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PAKISTAN’S FIRST INDEPTH NEWSPAPER ON CUSTOMS
Daily
Vol 1 Issue No. 170
Karachi, Sat August 29, 2015
ISLAMABAD
M FAIZAN
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n order to tighten noose around the smugglers and their facilitators, the Pakistan Customs has approached the Pakistan Rangers to launch operation against the smugglers at Naval Colony and its adjoining localities. The Naval Colony located at Mauripur-Sher-
shah road and the Lyari areas have hideouts of smugglers and their facilitators. However, the main smugglers are from Afghanistan. Chief Collector Enforcement-South Zahid Khokhar told Customs Today that Pakistan Customs had formally approached the Pakistan Rangers to start operation against smugglers and the facilitators hiding at Naval Colony and its surrounding areas so that the menace of smuggling could be elimi-
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nated. With the commitment to stop smuggling, Khokhar said in the running year the customs authorities had arrested smugglers who were trying to smuggle 369,180 litters of diesel worth Rs 31.215 million.
Customs seizes foreign origin red chillies of Rs 1.2m
Customs Intelligence confiscates smuggled auto parts
Shahbaz ‘again’ blames PTI sit-in for halt in Chinese investment
Hyderabad ASO seizes 60,000 litres of smuggled diesel, oil tanker
Turkish Airlines to start direct flights from Islamabad to Baku
Customs Intelligence Multan has intercepted a Hino truck loaded | SEE PAGE 02 |
Directorate of Investigation, customs has seized smuggled tyres and auto-parts | SEE PAGE 03 |
CM Shahbaz Sharif has reiterated that the (PTI) sit-in in federal capital | SEE PAGE 04 |
The Customs ASO confiscated 60,000 litres of smuggled Iranian diesel | SEE PAGE 03 |
Turkish Airlines is planning to launch direct flights from Islamabad to Baku | SEE PAGE 09 |
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Mianwali ASO seizes Toyota Corolla Saturday, August 29, 2015
National
FAISALABAD: Mianwali Anti-Smuggling Organization ( ASO ) has seized a foreign origin used Toyota Corolla car in Mianwali city. The market value of the car is Rs 1.22 million and its CIF value is Rs 600,000. Sources told Customs Today that Assistant Collector ASO Mianwali Muhammad Asim Awam received information regarding smuggling of the vehicle. After receiving the information, Assistant Collector constituted a raiding team comprising Azhar Hussain Jafri, Nazar Hussain Jaffri (inspectors ) Ghulam Mohyuddin, Faiz Ahmed, Muhammad Yousif and Sher Ahmed (sepoys ).
Customs seizes foreign origin red chillies worth Rs 1.2 million
SC accepts appeal of ANF in 10,000kg cocaine smuggling case LAHORE
MULTAN
MUHAMMAD NAWAZ
IMRAN ALI
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ustoms Intelligence and Investigation Multan has intercepted a Hino truck loaded with foreign origin red chillies from Khanewal road during an operation. According to details, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan received credible information from their informer that a Hino truck bearing the registration number of MNN-2695 is loaded with foreign origin red chillies. Additional Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan Nisar Ahmad formed special team of Pive staff and deployed them to foil their bid of smuggling. When the truck was crossing Sadiqabad mills Khanewal road Customs staff captured them and recovered almost 3300 kilograms of the Indian origin red chillies packed in the 116 jutes and polypropylene bags of different weights. The seized red chillies were containing various varieties including whole with stem, without stem of red natural colour. Customs staff asked them to provide legal documents of red chillies then driver Muhammad Khalil presented the bilty no.127 which shows consignor Sabri Commission Ghala Mandi Faisalabad have booked the red chillies for delivering to Con-
upreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has accepted the appeal of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) against Lahore High Court (LHC) decision in a 10,000 kilograms cocaine smuggling case. The appellant (ANF) has moved the SC Lahore Registry against the release of convicted smugglers which was made through the LHC orders. Three members bench of SC under the supervision of Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary heard the case where counsel for ANF presented the argument and informed the court that the said case was registered against the smugglers in 2004 in Renala Khurd Police Station. ANF team had arrested the smugglers during an operation when it seized ten thousand kg of cocaine loaded over a truck. The advocate argued that trial court issued the judgment in the case by awarding death sentence to accused Zubair, Ijaz and Aqil, and life imprisonment to Mori Gull, while the other accused Rana Waheed and Rana Saeed were released by the court. Later on, the convicted smugglers Ijaz and Aqal moved the LHC where court ordered their release.
signee Khawaja Usman resident of Multan. The total value of the seized red chillies was almost Rs.1.2 million. Meanwhile, The Customs Investigation and Intelligence Multan has seized the smuggled goods and vehicles valued at Rs 3.75 million in various actions during the Pirst month (July) of current Piscal year 2015-16. Directorate of Customs In-
telligence has formed Pive seizure cases during the said period against the unscrupulous elements. Multan, Sadiqabad and Dera Ghazi Khan all the three region fall in the jurisdictions of the Customs Intelligence Multan. Customs Intelligence has impounded two smuggled vehicles in the region of Dera Ghazi Khan during different opera-
tions. Both vehicles were smuggled from hidden routes into the country without paying leviable duty/taxes. The value of two seized vehicles was estimated by Customs Intelligence at almost Rs 1.8 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 1.6 million. It also seized the goods amounting to Rs 1.95 million from Dera Ghazi.
Customs Tribunal: No case scheduled for hearing on Thursday LAHORE
MUHAMMAD NAWAZ www.customsbulletin.com
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ustoms Appellate Tribunal Bench-I did not hear cases on August 27 (Thursday) as no any case was scheduled for that day, while on the past day it had heard as many as ten cases.
