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Daily
Vol 1 Issue No. 174
Karachi, Fri September 4, 2015
LAHORE
M HAYAT
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ustoms Adjudication Lahore has imposed Rs 1 million Tine on M/s Pak Elektron for evading taxes on the import of air conditioners and refrigerators illegally availing zero-rating under SRO 549 /(I) 2008. The Customs Adjudication has upheld the charges levelled by Post Clearance Audit (PAC) directing M/s PEL to pay forthwith Rs 5.772 million, which includes the Tine as well as the
Price Rs. 14.00
evaded tax. According to the order, deputy director, PCA Lahore vide contravention report in a case number 03/2015 issued under endorsement C . N O PA C / L H R / Te a m C/128/2014/130 dated January 26, 2015 are, that scrutiny of imports clearance made under SRO 549(I)2008 dated June 11, 2008 for the period 2009-2001 has revealed that certain importers had deliberately claimed/availed inadmissible beneTit of zero rating of sales tax under the SRO on their import i.e. parts and components for the manufacturing of air conditioner/refrigerators etc.
Customs seizes smuggled mini Mazda truck
Collector Sarfraz Ahmad reshuffles eight inspectors for better results
IPR, HEC organise seminar on socio-economic development
ASO Jhang seizes foreign origin Rani juice
SCCI asks FBR to withdraw 8% turnover tax
Customs Intelligence Multan seized smuggled Mazda mini truck | See pAge 02 |
MCC Multan has reshued eight inspectors to improve their performance. | See pAge 03 |
The IPR and the HEC have jointly organised a seminar under the title | See pAge 04 |
ASO Jhang has seized 4,776 bottles of foreign origin Rani juice packed | See pAge 03 |
President SCCI Fazal Jillani has urged FBR to withdraw the eight percent tax | See pAge 09 |
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Talks between govt, transporters remain successful Friday, September 04, 2015
National
LAHORE: Negotiations between the government and transporters of Punjab remained positive. After conclusion of talks with the government, the transporters decided to call o their strike against imposition of general sales tax till December, 2015. Punjab Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha represented the government side while transporters side was represented by Tariq Nabeel. After assurance from government side transporters decided to call o their strike call. It is pertinent to mention here, that transporters of Punjab announced strike after imposition of general sales tax.
Multan customs seizes smuggled mini Mazda truck
Jhang ASo seizes foreign origin rani juice JHUNG
nAeeM SHeikH
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MULTAN
iMrAn ALi
he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Jhang has seized 4,776 bottles of foreign origin Rani juice packed in 199 crates. The expiry date of seized Rani juice is 14.7.2016 while the market value of the juice is Rs 191,040. Sources told Customs Today that Assistant Collector Muhammad Asim Awan directed Anti-Smuggling Organization Jhang about the smuggling of Rani juice. After receiving this information, Assistant Collector immediately constituted a raiding team comprising Zahid Raza Bukhari (superintendent), Shouqat Khan Mujahid Abbas (inspector), Ghulam Abbas (driver), Muhammad Ali, Zulafqar Ali, Ziaullah Cheema and Muhammad Ajmal (sepoys), The ASO team intercepted a vehicle bearing Registration No. MNK-8386 at Multan Road, Shortkot. During thorough checking of the vehicle ASO team impounds 4776 bottles of Rani Juice. The ASO team asked Waqar Aslam son of Muhammad Aslam of Alfalah Goods Transport Company Toba Tek Singh who is owner of juice and Muhammad Qata son of Ashiq Hussain who is driver of the vehicle to provide legal documents regarding possession of juice, but he failed to produce the same.
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ustoms Intelligence and Investigation Multan seized smuggled Mazda mini truck during an action. According to details, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan Range OfTice received information that a Mazda mini truck bearing registration LRT/3821 has entered Multan. The Customs staff coordinated each other and intercepted the truck near Khanewal bypass. Driver Muhammad Alam of the Mazda truck was asked to present the original documents to prove its legal identity. During veriTication of the documents and physical examination of the Mazda truck, it found to be a smuggled one. The Customs staff seized the truck along with Cabin Mazda Titan accessories on non-payment of customs duty. Superintendent Fareedud Din Masood, Amjad Pervaiz and Saleem Afzal have participated in the action against the smuggled truck. The value of the seized truck was almost Rs 1 million and the duty taxes on the seized truck were almost Rs 300,000. Customs seized truck by applying law section 3(I) 3 of the imports and export act 1950 punishable clause 89 of section 156(1) of Cus-
toms Act, 1969. 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 Tirst month (July) of current Tiscal year 2015-16. Directorate of Customs Intelligence has formed Tive 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 operations. Both vehicles were smuggled from hidden routes into the country wi thout 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 Intelligence and Investigation Multan Range office has found another tax evasion of Rs 831, 232 in the imported parts of industrial oven against SM Food Makers Company during investigation.
