactive and report any acts threating the safety and security of this nation. Monetary and non-monetary rewards are offered to those who provide information that proves valid and leads to detection of prohibited substances or customs violation.

“Dubai Customs is part of an intelligence information exchange network with 186 member states of the World Customs Organization, in addition to other international and regional organizations, including the International Criminal Police Organization-Interpol and the Regional Intelligence Liaison OfPice (RILO),” Musabih added.

hong kong customs detects illicit cigarettes in tseung kwan

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ong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Tseung Kwan O. During the operation, Customs ofPicers detected a suspected illicit cigarette storehouse and seized about 75 000 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes.

The total value of the seizure was

about $200,000 with a duty potential of about $144,000. Acting on information, Customs ofPicers kept under watch a domestic premises at Tseung Kwan O which was suspected to be an illicit cigarette storehouse and took enforcement action this morning with the seizure of about 75 000 sticks.

Saudi customs officer foils attempt to smuggle 12 alcohol bottles

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JEDDHA

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audi customs have arrested a man who was attempting to smuggle 12 bottles of alcohol in secret pockets he made in his trousers.

Fahad Al Otaibi, the head of the Saudi customs on King Fahad Cause-

way that links Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said that an ofPicer had suspicions about a traveler, prompting him to search him. He found the 12 bottles in 12 pockets that had been added to the pants, six in the front and six in the back.

The smuggler wore a loose fitting traditional white thobe that concealed the bottles, Saudi news site Sabq reported. Comments

mainly labeled the smuggler as “naïve” and “stupid” for his attempt, even though it was highly unusual.

They said he should have known that it would be difPicult for him to walk straight and that experienced ofPicers who asked male drivers and passengers to get off the vehicle would easily notice him.

Cars going from Bahrain to Saudi

Arabia go through customs only at the Saudi side, while vehicles entering Bahrain are checked at the Bahraini side of the causeway.

The 25-kilometre King Fahad Causeway, opened in November 1986, is used by more than 30,000 people every day to travel or commute between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, making it one of the busiest trafPic sectors in the Arab world.

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Port of Nagoya’s cargo traffic falls 12.2% to 14.599m tonnes JAPAN: The Port of Nagoya in central Japan saw its cargo traffic decline in May due to sharp falls in both foreign trade and domestic trade, according to preliminary figures released by the Nagoya Port Authority on 18 August. Cargo traffic dropped 12.2% in May from a year earlier to 14.599 million tonnes. Of the 14.599 million tonnes, 9.570 million tonnes came from foreign trade, down 14.3% from a year earlier, and the remaining 5.028 million tonnes came from domestic trade, down 7.8% year on year. In May the Port of Nagoya exported 3.853 million tonnes of cargo, down 9.9% from a year earlier, and imported 5.716 million tonnes of cargo, down 17.1% year on year.

The port handled 194,459 teu in foreign trade in May, down 8.5% from the same month last year.

Exports totalled 101,261 teu, down 7.3%, while imports amounted to 93,197 teu, down 9.7%.

Ports & Shipping

LOS ANGELES

port of Los Angeles traffic up to highest level in 9 years

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LOS ANGELES

nother record at the Port of Long Beach as cargo volume once again breaks its all-time cargo volume record for the second month in a row.

The Port of Long Beach reported this week that in the month of August, container throughput at the port reached 703,652 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 22.8% increase compared to last year and the highest one month cargo volume ever in its 104-year history.

The amount beats July’s cargo volume and marks two consecutive months of record-breaking volumes. A total of 1,393,896 TEUs moved through the Port of Long Beach in July and August.

The Port of Long Beach attributes the growth to growing consumer confidence, a strengthening dollar and retailers stocking shelves. Through the first eight months of 2015, Long Beach cargo numbers are growing faster than the overall economy and are up 5.4 percent compared to the first eight months of 2014.

“Our partners once again have expressed their confidence in the Port of Long Beach and we thank them for their business,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup.

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Port of Long Beach breaks cargo volume record again

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Port Metro Vancouver statistics show bright spots in gloomy economy he latest trade figures from Vancouver’s busy Pacific port reveal a steep drop in coal and crude oil exports, as well as a steady increase in grains and pulses, providing a glimpse at macroeconomic developments ranging from China are slowing economy to the explosion of shale oil production in the United States.