As per details, tribunal’s bench-I comprising Member Technical Khawja Omer Mehdi and Member Judicial Ghulam Murtaza Bhatti is hearing cases pertaining to customs and taxation from August 16 after summer vacations. However, the members of bench-II including Members Judicial Omer Arshad Hakeem and Member Technical Imran Tariq are enjoying vacations and will start
hearing from September 1. Meanwhile, The Customs Appellate Tribunal heard 10 cases on Wednesday and adjourned all cases until next hearing as no any case was decided. Ghulam Murtaza bhatti, Member Judicial bench-I, heard only one case of Ikram International versus Customs Lahore. Member Technical benchI, khawja Omer Mehdi, heard two cases of Maxi Inc versus Customs Lahore and Hajji Abb-
dur Razziq versus Customs Intelligence Faisalabad. However, tribunals’ bench-I comprising Khawja Omer Mehdi and Ghulam Murtaza Bhatti heard seven cases of Flying Board, O.S crop, Chemi Color, Mirza Farhan Ahmed, Descon, Chudhary Ijaz and Tahir International here and all cases were Pilled by the appellant against Customs Lahore, after the hearing all cases were adjourned for next hearings.
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PCA officials directed to follow office timings ISLAMABAD: Directorate General of Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has directed all the officers and employees to mark their attendance up to 9:15am to avoid disciplinary action against them. According to the details, Deputy Director PCA, Lubna Shamshad has issued an office order regarding the employees’ attendance. As per office orders, the director has observed that the officials are not marking their attendance regularly in attendance register which is serious violation of the office discipline. The director has said that such attitude of the officials will not be tolerated at all.
Customs Adjudication orders to release consignment after payment of fine ISLAMABAD
SHAHID MINHAS
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dditional Collector Customs Adjudication Peshawar, Karam Elahi, has issued orders for the release of two trailers loaded with electronics and other items after payment of 20 percent of value of seized goods for each as fine. Additional Collector Elahi issued two separate Orderin-Originals (ONOs) No. 37/2015 and 40/ 2015 in this regard. As per details, the Customs Investigation and Intelligence has impounded two trailers having registration number Z-4380 Peshawar and C-1363 Haripur and these trailers were loaded with electronics and crockery items following the charges of smuggling.
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Sargodha ASO impounds Toyota Hiace van worth Rs 1.8m FAISALABAD
NAEEM SHEIKH
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he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Sargodha has impounded a non-duty paid Toyota Hiace van worth Rs 1.8 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 655,680. As per details, the ASO team, following a tip-off received through Assistant Collector Muhammad Asim Awan established a picket near Khayyam Restaurant Chowk, Sargodha to intercept the non-duty paid vehicle. The ASO team stopped a Toyota Hiace van and asked the driver to show the documents, showing the legal import and lawful possession of the vehicle but he could not produce any such documents. Therefore, ASO team comprising Inspector Bashir Ahmad, Ansir Saleemi, Rana Muhammad Ashraf and other impounded the vehicle under prevailing customs law.
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Saturday August 29, 2015
National
Customs Intelligence confiscates smuggled auto parts, tyres LAHORE
M HAYAT
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irectorate of Investigation and intelligence, customs has seized smuggled tyres and auto-parts worth millions of rupees, ofPicial sources told Customs Today. The sources said that the customs authorities have seized the illegally imported goods and articles. They added that on secret information received through Additional Director Mohsin RaPique, customs team intercepted a truck loaded with auto parts and tyres. The authorities demanded the clearance documents from the truck owners but the owners could show clearance documents for 13 tons of goods while the truck was loaded with 30 tons of auto parts and tyres The sources said that a case has been registered and further investigations are underway. Meanwhile, The Customs Investigation and Intelligence personnel have seized smuggled goods and articles worth millions of rupees and arrested the suspects, sources told Customs Today on Thursday. Acting upon information, the customs authorities intercepted a truck coming from Rawalpindi and recovered millions of rupees circuits, breakers, polyester rolls and other items. The Customs authorities under the supervision of superintendent
Nasir Minhas and Munawar Khan seized the smuggled items and arrested the accused. The sources further said that the smuggled items belonged to Nafees ur Rehman who registered goods and articles in the name of a goods and transporter company owner Akeel form Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, LAHORE: Customs Lahore Preventives’ Anti Smuggling
The authorities demanded the clearance documents from the truck owners but the owners could show clearance documents for 13 tons of goods while the truck was loaded with 30 tons of auto part
Customs deploys three vigilance officers
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he Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad has deployed three more inspectors of the collectorate as duty/vigilance ofPicers in the Pield, says an order issued by Deputy Collector headquarters Yawar Nawaz. According to the notiPi-
cation, three inspectors, Saeed Ahmed, Asif Nazir and Maqsood Qureshi, have been deployed at Preventive division, Islamabad dry port and Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad as duty/vigilance ofPicers. These ofPicers will work in different shifts, while they could not enjoy any holiday during this job.
Organization (ASO) has impounded two non-customs paid Honda Civic in the city. Sources said that the two white and black Honda Civics bearing Registration No. LXZ-228 and LWH2219 were conPiscated one at Bilal Gung and the other at Johar Town. It was reported that the total value of the two cars is estimated at Rs 2.4 million.
Tax Reforms Commission given extension till Nov 15 ederal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has okayed three-month extension to the Tax Reforms Commission. Now the commission will be active till November 15, 2015 to complete the given task. The minister gave extension to the Tax Reforms Commission (TRC) during a meeting, which was also attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar.