Faisalabad Customs holds consignment of fabric worth Rs 4.7m FAISALABAD
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he Customs Investigation and Intelligence has seized a consignment of 16,270 kilogram of fabric worth Rs 4.71 million following the charges of short payment of duty/taxes and
also impounded a truck being used for the transportation of the items after Tinding it non-duty paid. Sources informed that Additional Director Muhammad Ismail received information regarding the clearance of a consignment through mis-declaration on which he formed a team to conTiscate the consignment. The team intercepted the trailer bearing Registration
No. TLB-242 near Director of Customs Investigation and Intelligence loaded with consignment of fabric. The driver was asked to produce the documents regarding the clearance of the consignment. The driver showed the relevant documents in which Customs Intelligence found that consignment was cleared by importer by paying Rs one million, while the actual leviable duty was Rs 1.346 mil-
lion. Furthermore, the team asked the driver to show the documents showing the legal import the trailer but he remained fail to do so. Therefore, Customs Intelligence impounded the trailer under the prevailing customs laws. The Customs Intelligence team comprising Deputy Director Riaz Hussain, Senior Intelligence OfTicer Muhammad Tahir, Mihammad Saleem and others participated in the raid.
Meanwhile, The Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Faisalabad has earned Rs 3.57 million through auction of vehicles and miscellaneous items impounded by AntiSmuggling Organisation (ASO). As per details, the MCC Faisalabad presented 10 vehicles including Honda Heavy Bike, Suzuki Heavy Bike, Toyota Corolla DX, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Hilux Surf, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Hi-
ace and Toyota Corolla bearing Registration No. B-2643 for auction. While, eight vehicles attracted suitable bids to the tune of Rs 2.73 million. Meanwhile, 52 lots of miscellaneous goods comprising heated display case, display refrigerator, petrol engine for motor bike, white board markers, fax machines, silk cloth, tyres, and others smuggled items were presented for open bid.
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FBR issues alert for taxpayers on bogus emails ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Thursday asked the taxpayers to ignore emails being sent to them through a bogus email address. Shahid Hussain Asad, Senior Member (Inland Revenue Policy) and spokesperson for FBR, in an official statement said that it has been brought to the notice of FBR that some taxpayers have received emails supposedly sent to them by offices of FBR. The emails are being sent from efbr_system@news-letters-4u.com which is not an official email address of FBR, he said, adding that all such emails sent from this account may be discarded and not treated as correspondence from FBR.
customs court grants bail to suspect in uS army reverse cargo case KARACHI
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he Special Customs and Taxation Court has granted bail to a suspect in two cases pertaining to pilferage of the US Army reverse cargo. Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi approved the bail for Muhammad Adnan, an employee of Peerzada Services International, with surety of Rs 1 million in each case. According to the prosecution, Directorate General of Transit Trade had lodged two FIRs pertaining to pilferage of US Army reverse cargo in 22 containers during their transit from Torkham to Karachi port. The cargo was declared to contain power generators with transformer and equipment for transit to Karachi port for export to Dubai.
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fBr launching operation against smuggling of cigarettes LAHORE
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ederal Board of Revenue is going to launch operation against sale of smuggled cigarettes in the country causing loss to national exchequer under the head of customs duty. Official sources said that FBR has established special teams to curb the smuggling of the foreign origin cigarettes. They added that Customs Investigation and Intelligence, and Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) will launch operation with mutual cooperation. According to the details, FBR officials will conduct raids at different markets and godowns to recover the smuggled cigarettes. The sources added that FBR has decided to launch the operation against cigarette smuggling following the request of the local tobacco industry as it is affecting the sale of local production in the country which ultimately cause to less tax collection.