Port Metro Vancouver released its midyear statistics for 2015, showing a steady increase in shipments heading toward Asia’s growing middle class, while revealing specific signs of weakness and slowing growth in East Asia’s major industrial economies.

The stats also hinted at a surprising resilience in Canada’s economy, despite talk of the country being in a recession, according to Port Metro Vancouver chief executive Robin Silvester.

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he Port of Los Angeles reversed two months of declining trafPic to post a 3.8 percent increase in cargo for August from a year ago.

The port handled a total of 786,677 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August, the strongest August performance since 2006, when 790,726 TEUs moved through the port complex. The port’s cargo trafPic fell 2.5 percent in July and 2 percent in June.

“The numbers are strong indicators that our terminal operators, longshore labor and supply chain partners are adjusting to the new industry dynamics of carrier alliances, deploying larger ships and delivering higher container volumes per call,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said in a statement. "Our San Pedro Bay supply chain optimization working groups, overseen by the Federal

Maritime Commission, are providing valuable insights that contribute to our mission to improve cargoPlow efPiciency and velocity."

Imports through the Port of Los Angeles grew 6.3 percent from a year ago to 407,804 TEUs, while exports plunged 14 percent to 143,936 TEUs. For the Pirst eight months of 2015, overall volumes are down 2.5 percent from the same period last year to 5.4 million TEUs. Last week, the Port of Long Beach said its overall cargo volume jumped

22.8 percent in August, breaking an all-time record for cargo volume in its 104-year history. The port’s cargo volume reached 703,652 TEUs during the month, beating July’s cargo volume and marking two consecutive months of recordbreaking volumes. A total of 1.4 million TEUs moved through the Port of Long Beach in July and August. Imports climbed 19.1 percent to 358,262 TEUs, while exports grew 9.4 percent to 138,765 TEUs. Empty containers rose 42.1 percent with 206,625 TEUs.

Port of Los Angeles cargo volumes drop in first month of fiscal year 2015

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ort of Los Angeles said containerized cargo volumes slipped 2.5 percent in July from a year ago, even though cargo trafPic rose at neighboring Port of Long Beach.

The Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest container port, handled a total of 699,127 20-foot equivalent

units (TEUs) in July, compared with 717,407 a year ago. Imports through Port of Los Angeles decreased 3.5 percent in July, while exports plunged 16.4 percent.

Imports decreased 3.5 percent to 350,627 TEUs, while exports plunged 16.4 percent to 136,402 TEUs. Combined, total loaded imports and ex-

ports dropped 7.5 percent to 487,029 TEUs. Factoring in empties, which increased 11.2 percent, overall July volumes decreased 2.5 percent. For the Pirst seven months of the year, overall volumes reached 4.6 million TEUs, down 3.5 percent compared with the same period in 2014.

Thursday September 17, 2015

Inland port near Ashcroft to reduce truck traffic, save farmland Canadian National train carrying grain snakes its way along the Thompson River near Ashcroft, its cars stretching for miles through the low-rolling hills.

One day that train could potentially stop right there and unload, smack in the middle of Bob Landucci’s 130-hectare sage-cleared site in B.C.’s Interior. Indeed, that’s his intention once he gets the facility, dubbed the Ashcroft Terminal, running with everything from fleet management to transmodal and bulk transloading services.

“When we start doing business we can transload that into cars and they can take it back into the Prairies,” said Landucci, CEO of the terminal. “The traffic goes through here whether it’s coal, potash or grain.”

The terminal, which received its first containers from Hapag-Lloyd this week, has been in the making for more than a decade.

Funded primarily by the Landucci family, with a $3.57-million grant from the federal government, the terminal is expected to offer an inland port for some of the 60 freight trains, including every car heading to and from Metro Vancouver, that now pass through the site each day.

The idea, he hopes, is to have some of those trains stop in Ashcroft and unload, which would limit the maze of rail rerouting that’s done now across B.C., cut the truck traffic congestion in the Lower ainland, and provide for a faster turnaround for the railroad. Every exported container in the Lower Mainland now requires two to three truck transfers.

Lumber from the West Fraser mill in 100 Mile House, for instance, could be trucked to Ashcroft, loaded on rail and taken directly to a terminal to be shipped overseas. Right now it’s hauled by rail to Metro, trucked to lumber storage and eventually hauled to a terminal, which takes two to four trips.