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42% growth: Askari Bank earns Rs3.03b in Q2 LAHORE: Askari Bank has posted 42 per cent increase in its profits as the bank earned Rs3.03 billion in the second quarter of calendar year 2015 against Rs2.14 billion of the corresponding period last year. According to the bank, the growth is after absorbing an additional 4 percent of super tax charge and the retrospective application of uniform tax rate on dividend and capital gains. Profit before tax increased by 77 percent. Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at Rs.2.41 against Rs.1.70 for the corresponding first half of the previous year.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Business
World Bank launches $75m project to support militancy-hit families in FATA
LAHORE
ISLAMABAD
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he World Bank has launched a $75 million project to help the people affected by militancy in Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The Fata Temporarily Displaced Persons Emergency Recovery Project will support the Fata families, by promoting child health, and strengthening emergency response and safety net delivery systems.
Banking sector’s spread decreases by 32bps to 5.47% in July
This was revealed by World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Rachid Benmessaoud. He said that the safety net delivery systems built through this project will enhance the capacity of the government to respond in a better way to future crises, by strengthening the emergency response safety net delivery systems in Fata in a sustainable manner. BenePiciaries of the project are the families from Pive Fata agencies, namely North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Orakzai, Kurram and Khyber. The aim of the project is to support the early recovery of approximately 120,000 displaced families from Fata through two cash
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he State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported decline in banking sector’s spread, which shrank by 32 basis points on a month-onmonth basis to reach 5.47% in July. According to the data released by the central bank, due to the difference between lending and deposit rates, the banking spread had averaged 5.79% in the preceding month.
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Senate Standing Committee on Finance. During the meeting, the committee observed that the Pinance company has failed to give loans to the poor of the country mainly due to higher interest rate of 10-10.5 percent (KIBOR plus 3.5 percent). Senate Committee Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla said, “The interest rate is too high,” adding that the company provides only Rs0.5 million for constructing houses, which would even not helpful in preparing cottage. The HBFCL managing director informed the committee that vacancies of top management in the company are laying vacant from last several years.
Shahbaz ‘again’ blames PTI sit-in for halt in Chinese investment
KARACHI
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grants including one-time early recovery grant of Rs 35,000 per family and a livelihood support grant of Rs 16,000 per family in four monthly instalments of Rs 4,000. These two cash grants provide complementary interventions to help the displaced families from the Pive targeted agencies and cover the initial expenses needed to restart their lives and livelihood. Meanwhile, Only 54,365 customers opened their accounts in the House Building Finance Company Limited (HBFCL) since its establishment in 1952. This was revealed by HBFCL Managing Director Pervez Saeed during a meeting with the
LAHORE
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hief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has reiterated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) sit-in in federal capital created hurdles in Chinese investment into the country. Sharif said this while addressing a reception held in Beijing. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal
as well as other members of the chief minister’s delegation were also present on the occasion. The chief minister said that Chinese President Xi Jinping surprised the whole world by his historic speech in Islamabad and international press and media gave a wide coverage to his announcement of $46 billion dollars investment in Pakistan. He added that the opponents of the government staged the drama of sit-ins and said that now they will see how China helps Pakistan. The CM said that it is lamentable that the op-
ponents of the government are still not satisfied and do not want implementation of these agreements. He said that the elements involved in politics of sit-ins do not want to see the efforts to eliminate load-shedding from the country, with the cooperation of China, succeed. He said that speedy implementation of energy projects within a short period of sixteen months under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is unprecedented in the history of the country.
PFA’s raids: Milk sellers’ protest forces govt to bow down CUSTOMS BULLETIN REPORT rotesting against the Punjab Food Authority’s (PFA) raids, all milk sellers in the provincial capital stopped supply of around five-million-litre milk and took rallies from Thokar Naiz Baig to in front of Punjab Assembly. The protesting milkmen also unload milk filled tankers outside the Punjab Assembly. The daylong complete shutter down of milk shops and protests of thousands of milk suppliers and milkmen along with dozens of milk supplying vessels and tankers forced the government to bow down. The Milk Sales and Suppliers Association of Punjab held talks with govt team including Secretary Livestock Nasim Sadiq, IG Punjab and Lahore DCO Capt (r) Muhammad Usman. According to the milkmen association, the government agreed to form a committee to revaluate the milk rates after conducting detailed survey and actual cost within two days. The government also accepted that the FIRs by the PFA against milk suppliers, who were involved in adulteration, would be quashed, it added. The government also accepted that the FIRs by the PFA against milk suppliers, who were involved in adulteration, would be quashed, it added.
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WAPDA added 4.434 billion units to national grid in July 2015 ISLAMABAD
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he Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) hydel power stations delivered around 4.434 billion units of low-cost hydel electricity to the National Grid in July, 2015.
This is the highest-ever generation of hydel electricity in one month, and constitutes about 41 percent of the total electricity, the country’s system received from all sources. OfPicial sources told to a news agency here that the hydel electricity delivered to the National Grid during last month registered an increase of 711 million units as compared with 3.723 billion units of hydel electricity generated in July last year 2014, thus, showing 19.1
percent increase in hydel generation. This additional contribution of hydel electricity by Wapda not only helped minimize load-shedding in the country during July but also lower power tariff. In addition to the favourable hydrological conditions, effective operation and consistent maintenance of the hydel power stations are the main contributing factors behind this record hydel generation, the meeting noted with utmost satis-
faction. Talking to APP, they said that despite aging factor, Wapda hydel power stations are still capable to be run at their maximum generation capacities. In high water months, Tarbela and Mangla are capable of delivering electricity more than their installed capacities. During July this year, Tarbela generated up to 3,606 megawatt (MW) against its installed capacity of 3,478MW, while Mangla up to 1,115MW against its installed capacity of 1,000MW.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan inherited two hydel power stations with cumulative generation capacity of only 10.7MW at the time of independence in 1947 namely Sir Ganga Ram Hydel Power Station of 1.1MW commissioned in 1925 and Malakand Hydel Power Station of 9.6MW commissioned in 1937. With WAPDA established in 1958, the hydel generation capacity has so far risen to 6902 MW, which is about one-third of the total system.