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Friday September 04, 2015
National
collector Sarfraz Ahmad reshuffles eight inspectors for better results MULTAN
iMrAn ALi
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he Model of Customs Collectorate Multan has reshufTled eight inspectors to improve their performance. Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich has transferred eight inspectors in various locations after noticing their close performance during different tasks. Inspector Haq Nawaz ,Inspector Abdus Samad have been relocated from Multan Dry Port to Anti-Smuggling Organization .Inspector Raza Shah and Zia Bhatti also been shufTled from Anti-Smuggling Organization to Multan Dry Port . Inspector Shahid Mirza shifted to Multan Dry Port from Multan International Airport in recent notiTication released by Collector MCC Multan. Inspector Maqsood Ahmad is being transferred from Investigation and Prosecution to Anti-Smuggling Organization in the newly issued notiTication of Model of Customs Collectorate Multan. Inspector Farooq Ahmad and Arshad Nadeem have also been transferred from Anti-Smuggling Organization to the Multan International Airport for the new tasks. Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich has reshufTled eight inspectors after comprehensive discussion with other members of MCC Multan including Deputy Collector Antismuggling Organization Abdul
Mueed Kanjoo, Deputy Collector Muteen Alam Multan International Airport and Assistant Collector Faizan Badar. Few of employees have been transferred on the demand of Deputy Collectors for enhanced performance due to their capability. But two employees were also transferred due to their continuous poor output for the improvement in their performance. Collector Sarfraz Ahmad has also directed all employees of MCC Mul-
inspector Haq nawaz ,inspector Abdus Samad have been relocated from Multan Dry port to ASo. inspector raza Shah and Zia Bhatti also been shuffled from ASo to Multan Dry port .
PRA collects Rs 4.4b in August 2015
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unjab Revenue Authority (PRA) achieved revenue target of more than Rs 4.4 billion during the August, 2015 which is Rs 778 million more than collections of August, 2014 which stood at Rs 3.7 million. PRA received taxes under different heads including withholding tax from public and private sectors construction services, travel agents, manpower supplies,
software and IT based system development consultants, cargo services, auto workshops, car dealers, laboratories and fashion designers. PRA used different sources for increasing revenue target and all out efforts were made for revenue generation. Due to effective supervision and joint team work by the administration of department, revenue target was increased from Rs 3.7 billion to Rs 4.4 billion and the process of increase in revenue target will also be
maintained during next month. Meanwhile, Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) sealed twelve Marriage halls in different locations of the city. These marriage halls were involved in sales tax evasion and did not have National Tax Numbers (NTN). Sources told Customs Today that on the directions of Punjab Revenue Authority Chairman Dr Raheel Sadique , a team comprising assistant director Kashif Nawaz Malik, inspector Soba Khan.
tan to perform their tasks with keen responsibility for the accomplishment of future goals of the Collectorate. The transfer and job rotation of these employees have been done with another purpose for the enlargement of their performance to get better outcomes in the MCC Multan. The reshufTling has been done after the allocation of revenue target from the Chief Collectorate Customs to the Model of Customs Collectorate Multan.
ASo impounds Mitsubishi pajero worth rs 1.7 million he MCC Preventive Lahore Anti-Smuggling Organization has impounded a Mitsubishi Pajero at Ghazi Road, sources told Customs Today on Wednesday. The sources said that the Pajero was impounded by ASO inspector Sajad Bukhari on the instructions of Superintendent Mumtaz Ajmal Mian. The value of seized Pajero is Rs 1.7 million.
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PPL discovers gas in Mariari Friday, September 04, 2015
Business
KARACHI: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has discovered gas in District Matiari, Sindh. The discovery was made at the PPL’s Fazl X-1 exploration well in Block 256813 (Hala) in Matiari. The company, holder of a 65 percent operating stake in the Hala Block, said that the hydrocarbon find at Fazl X-1 is the third discovery in the area. Fazl X-1, which was spud May 29, reached the final depth of 13,343 feet (4,067 meters) Aug 12. The PPL said based on wireline logs and drilling results, potential hydrocarbon bearing zones were identified in Massive Sand of Lower Goru Formation.
ipr, Hec organise seminar on socio-economic development
Standard chartered, oriX Leasing sign sale-purchase pact
ISLAMABAD
KARACHI
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he Institute for Policy Reforms (IPR) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) have jointly organised a seminar under the title of ‘Building a Knowledge Economy: Imperative for Socio-Economic Development’. Addressing at the occasion, IPR Chairman Humayun Akhtar Khan has said that reliance on science and technology will place Pakistan’s
ifc provides rs 20m for construction of Lng Terminal
economy on a path of sustained development. He stressed on the need to strengthen science & technology as this was the critical need of the time. He stated that value addition and knowledge input were key components for economic activity and were important determinants for growth. He said that joint effort on the part of government, academia, and the private sector would help achieve this objective. “We live in a world where knowledge has become the most important factor that determines socio-economic development while natural resources have diminishing importance. Dr Atta Ur Rahman, Adviser IPR
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nternational Finance Corporation has provided Rs 20 million for the construction, design and operation of LNG Terminal at Port Qasim Karachi.According to sources, International Finance Corporation (IFC) has provided Rs 20 million to Enrgo Elengy Terminal Private Limited in the term of loan and installment for the import of LNG terminal.