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western cape ports now ‘SMARt poRtS’ with new IpMS

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CAPE TOWN

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he ports of Cape Town and Saldanha became the latest to go live with Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) new R79million web-based Integrated Port Management System (IPMS)‚ Pirst introduced at the pilot site‚ the Port of Durban in July.

IPMS replaces manual processes and enables key port operations to be managed online and in real time across TNPA’s eight commercial ports.

“All vessels arriving at the two Western Cape ports between August 26 and 31 will be allowed priority registration‚ provided vessels agents are trained. Other Cape Town and Saldanha vessel agents will be able to register on the system as and

when they are ready to transact‚” TNPA said in a statement.

“Since IPMS was introduced in Durban more than 108 vessel agents have been registered onto the system and 135 vessel arrival notiPications were processed within the Pirst three weeks.”

TNPA CE Richard Vallihu said‚ “Global ports are adopting ‘smartPORT’ concepts and the world is increasingly embracing digital tech-

nologies and data analytics to make sense of the information that we have around us.

“Gathering that information in the Pirst place is a challenge. This online system will help transform our ocean gateways into ‘smartPORTs’ by using advanced information technology that will make them more intelligent and sustainable‚ while conserving resources‚ time‚ space and energy.

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SL Customs seizes 6 gold biscuits worth Rs 3m COLOMBO: A 51 year-old Sri Lankan has been arrested by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) here the other day with six gold biscuits weighing 600g and valued at Rs. 3 million concealed in his rectum. Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said the suspect, a resident of Mattakkuliya, was arrested at the arrival lounge, when he tried to smuggle in the gold to the country from Chennai He said after the Customs inquiry by Deputy Director of Customs J.V.U. Dharshana Silva, forfeited the gold and imposed a penalty of Rs. 200,000 on the suspect.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

Customs Tribunal upholds decision of Customs Adjudication for release of consignment LAHORE

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ustoms Appellate Tribunal has dismissed the case lodged by director of Customs Investigation Lahore against the orders of additional Collector Customs Adjudication Lahore and 90 other respondents as appellant could not prove any illegality in impugned order.

The Customs Appellate Tribunal’s Member Technical Khawaja Omer Mehdi dismissed the case after hearing the arguments of both parties. As per details, the department received information that some importers were importing PVC waste, redesigned as plastic scrape from different countries, also using the name of various manufacturers in violation of regulations.

The department also received information that three containers No EMCU 90577621, CMAU 5401145 and BSIU 9269385 loaded on the trailer No LSC-628 imported by the Muhammad Naeem by using the name of Paul Lather Industry Lahore were cleared on September 24, 2014 from NLC dry port Thokar Niaz Baig from where the consign-

ments were being shifted to godown near Slamatpura, Lahore.On the credible information, the staff of

Customs Intelligence intercepted the container outside the godown and asked the driver to produce

documents regarding the import of the consignment under Section 17 of Customs Act 1969. The case for-

warded to adjudication where authority ordered to release the trailer as well as containers.

NAB DG returns Rs 150m to Sindh Industrial and Trading Estates KARACHi

AftAB chANNA

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irector General of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sindh Col (r) Sirajul Naeem returned Rs 150 million recovered from the Sindh Industrial and Trading Estates (SITE) Limited.

According to details, the NAB after investigation against Lubna Salahuddin, ex-MD SITE Ltd and

others, a cheque of Rs 150 million was handed over to the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE).

The ex-MD allegedly purchased shares worth Rs 200 million and invested the amount in a private investment company in violation of government policy. Reference will be Piled in the Accountability Court as the next course of action against the accused, since there is a total amount of Rs 245 million which to be repaid by accused.

Meanwhile, National Accountability Court (NAB) Director General Col (r) Sirajul Naeem has handed over a cheque of Rs 1.649 million to the Fed-

eral Board of Revenue (FBR) at NAB Sindh ofPice. The money was recovered from alleged frauds. According to details, M/s Ali Sons and others were found involved in obtaining illegal sales tax refund. And, the analysis of the record revealed that the suspected bank accounts were used by several Pirms in sales tax fraud. A number of suppliers submitted fake invoices from Karachi and Sialkot.

Moreover, a cheque of Rs.5.2 million was paid to National Bank of Pakistan. It involved an inquiry against head cashier of NBP Clifton branch, against embezzlement / misappropriation of bank funds.

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