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ountry Head of World Bank (WB) in Pakistan Rashid Bin Massod held a meeting with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa and discussed the conditions of revenue collection. The chairman informed the World Bank ofPicial about the measures which are being taken to broaden the tax net and achieve the set target for the current Piscal year 2015-16. However, Massod said that World Bank has appreciated the performance of the FBR during last Piscal year 2014-15 and due to its performance and govt’s seriousness to take the economy of Pakistan on right track, the conPidence level of the world Pinancial institutions was increasing, he added. Following the economic development in Pakistan, Pinancial institutions were considering enhancing the development
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projects in the country. Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa has arrived Karachi along with Inland Revenue (IR) Operations Member Muhammad Ashraf Khan where chief commissioners of Regional Tax o f P i c e s (RTOs) and Large Taxpayers Unit ( LT U )
assod tells Rashid Bin M t due to tha Tariq Bajwa nce and ma FBR’s perfor s to take snes govt’s seriou f Pakistan o the economy k, the on right trac world vel of confidence le tions was titu financial ins increasing.
Karachi will call upon the chairman. Source told that chairman would discuss the strategies which have been designed in order to achieve the revenue targets for running Piscal year 2015-16, while Member Khan has taken the performance report of the Karachi region for the last Piscal year with him to hold detailed discussion with the ofPicials. Besides, FBR chairman would also address the other ofPicials of the RTOs and LTUs in order to encourage them to meet the revenue targets. During his visit, chairman will also considered a policy to not transfer such ofPicials those will show a better performance in Pirst quarter of current Piscal year. Bajwa would also meet with the representatives of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), All Pakistan Tax Bar Association and banking associations.
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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
The SBP assurance
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he State Bank of Pakistan has made it clear that there is no threat to the economy, dispelling the impression that the value of the Pakistani rupee is heading towards a free fall against dollar and the Karachi Stock Exchange is going to collapse as an aftershock of the worst performance of the stock markets in China, Greece and the United States. A bank statement says that inspite of turbulence and panic in the global financial and stock markets, there is no threat to the national economy. It says that the macroeconomic stability, which has been achieved through sustained improvement in economic fundamentals during the last two years, is very much intact and the recent development in the global stock markets will not pose any serious challenge to it. The statement says that the bank is closely monitoring the movement of currency in domestic and international markets and the bank is also cognizant of the global trends in stock markets and their impact on the domestic economy. The value of Pakistani rupee has been continuously falling in interbank and open currency markets for the last couple of weeks amid panic and turbulence in the financial markets across the globe. A phase of global recession started with devaluation of the Chinese yuan on August 11 which led to depreciation of dollar against the world currencies in the international financial market. The bank says that Pakistan is part of the global economy and the effects of the developments around the globe came in the form of depreciation of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar, which has shown an overall depreciation of 2.6 percent just in one month. The country’s economy is stable and depreciation of the rupee is the result of international currency movements. The bank sees the external sector as robust and the country’s reserves are at historically high level. According to the bank, the value of rupee will remain stable, rather will go forward and it is keenly observing the international economic developments and its impact on the domestic economy. It is good omen that the central bank has timely taken notice of the situation and the measures will definitely ensure stability in the financial and stock markets. There are the elements who want to take advantage of the situation and such elements must be brought to book. If the country has achieved stability, as it is being claims, a stimulus plan must be devised to push the economy forward.
$6 billion ADB loan LAHORE
DR AFTAB AFZAL
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he Asian Development Bank has approved a Piveyear $6 billion loan to support development projects in Pakistan, including energy and transportation sectors amid reports in the international media that the nation’s public debts have touched $163 billion mark. The latest package will provide the government an average $1.2 billion annually until the end of Piscal year 2019 to develop infrastructure and introduce institutional reforms. At least two-third of the loan is attached with commercial
modules and the remaining third will be concessionary. The ADB has allocated just $15 million under the head of technical assistance for Diamer-Bhasha Dam out of the proposed funding of $14 billion. The donor agencies are in the habit of attaching strings to the loan agreements, following which the ADP requires the government to introduce energy sector reforms and maintain public Pinances to qualify itself for the disbursements. Despite the approval of loan, the bank has expressed dissatisfaction over the capacity of the government to devise a mechanism to handle growing corruption, irregularities in the procurement process, bureaucratic rigmaroles, lack of internal control and professional ability to implement reforms. The
Pinancial package will also assist the government in achieving various targets, covering from energy, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, rural development and water sectors development to urban infrastructure and public sector programs. However, the lion share of the assistance will be spent on the improvement of infrastructure, power, transport, agriculture and urban services sectors. The country’s electricity distribution and transmission network is in a shambles and over $2 billion are earmarked to ensure reduction in line losses, electricity theft and maintain Pinancial viability in the energy sector. At least $1.7 billion will be spent to improve transportation infrastructure, including the road network and building mass
transit systems in Peshawar and Karachi while $500 million has also been allocated for public sector management and restructuring of loss-making organisations. The bank has also planned to lend $1.3 billion, including $400 million in budgetary support for the energy sector, $200 million for post-Plood highways rehabilitation, $170 million for the construction of GojraShorkot highway and $150 million for improving border services. As the country’s total public debt has reached $163 billion, the government will have to check the loopholes within the management and administrative cadre to save the precious money from leakage. As the ADP chief has pointed out, the country has failed to achieve millennium development goal as poverty has increased instead of decreasing.