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oriented stance involving manufacture and exports of high value added goods. It was time to move towards building a strong knowledge economy. He dwelled on three key pillars for socio-economic development of the country. Pakistan, he said, was into the low value added textile sector in its manufacturing and exports whereas the big money could only be earned in the manufacture and exports of high value added agricultural products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology goods, IT products and services, automobiles, ships, household appliances industrial machinery, and defence products.
cargo agents’ strike costing billions of rupee losses
ISLAMABAD
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and former federal minister and Chairperson Higher Education Commission, addressing on the occasion, said that Pakistan cannot progress without focusing on the “triple helix” of the knowledge economy – technology driven government policies, strong universities/research centres, and the critically important role of private sector in undertaking the manufacture and export of high technology products. Prof Atta-ur-Rahman called for a departure from anarchaic development model that focused almost entirely on natural resources and production of low value agricultural and industrial products to an export
KARACHI
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he cargo containers have Tilled the country’s main port due to continuous strike of freight forwarders and air cargo agents, which is also costing billions of rupees losses to the national exchequer. Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) and Air
Cargo Agents Association of Pakistan (ACAAP) had announced strike for indeTinite period until government resolves all the issues, which include withdrawal of the turnover tax. ACAAP Chairman Farukh Iqbal, while talking to media, said that there was no bill of leading for exporters to ship goods through dry ports, sea ports, airports, bonded container freight station. He said that no ofTicial or government representative has come to negotiate with them. “We have written several letters to the Federal Board of Revenue, Tinance ministry and Prime Minister’s secretariat, but the government
was not ready to listen to our grievances.”Even various trade bodies took up this issue with the government, which seems to be indifferent to trade and commerce, he added. The cargo agents’ leader said since no government ofTicial had contacted them on Wednesday they decided to continue the strike. “Our members are not responsible or liable for any direct or consequential losses suffered by trade due to strike as government has forced our member companies to take the extreme decision to close businesses in protest against the imposition of this unjust tax.
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tandard Chartered Bank and ORIX Leasing Pakistan Limited have reached a sale-purchase agreement for divestment of the laters shareholdings in Standard Chartered Modaraba by 20 per cent and Standard Chartered Services of Pakistan (SCSP) by 100. The SCM stake is held 10pc directly and 10pc indirectly through Standard Chartered Services of Pakistan (Private) Limited. Moreover, OLPL announced the amalgamation of Standard Chartered Leasing (SCLL) (86.45 per cent shareholding) with and into OLPL. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. SCM operates mainly out of Karachi, along with two other branches in Lahore and Islamabad. Commenting on the transaction, Shazad Dada, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Pakistan said, “Pakistan is a core market for the Bank and we remain fully committed to our business in the country. This transaction represents a further step in Standard Chartered’s focus on the growth of our core client businesses including Retail, Corporate and Institutional, Commercial and Islamic banking.”
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‘Govt losing Rs 5b to Rs 6b/month due to illegal trade at Torkham’ ISLAMABAD
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he Supreme Court was informed that the national exchequer was facing losses to the tune of Rs 5 to 6 billion per month due to illegal trade at the Torkham border.
This was revealed in a report submitted by Additional Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Omer Farouk Adam, a member of the four-man commission appointed by the Supreme Court on Aug 21 to check illegal border crossing into Pakistan from Torkham. Farouk said in the report that goods worth millions of dollars were seized on Torkham border every month, but no record was available or maintained by any de-
partment. The illegal trade to the tune of Rs 100 to 150 million per day was being made through Torkham border, the report stated, adding that the Asian Development Bank’s Integrated Border Immigration System was still in the pipeline since 2002 and only one or two meetings had taken place so far. The report explained that the customs ofTicials at Torkham border only perform cargo clearance
activity on a daily basis where approximately 800 to 1,000 cargo carrying vehicles cross the border in either direction. But there is no dedicated yard for parking of vehicles, no vehicle scanning machine, no cargo handling equipment, there is an acute shortage of staff, luggage scanners, storage facility and no arrangement for security of personnel and cargo. Customs ofTicials do not check private cars and public transport,
the report said adding that ofTicially no duty/taxes were imposed on passenger baggage nor any goods/baggage conTiscated. At present the Frontier Corps and political administration checked private vehicles and passenger baggage at Torkham border. The goods seized are put in 13 stores / warehouses and disposed of as per provisions of the Customs Act. There was no anti-narcotics department at the border, the report said.
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Friday, September 04, 2015
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odel Customs Collectorate Islamabad Preventive has seized foreign origin smuggled goods worth Rs 18.8 million during August 2015. As per details, Deputy Collector Yawar Nawaz informed that MCC Preventive impounded a non-duty paid vehicle worth 1.4 million, 1,377 kilogram of smuggled cloth worth Rs 900,000 and smuggled cigarettes worth Rs 800,000 during different anti-smuggling drives. He added smuggled electronics items and 965 kg of smuggled tea worth Rs 1.5 million were also clutched during the said period. Besides, MCC Preventive division staff during anti-smuggling activities also failed many smuggling activities and recovered smuggled items including DVDs, cell phones, auto parts, tyres and pampers having worth in millions
Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has assigned Rs 16.167 billion target to Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad in the terms of all taxes for the fiscal years 2015-16. This was informed by MCC Islam-
abad Deputy Collector Yawar Nawaz while talking to Customs Today. He added that “We as a team will leave no stone unturned to meet the revenue target and effective strategies will be adopted to surpass the revenue target.â€? He further said that Customs Preventive division was not a target oriented department but it helped the department to generate revenue through curbing the smuggling activities in the region. Nawaz said that illegal trade imposed negative impact over the national kitty, therefore; r ctor Yawa e ll o measures have been taken c y t u p e D m a e t to tighten noose around a s a e the smugglers. nawaz says w stone o n It is important to mention e v a will le here that MCC Islamabad e h t t e e m had shown remarkable unturned to t and performance during the e rg a t e u reven last fiscal year 2014-15 e b l tegies wil a r as it collected Rs 13.278 t s e iv t c e e billion against Rs 10.378 urpass the billion target. adopted to s
et revenue targ
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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
Snags in way of auto policy
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he automobile industry is one of the best earning sectors in Pakistan, but the government has failed to devise a new auto policy. The auto industry is the major source of income for the government in terms of duties and taxes it gets from the manufacturers, importers, dealers and buyers. The government officers look toward third world countries to get a clue for any policy instead of looking developed and duty-free countries. A car made in Japan or Korea is available at throwaway price in Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries, but it is as expensive as a branded US or European car. Pakistanis are made to pay taxes and duties more than double or triple of the actual price of a car. This is the main hurdle in the development of the business and industry. Going through the situation, the chairman of the Privatisation Commission is right in saying that this ‘country cannot move forward.’ He said this after two-hour discussions in the office of Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif to devise a new Auto Policy for 2015-20. To play a meeting is the best source of recreation for the officers where they sit, talk and leave, without reaching a conclusion. And if they reach a conclusion, that leads to nowhere. Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, Muhammad Dr Mifta Ismail, Arif Azim and Tariq Chaudhary attended the meeting. Some participants reportedly blamed the ‘rigid stance’ of the FBR for not reaching a conclusion as Chairman Tariq Bajwa was also present in the meeting. According to newspaper reports, the auto committee had recommended 10 percent duty on import of auto spare parts which was to be enhanced to 35 percent after two years. The FBR disagreed on a single digit rate but the chairman called for unambiguous Auto Policy so that it should not be delayed further through the legal process. The country can emerge as a major car spare parts exporter in the world if the cottage industry is given incentives. The whole African and South American nations are waiting for the Pakistani businessmen to explore trade and investment opportunities, but dilemma is that we are afraid of taking the first step. In this situation, the chairman of the Privatize Commission is correct in saying that we cannot move forward. If we stuck at the progressive stage, one can understand what will happen to those policies at the implementation stage. The time has come the government has to change its policy of extracting more and more money from citizen.
Banking on strategic location A
LAHORE
Dr AfTAB AfZAL
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ccording to the World Bank, Pakistan has vast development potentials due to its important strategic geographical location as it is situated at the fulcrum of various regions, including South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East. The bank says that the country is the center of a regional market where the population is large and natural resources are untapped with a vast potential of trade and investment. The country can reap demographic dividends with increasing proportion of workingage population but despite having all the positive indicators, Pakistan
is facing economic, governance and security challenges. The country is facing security challenges from India and from within in various regions of the country — from the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to urban areas like Karachi and elsewhere. The engagement of the army in various anti-terrorism operations on the western and eastern borders is the major impediment in the way of development. The poor governance is one of the major areas of concern, while the challenges of creating conducive business environment as well as the maintenance of peace and security are hindering the potential growth of Pakistan. Pakistan has also faced natural disasters such as earthquake and
Tloods, which had ruined the rural economy, but fall of oil prices in the international market and support from the International Monetary Fund have pushed the economy to resist. The World Bank says that the country is facing persistent energy crisis, but even then the economy is showing signs of recovery driven by agriculture and services sectors. Pakistan has recorded growth in cotton, wheat and rice crops despite the Tloods while road transportation, telecom industry, Tinance and insurance have boosted the service sector. Though the large-scale manufacturing units have shown positive growth, its volume remained below than the last year. The pharmaceuticals, electronics, automobiles, iron and
steel industries have shown good performance, but energy crisis persistently haunted the industrial sector. As a matter of fact, quality of life has improved in the urban centers of the country, but 75 percent population in rural areas still lives below the poverty line. Unless the government introduces corporate culture in the agriculture sector, the living standard of peasants cannot be improved. Though the corporate sector has its own merits and demerits, but it is better to follow a direction rather than setting on a journey without destination. Pakistan is blessed with intelligent minds, and it is hoped the nation will Tind a way out to extricate itself of the economic mess.