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LPGA urges government to bring down input cost of the local producers LAHORE: LPG Association of Pakistan has demanded of the government to bring down the input cost of the local LPG producers who are suffering hard due to import and smuggling of adulterated and dangerous LPG. In a statement issued here Chairman of the LPG Association of Pakistan Farooq Iftikhar said that local producers of LPG are in deep trouble because of high input cost while adulterated and dangerous LPG is being smuggled and sold openly. Chairman LPGA said that LPG Association of Pakistan had for the last many months been calling on the concerned government circles to take measures for the promotion of alternate fuels like LPG that would certainly cut the burden on conventional fuel sector.
Smeda, RCCI organise training workshop on marketing techniques mall and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) in collaboration with Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) organized a one day training program on marketing and selling techniques at RCCI. The main objective of the workshop was to give awareness about modern marketing and selling techniques to our entrepreneurs. Owners of small and medium businesses, brand/marketing professionals, digital marketers, export marketing managers, consultants, students and nominees from general Public also participated in this workshop. On this occasion, RCCI acting President Mian Hamuyun Parvez presented participation certificate to all trainees and also said, business environment is highly competitive in today’s world and this sort of training session help small and medium enterprisers to enhance their business through utilization of these modern marketing and selling techniques.
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Govt urged to encourage SMEs to boost economy he government should take measures to help boost the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which has potential to develop economy with less investment. United International Group Chairman Mian Shahid said that SME is very important sector facing issues like branding, access to the markets, ecommerce, online trading, research and financing which should be tackled at the earliest. He said that there are 3.2m registered SMEs in Pakistan with 40pc share in GDP and 46.5pc share in exports while countless are unregistered. Among the registered SMEs, 65 percent are in Punjab, 18 percent are in Sindh, 14 percent are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 2 percent are operating in Balochistan.
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Turkish Airlines to start direct flights from Islamabad to Baku ISLAMABAD
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urkish Airlines is planning to launch direct Plights from Islamabad to Baku twice a week by the end of September 2015 and all necessary preparations for this purpose are being Pinalized. This was stated by General Manager Turkish Airlines, Yunus MERT during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). He said airlines has already started daily Plights for Islamabad and Lahore and now it was planning to connect Pakistan with Central Asia by launching twice a week Plights from Islamabad to Baku. He said with the start of daily Plights from Turkey to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, Pakistani travellers now have the option to travel to 180 destinations throughout the world being covered by Turkish Airlines at competitive rates. He said according to Skytrax survey of 2015,
Turkish Airlines was chosen “Europe’s Best Airline” for the Pifth and “Best Airline in Southern Europe” for the seventh consecutive time, which showed its impressive performance. He said Turkish Airlines have signed agreements with global companies and would like to sign MoU with ICCI to facilitate its members in air travel.
In his welcome address, President ICCI, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri welcomed the plan of Turkish Airlines to start twice a week Plights from Islamabad to Baku and added that direct air link between Islamabad and Baku will help in promoting Pakistan’s trade and exports with Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries. He said Turkish Airlines
Conference on ‘Role of Multinationals in Economic Development’ held at LCCI LAHORE
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ultinationals always play a fundamental role in economic uplift of any country as not only they do bring much-needed foreign investment and create employment opportunities for the locals but also give message to the world that this country is a good destination for doing business. “A large number of multinationals are operating in Pakistan successfully that is an ample proof of this fact that Pakistan is a best place for the foreign investors.” This was upshot of the speeches
delivered at a Conference on “Role of Multinationals in the Economic Development” here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday. The LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz, Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir, Vice President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi, former LCCI Presidents Bashir A. Buksh, Iftikhar Ali Malik, Mian Muzaffar Ali, Chief Executive OfPicer of Total PARCO Pakistan Marc Soissong, Ben French of British High Commission, Yahya Khan of Telenor Pakistan, Naveed Choudhry of Sika, Chief Executive OfPicer of NYK Line Tariq Masood and Regional Manager of Shell Pakistan Yasir Ali were the key speakers amongst the others. The speakers were of the view that Pakistan would have a special policy framework to attract more &
more multinationals as they would bring foreign investment, create employment opportunities and help transfer of technology. The LCCI President Mumtaz said that Pakistan is a very attractive ground for multinationals. Majority of Multinationals are extremely happy as they make maximum proPits and are freely able to repatriate their proPits without any hindrances. They make maximum proPits in this region. He said that as a matter of fact, multinationals in Pakistan are number one in their total exposure. Even the young CEOs of these multinational companies in Pakistan are promoted rapidly and they get maximum recognition. The LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir said that the very objective of this Conference is to bring the local businessmen and the multinationals on a common platform for mutual benePits.
should offer a customized package of discounted rates to ICCI members that will facilitate them in exploring trade opportunities in various countries. He was of the view that daily Plights from Turkey to three major cities of Pakistan would help in promoting people to people contacts and further improving bilateral trade between the two countries.