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Govt urged to address issues of air cargo agents LAHORE: The local business community has asked the government to immediately resolve the issues faced by air cargo agents as they, along with Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association, are going on strike for fulfillment of their demands. Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) President Ijaz Mumtaz, in a statement, said that the strike would deal a big blow to the export-oriented industry that is already facing various internal and external challenges. The LCCI president maintained that the strike of Air Cargo Agents Association and Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association would cause hardship to the exporters, and the government would be the ultimate loser as far as revenue collection is concerned.
uniDo-cleantech and icci organise Business clinic for SMes he United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has organized a Business Clinic for providing training to the SMEs and startups that have qualified as semi-finalists for UNIDO’s Call for Awards 2015 of Cleantech competition. The GEF funded initiative was part of a three years Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP), currently running in many countries including Pakistan and is aimed at developing a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem by supporting clean technology innovations in SMEs and startups so that they could maximize opportunities for achieving sustainable commercial success.
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Textile exhibition secures $300m orders in 3 days he 14th International Textile Asia Exhibition has successfully secured$300 million orders in just three days. The exhibition is being organised by the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association in collaboration with Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan at Expo Centre Lahore. Addressing the concluding ceremony, PRGMEA Chairman Ijaz Khokhar said that around 55,000 people visited the exhibition during first two days while more than 100,000 visitors registered their presence in textile fairs in three days. The PRGMEA chairman said that the machinery and equipments display at the exhibition were of immense utility to manufacturers producing value added products for increasing volume of exports.
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Frisday September 04, 2015
Chambers
Scci asks fBr to withdraw 8% turnover tax SIALKOT
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resident Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Fazal Jillani has urged Federal Board of Revenue to withdraw the eight percent tax on cargo agents and freight forwarders as their strike affecting export and import activities of country badly. He said that the Sialkot based exporters and importers were suffering from great Tinancial losses, as they remained unable to ensure the timely dispatch of their export consignments to their foreign buyers as well. Terming the levy of 8 percent turnover services tax on cargo agents and freight forwarders by the federal government as cruel act, the SCCI has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure the early withdrawal of this tax. In a press release issued here today, SCCI President Fazal Jillani said that this levy of 8 percent turnover tax has already put the cargo agents and the freight forwarders into the
big Tinancial crisis, besides, putting them into the hot waters. Expressing grave concern over this nasty situation, SCCI President added that the situation was worsening day by day due to which the perturbed cargo agents and freight forwarders would be forced to
charge extra amounts from the overburdened exporters. On the other hand, the hundreds of the cargo agents and freight forwarders staged a demonstration in front of the Sialkot Dry Port Trust (SDPT) against the levy of 8 percent turnover taxes on services industries
Lcci urges fBr, Anf to use latest technology for scanning of export items
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he Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and anti-narcotics departments to use modern technology to check export goods at Karachi port. In a statement issued , LCCI Vice President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry had received a number of complains that the FBR and anti-narcotics departments are causing undue damage to the export goods in the name of checking. He said that ofTicials open the goods for checking but not repack properly which causes heavy damage to the merchandise while traveling and foreign buyers refuse to receive such consignments. He said that FBR and Anti-Nar-
cotics Department should use latest technology for scanning of exporting products or check the goods in the factories of exporters and properly sealed by the departments. It would not only save the exporters but would also save valuable time. Meanwhile, Being an agrarian country, Pakistan cannot afford to waste huge amount of water resources which are depleting fast. Shortage of water has not only caused undue damage to the agriculture sector but to the manufacturing sector as well. “We cannot waste more time therefore government should pave way for early construction of Kalabagh dam which is the only solution of water and electricity shortage”, said LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz while talking to a 20-mem-
ber delegation led by its Chairman Malik Mansab Awan and Ch. M. Javed Khushi here at the LCCI. Mumtaz said that our economy is based on agriculture sector which cannot survive without sufTicient water resources. He said that we are already suffering and further delay in the construction of Kalabagh dam would hit us hard. He said that it is a good omen that political circles have started realizing the importance of this mega project that would certainly pave way for its early construction. “Kalabagh Dam issue has been so much politicized that a consensus seems difTicult therefore the government would have to take decision.” The LCCI President said that melting of glaciers is eye-opener as sword of Tloods is hanging on our heads.
including the cargo agents and freight forwarders. They chanted anti-government slogans and blocked Road for two hours, demanding immediate withdrawal of the said tax. Meanwhile, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry Present Fazal Jilani strongly condemned the eight percent turnover services tax imposed by the government on cargo agents and freight forwarders. He termed this tax as a cruel and unjust decision of the government. He said that it is quite ironic that the government had implemented 8 percent services tax on the cargo agents and had left them in dire Tinancial crisis as they were already paying 12 percent services tax. He said that this extra tax would ultimately disturb the pre-burdened business community. Mr. Fazal Jilani expressed his concern that the cargo agents would be forced to charge the extra amount from the exporters which would in turn increase their cost and hamper the dwindling exports which are already facing issue like pending sales tax/duty drawback refunds and Infrastructure Development Cess on imports by Punjab and Sindh Government.
Govt urged to address issues of air cargo agents he local business community has asked the government to immediately resolve the issues faced by air cargo agents as they, along with Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association, are going on strike for fulfilment of their demands. Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) President Ijaz Mumtaz, in a statement, said that the strike would deal a big blow to the export-oriented industry that is already facing various internal and external challenges. The LCCI president maintained that the strike of Air Cargo Agents Association and Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association would cause hardship to the exporters, and the government would be the ultimate loser as far as revenue collection is concerned.
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Bangladesh Customs seized contraband items worth Tk 5.05b Friday September 04, 2015
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DHAKA: Customs Intelligence Department has seized gold, foreign currency, electrical equipment and drugs worth Tk 5.05 billion and around 27,489 cartons of foreign cigarettes from various entry points into the country during the last 25 months. This is an almost ten-fold rise over the seizures over nine years, during which they seized contraband worth a mere Tk 540 million and 3,297 cartons of cigarettes. Its Director General Moinul Khan presented these seizure statistics while inaugurating their new headquarters here the other day. He attributed this to the growing professional efficiency of the department — more active detectives, better use of modern technologies for surveillance , overall capacity development to cover new areas.
Dubai, Saudi customs organise Saudi minister lauds UAE for foiling smuggling attempts of ipr awareness workshop narcotics networks
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ubai Customs has held an Intellectual Property Rights workshop with the participation of eminent Customs delegations from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Abu Dhabi Customs, Dubai Health Authority and a host of personnel from Dubai Customs were also present. The attending delegates praised Dubai Customs efforts in raising IPR awareness and the role it plays in educating and involving specialists of stakeholder entities, whether on the state government level or at the GCC level. Such efforts are directed towards tightening the grip on counterfeiters, better serving manufacturers, investors and traders rights and ultimately protecting consumers from the consequences and threats
Swiss rail operator launches online shopping service hopping for supermarket items by smartphone and picking them up at the train station half an hour later is now possible under a pilot project introduced on Tuesday in the Zurich region. The “SpeedyShop” project was launched by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Swiss Post and Migros, Switzerland’s largest retailer. The new service allows a customer while travelling in the train to order and pay for items with a credit card online using a mobile phone, tablet or laptop, SBB announced. The client can then pick up the order 30 minutes later at the Zurich main station at one of two MyPost24 terminals operated there by Swiss Post. To access the post box, the customer receives a code by email plus information about which of the terminals the order will be delivered to.
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posed by illicit trade in fake goods. Yousuf Ozair, Director of Intellectual Property Rights Department at Dubai Customs stated on this occasion, “Dubai Customs places IP Rights on the top of its priorities, and is always keen on forging better ties and reinforcing cooperation
with local and GCC customs authorities and administrations in order to achieve optimal results in combating the trading of infringed items. “We always seek to present our ofTicers with the latest training courses on the means and methods of combating counterfeit trading.
Bangladesh foreign exchange reserve rises to $26.18b in August
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angladesh’s foreign exchange reserve hit an all-time high of 26.18 billion U.S. dollars at the end of August, said a central bank official here the other day. A Bangladesh Bank official, who preferred to be unnamed, said foreign currency reserves reached a new milestone last month, reflecting the country’s strength in the economy. According to the official, the country’s foreign exchange reserves stood at 26,175.34 million
U.S. dollars on Aug. 31 after reaching at 25,464.28 million U.S. dollars in July. Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves on Aug. 17 touched the 26 billion U.S. dollars mark for the first time. Bangladesh, with a population of around 153 million, needs a reserve of some 10 billion U.S. dollars to meet its import bills for three months in light of an internationally accepted standard.