Raw cotton export registers 67pc increase to $5.6m in July 2015 aw cotton export from the country during the first month of current financial year 201516 has marked an increase of 67.73 percent as compared to the exports in the same period of last year. During the month of July, 2015 about 4,003 metric tons of raw cotton worth $5.604 million exported as compared to 658 metric tons valuing $0.330 million exported during the corresponding period of last year. Textile group exports during the period under review plunged by 11.72 percent as it came down from $1.162 billion in July 2014 to $1.025 billion during July 2015, said the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
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GOF continues to thwart attempt of smuggling goods Saturday August 29, 2015
World
BA KELALAN: The General Operations Force (GOF) continues to thwart the attempted smuggling of subsidised controlled items from Ba Kelalan to neighbouring Long Bawan, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Following a public tip-off, GOF personnel led by Head of C Company, Limbang, ASP Paul Paran arrested a local and confiscated his goods. Paul said the suspect was caught at Puneng Kelalan Road at 6.20am yesterday with a four-wheel-drive (4WD) laden with 528 litres of diesel, two cylinders of gas, 336kg sugar, 238kg (14 boxes) cooking oil and 80 kg of flour. The case has been referred to the Ministry of Domestic Trades, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) for further action.
S Korea imports 126,012MT of wood pellets in July SEOUL
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outh Korea imported 126,012 mt of wood pellets in July, down 22% on the year but increasing 10% over June, according to customs data Thursday. Total Korean imports for the Pirst seven months of 2015 stand at 730,364 mt, a 12% decrease from the year-earlier period. Vietnam remains the largest shipper of pellets to South Korea, sending 97,714 mt in July, up 52% on the year and 2% higher than the previous month. However shipments from Canada — the second largest exporter of wood pellets to South Korea in 2014 — continue to stall. It delivered a more than two-year low of 1,771 mt in July, down 94% on the year and off 53% from June.
UAE, Gabon ink MoU to enhance customs ties he United Arab Emirates represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has initialled an Air Service Agreement on Open Skies basis and signed an MoU with the Government of Gabon. The agreement was signed by Capt. Khalid Humaid Al Ali, director of Air Transport Department in GCAA, and H.E OYINAMONO Dominique, director general of the civil aviation authority of Gabon. The two delegations agreed that any number of designated airlines of both parties will have the right to perform scheduled air services between the two countries. The MoU allows full flexibility on the routes, capacity, number of frequencies and types of aircraft, in any type of service (passenger or cargo). The signed memorandum also includes the exercise of fifth freedom traffic rights.
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Total Canadian shipments in the Pirst seven months were 56,394 mt, down from 197,211 mt in the corresponding 2014 period. South Korea took receipt of 11,958 mt of Malaysian pellets in July, down 31% on the year but up 29% on the month. Total Malaysian shipments to South Korea in the January-July period were 78,782 mt, down from
92,445 mt a year earlier. Meanwhile, Prices of imported farm products fell 9.6 percent onmonth in July mainly due to a dip in international grain costs, government data showed Wednesday. According to the data by the Korea Customs Service (KCS), the price index for imported farm produce stood at 97 last month.
Singapore Customs seizes nine sets of e-cigarettes
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Malaysian-registered car was found with nine sets of e-cigarettes and 113 bottles of e-cigarette accessories during a routine inspection on Aug 23, 12.30am at Woodlands Checkpoint. According to a joint statement by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA), ICA ofPicers detected the stash in a bag placed in the car boot. Some were also found under the rear seat, behind the glove compartment and radio compart-
ment. The driver and passenger, both males aged 34 and 26, are assisting with investigation. The exhibits have been referred to the HSA. E-cigarettes are strictly prohibited in Singapore under the Tobacco Act. The act also prohibits import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of any article that is designed to resemble a tobacco product; this includes vaporisers such as e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-cigars and the likes. The public is strongly advised not to purchase or bring e-cigarettes into Singapore.
Sri Lanka Customs seizes 75 gold biscuits worth Rs 35.5m T
wo airline company employees, who were attempting to smuggle into the country 75 gold biscuits worth Rs 37.50 million, were arrested by SriLankan airline security staff at the Bandaranaike International Airport here the other day. Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said the suspects were later handed over to the Customs. “They are employees of an airline company and hired out to SriLankan airline. One of the suspects was a driver,” he said. The parcel of gold biscuits weighed 7.5 kilograms. The suspects had arrived in Sri Lanka from Singapore,” Mr. Gamini said. “This is the second major detection this year. A total of 35 kilograms of gold worth Rs.145 million has been conPiscated on 25 separate instances so far,” he said. Mr. Gamini said the suspects and the contraband would be handed over to the Customs Central Investigation Division for further investigations. Investigations are being carried out by Deputy Director A.T. Walawage and Superintendent
Wijekulasooriya. Meanwhile, National Savings Bank (NSB) recorded the highest half yearly proPits in its history with an impressive ProPit Before Tax (PBT) growth of 68 percent as compared to same period last year. The proPitability for the Pirst half for 2015 reached Rs. 6.2 billion with the increase mainly fuelled by growth in its traditional lines of business. The ProPit After Tax (PAT) was reported at Rs 3.9 billion for the Pirst half of 2015. These proPits were reported following prudent provisioning policies adopted for any adverse impact on declining gold market prices. The Bank’s Loans and Advances grew by 6.9 percent during this period with investments in Government Securities increasing up to Rs 519 billion. The total assets of the Bank surpassed the Rs. 800 billion milestone by end of June indicating a growth of 4.7 percent. A concerted effort to aggressively mobilize deposits during Pirst and second quarters reaped benePits to the tune of Rs. 21.5 billion in incremental deposit balances of which Rs. 11.9 billion.
Hong Kong Customs seizes 15kg suspected ivory pieces, products
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42-year-old traveller from Nigeria was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport with 15kg of suspected ivory products stashed inside the pockets of a tailor-made vest. He arrived in the city from Abuja, Nigeria, via Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, on Monday morning. “During customs clearance,
customs officers found about 15kg of suspected ivory pieces and products concealed in a tailormade vest inside his hand baggage,” the Customs and Excise Department said. The haul was estimated to be worth HK$150,000 in Hong Kong and the man may face prosecution for importing an endangered species, the department said.
JFE counts on China steel cuts for Q2 recovery in Japan
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TOKYO
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FE Holdings Inc., Japan’s secondbiggest steel producer, is sticking to its forecast that prices will recover in the second half, in the belief that Chinese mills currently Plooding the world market will have to cut
output to stem losses. “At issue is whether Chinese mills will continue loss-making exports,” said Koji Kakigi, president of JFE Steel Corp., the unit that drives more than 70 percent of the company’s sales. “When the market mechanism works, they will take various steps, like cutting output and lowering plant utilization rates. We anticipate
such behavior will occur.” As China’s economy falters and domestic demand wanes, its steel exports are surging, on pace to reach 100 million metric tons this year. That’s about the same level as total output in Japan, the world’s No. 2 steelmaker. Net proPit at mediumto-large mills in the Pirst six months slumped 73 percent from a year ear-
lier, according to a China Iron and Steel Association survey of its members. That means output cuts, as China’s mills adjust to withstand the prolonged slump in prices, Kakigi said Monday in an interview at the company’s Tokyo headquarters. It should aid a recovery in the halfyear ending March 31 for producers competing to supply Asia.
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Danish Maersk Line expects more profitable trade with Asia, Europe COPENHAGEN: Maersk Line expects the ailing Asia-Europe trade to improve in the second half of this year, as the devaluation of the Chinese currency boost exports and liners decrease capacity. Tim Smith, North Asia regional chief at Maersk Line and Maersk China chairman, said an increase in demand coupled with adjusted capacity could lead to freight rate increases for carriers even though the trade has been buffeted by both falling volumes and spot market rates in recent months. Smith said the recent devaluation of yuan will most likely prove to be a mixed bag for liner services.
MarGregor to reduce workforce as market weakens argotec’s MacGregor is planning to lay off around 100 employees at MacGregor Uetersen site in Germany by year’s end, citing weak market demand as the main reason behind the layoffs. MacGregor says that market situation has deteriorated due to the low oil price and low number of new merchant ship orders. The company expects to save around EUR 7 million as of 2016 by reducing the workforce at MacGregor Hatlapa GmbH & Co. KG, a producer of winches, steering gear and compressors. The initiated measures are estimated to create restructuring costs of EUR 5 million in 2015. Back in April, Cargotec announced plans to lay off 220 workers at MacGregor, a specialist in the construction of marine and offshore cargo-handling equipment.
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Shipping activity at Port Qasim ive ships carrying containers, chemical, clinker bulk and edible oil were berthed at Qasim International Containers Terminal, Engro Vopak Terminal, Multi Purpose Terminal and Liquid Cargo Terminal respectively Wednesday. Meanwhile six more ships carrying Containers, LNG Rape Seed, Furnace Oil and Edible Oil also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim (PQ) during last 24 hours. Berth occupancy was 65 percent at the Port on Thursday where a total seven ships namely Maersk Pittsburgh, CGM Carman, Rising Falcon, Nonna Ulia, Saadet-C, Liberty-N and Argent Cosmos are currently occupying berths to load/ offload containers, Rising Falcon, Coal, Animal Feed, Chemical and Edible Oil respectively during last 24 hours. A cargo volume of 63540 tonnes comprising 51381 tonnes imports and 12159 tonnes exports inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 1785 Containers (TEUs) was handled at the Port during last 24 hours.
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Ports & Shipping
Saturday August 29, 2015
South Africa unveils new ‘smartPORTS’
Ukrainian railways revenue from cargo shipments total UAH 47.5 billion KIEV
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he South African ports of Cape Town and Saldanha have become the latest to ‘go live’ with Transnet National Ports Authority’s new US$6 million web-based Integrated Port Management System (IPMS,) Pirst introduced as a pilot at the Port of Durban in July, 2015, according to Cape Business News. IPMS is a new-age system which supplants manual processes and enables key port operations to be managed online in real time across TNPA’s eight commercial ports. Chief Executive of Transnet National Ports Authority Richard Vallihu said: “Global ports are adopting ‘smartPORT’ concepts and the world is increasingly embracing digital technologies and data analytics to make sense of the information that we have around us.
krainian railways expect that in 2015, revenue from cargo shipments will total UAH 47.5 billion, which is 23.5% up on 2014, according to an explanatory note to the financial plan of railways which has been posted on the website of the Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine. The revenue will grow as the tariffs for cargo shipments within Ukraine have grown by 30% since February 1. Revenue from cargo exports will total UAH 16.062 billion and cargo imports – UAH 4.832billion, while revenue from transportation within Ukraine will total UAH 15.904 billion. According to the document, transit cargo will reach UAH 4.619 billion, which is 30.6% down on 2014 due to a decline in passenger transportation by 9.1% year-over-year. The share of passenger transportation of total revenue from transportation will be 8.9%. The financial plan of Ukrainian railways for 2015 foresees an increase in tariffs for passenger transportation in Ukraine by 21% from June onward. Additional expenses are expected at UAH 251 million. The share of revenue from the provision of auxiliary services of net revenue from sales of products will be 9.8% in the amount of UAH 5.131 billion.
“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. “As TNPA we believe that the glue or the backbone of our entire port system is information systems, but
in an integrated way, where we manage just about every input and output to make monitoring, tracking, evaluating and optimising a lot simpler.” The IPMS, which integrates multiple ports on a single platform, used Malaysian and Singaporean port management systems as a blueprint. The next South African ports to go live will be Port Elizabeth, Ngqura and East London.
Danish Maersk group Towage, Svitzer orders six tugs aersk Group towage and salvage arm Svitzer has signed contracts with Sanmar Shipyard in Turkey for the construction of six 70 tonne bollard pull RAstar 2800-E Class ASD tugs.Svitzer says the tugs are being built to fulfil both current and upcoming new contracts, and expects the first delivery from the series in the fourth quarter of 2016. Kasper Friis Nilaus, chief commercial officer of Svitzer, commented: “The vessels will support our ambitious growth strategy by delivering versatile, quality tugs that will give us an edge when competing for contracts particularly in the growth markets where we have several opportunities in the pipeline The new vessels are terminal tugs, purpose-built for hot climates, with escort capability and accommodation space for eight crew members. Meanwhile, RV shipments were down in July compared with the same month last year, but manufacturers say they’ve shipped almost 10,000 more units so far this year than they had last year at this time.
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Danish shipping giant Maresk line eyes to cut 200 jobs in UK
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aersk Oil is looking to cut up to 200 jobs in the UK plus ditch one of its North Sea assets, citing “ongoing challengesd in the market” and the company’s “cost transformation process”. It is also looking to push
through a move to three weeks on, three weeks off offshore rotation. Its Janice operations will be shuttered in the middle of next year leaving the Danish firm with just two working assets in the UK section of the North Sea. When announcing its most recent results, the Maersk Group cited its oil division as being one of the weaker financial areas of the maritime conglomerate.
Meanwhile, Danish firm Clipper has emerged as the buyer of two resale bulkers. The company announced today it is taking delivery of two SDARI64 bulkers during the coming months from financially troubled Sainty Shipbuilding in Yangzhou, China. The vessels, to be named Clipper Kalavryta and Clipper Kythira, were purchased as resales and
were part of an original order for four ultramaxes placed by Greece’s National Energy Transportation (NET). “The delivery of these 64,000 dwt vessels supports our strategy, namely to grow our fleet in the handysize, supramax and ultramax segments, with modern vessels less than four years old in average,” Clipper said in a release. No price was given for the resales.
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NAB arrests suspects involved in Rs 200 million fruad LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is too active against corruption mafia and irregularities in the Punjab government departments.Sources told Customs Today that the National Accountability Bureau Lahore chapter has arrested a group of swindlers who were involved in collecting money from investors in the name of fake business. They were offering heavy amount of profit on investment by the common citizens. They showed their huge business of LCD’s to get investment.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
CUSTOMS BULLETIN
Hyderabad ASO seizes 60,000 litres of diesel, oil tanker worth Rs 12 million HYDERABAD
ASLAM QURESHI
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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) conPiscated 60,000 litres of smuggled Iranian diesel valued at Rs 3.6 million and an oil tanker being used for the transportation of diesel worth Rs 8.6 million. As per details, Additional Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Hyderabad, Omer shaPique, received information regarding the smuggling of Iranian diesel. Following the information, the additional collector formed a team comprising Inspector Khair Mohammad Pathan, ShaPi Jamali, Waqar Ahmed Baig and other to foil the smuggling bid. ASO team intercepted the oil tanker bearing Registration No. TLE-414 near superhighway bypass, Hyderabad and recovered smuggled diesel which was being transported from Hub to interior Sindh. The ASO team confiscated the diesel, besides impounding the truck under the prevailing customs law. The case has been registered against the accused, while further investigation is underway in this regard.
It is important to mention, ASO team has failed second attempt of diesel smuggling during last three
days under the supervision of Additional Collector Omer ShaPique that shows he is much active against the
smuggling. During last operation, ASO had impounded an oil tanker bearing
Registration No. TLZ-298 loaded with 60,000 litres of Iranian diesel with total value of Rs 13.6 million.
Customs Preventive issues Rs 1.349b rebate cheques to traders MULTAN
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IMRAN ALI
www.customsbulletin.com he Federal Board of Revenue will introduce the 9th module of IRIS software for the collection of withholding taxes on August 30. Director General Withholding Tax Federal Board of Revenue Shaukat Mehmood spoke about different features of the new module of IRIS software during a training workshop. Tax agents from various departments at-
tended the training session. He told that FBR is going to make the job of tax agents simple after the introduction of this new software. New module of IRIS will facilitate taxpayers and this is ideal system for tax agents for the collection of withholding taxes. He addressed the few features of new module of IRIS software which will assist the Federal Board of Revenue for the collection of withholding taxes and curb tax evasions by sending receipts of their withholding taxes in nonpayer’s account. He told that new module for the
withholding tax agents introduced from 30th August and it will be operational from Monday. Director General Shaukat Mehmood gave a comprehensive presentation on the roles and responsibilities of withholding agents in the system of tax collection and highlighted and discussed the laws and provisions concerning withholding tax agents. If the tax agents are not aware with implemented tax rates then they need to enter the tax category the automated software will determine their taxes. This newly
automated software will give eliminate the issues of tax agents for the exemptions of withholding taxes of taxpayers by entering their national tax number in the system. Chief Commissioner RTO Multan Hafiz Muhammad Jamil Owaisi, Commissioner Special Zone Ahmad Shuja Khan, Commissioner Multan Zone Zubair Bilal, Commissioner Withholding Tax Yasir Ali Khan and Additional Commissioner Shahid Sattar were also attending the workshop on withholding tax at the Regional Tax Office Multan. Meanwhile, The Federal
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Board of Revenue has allocated revenue collection target of Rs 5.39 billion to the Regional Tax Office Multan for the month of August, 2015. Almost Rs 3.38 billion sales tax collection target has been assigned from Federal Board of Revenue for the duration of August in the existing financial year 2015-16. During the month of August, the FBR has allotted the collection target for Regional Tax Office of Rs 1.78 billion for the collection of income tax in the fiscal year 2015-16.