ajor-General Mansur AlTurki, Saudi Ministry of Interior Security spokesman, paid tribute to the UAE authorities for their pre-emptive efforts to foil attempts by narcotics networks to smuggle heroin into Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. Al-Turki said that there are a solid and close cooperation between Saudi security forces and customs authorities and their counterparts in the GCC and other Arab countries. Meanwhile, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates said that with improvement of situations and acheivement of nuclear deal (between Iran and G5+1), trade exchanges between the two countries will double in the future. Mohammad Reza Fayyaz told that trade exchanges between the two countries in 2014 stood at 18 billion dollars. He added that trade between the two states is so dynamic that it is equal to or even more than Iran’s total trade with several other countries. Fayyaz said that trade balance last year was positive infavor
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of the UAE, but Iran will try to tilt the balance in its favor although it is tough task. He added that the UAE market is suitable for trade, tourism and technical-engineering services of Khorasan Razavi Province. The ambassador promised to render every kind of assistances to Iranian businessmen to enter such important competitive market. Fayyaz is in Mashad to attend a ceremony marking the launching of direct Tlight by the Emirate Airline between Mashad and Dubai. Meanwhile, A Dubai-based gold and jewellery retailer has defaulted on loans worth about 500 million dirhams ($136.2 million), with banks considering options including legal action to retrieve the money, four banking and trade sources told Reuters. The non-payment by Atlas Jewellery, which has more than 50 branches across the Gulf and in India, affects at least 15 banks, the sources said on condition of anonymity because the information isn’t public. It was not clear why Atlas Jewellery had failed to honour its debts. Company ofTicials declined to comment and Reuters was unable to contact the company’s owner, M.M. Ramachandran.
Singapore’s pMi drops to 49.3 in Aug ingapore’s manufacturing contracted further in August, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropping to 49.3, down from 49.7 in the previous month, said the Singapore Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management here the other day. This is the second consec-
utive month of contraction, and the drop is mainly due to further drop in new orders, new export orders, production output as well as input prices. A reading above 50 in the PMI indicates an expansion in the manufacturing sector, whereas a reading below 50 suggests contraction.
Hong kong’s property sales fall 29% in August
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ong Kong’s Land Registry recorded 5,197 sale and purchase agreements for all building units in August, down 29.2 percent on July and down 34.2 percent year-on- year, it said here on Wednesday.
The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in August was 38.1 billion HK dollars (about 4.9 billion U.S. dollars) , down 31.2 percent on July and down 27.3 percent year-on-year. Among the sale and purchase agreements, 3,896 were for residential units, down 27.8 percent on the previous month and down 37.3 percent compared with August, 2014. The total considera-
tion for residential units was 31.1 billion HK dollars, down 30.3 percent compared with July and 26.1 percent less than August, 2014. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Customs seized about 4 kilograms of suspected drugs in Tsim Sha Tsui and arrested smuggler. The market value of the drugs was about $650,000 in total. Customs ofTicers last night intercepted a man in Tsim Sha Tsui
and found a small amount of suspected cannabis buds on him. He was later escorted to a premises at Cameron Road for a search and more suspected drugs were found. In total, about 2.5kg of suspected cannabis buds, 1.3kg of suspected cannabis resin, 100 grams of suspected “Ice”, 50g of suspected cocaine and 50g of suspected MDMA powder were seized.
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Port of Osaka’s cargo traffic falls in May OSAKA: Cargo traffic at Port of Osaka in western Japan fell 13.9% year on year (y/y) in May to 6.205 million tonnes as both domestic trade and foreign trade shrank sharply. The preliminary figures were released by the Osaka municipal government on 31 August. Of the total cargo traffic in May, 2.721 million tonnes came from foreign trade, down 9.0% y/y, and the remaining 3.483 million tonnes came from domestic trade, down 17.5% y/y. Of the 2.721 million tonnes, the Port of Osaka exported 816,711 tonnes of cargo, up 3.9% y/y, and imported 1.904 million tonnes of cargo, down 13.5% y/y. The Port of Osaka handled 172,570 teu of containers in May, down 12.1% y/y.
Worldwide 4K2K LCD TV panel shipment volume grow 60.8% in Q2 of 2015
Ports & Shipping
Friday September 04, 2015
Queensland govt rules out major development of port in cairns
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orldwide 4K2K LCD TV panel shipment volume grew 60.8% sequentially in the second quarter of 2015, reaching around 9.2 million units, according to MIC (Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute), a Taipei-based ICT institute. Korean vendors’ shipment share rose to 61% from 54%, with shipment volume growing 80% sequentially. Samsung enjoyed the highest sequential growth at 105% with 3.3 million shipment volume, enlarging its gap with LGD and becoming the world’s No.1 panel vendor for 4K2K LCD TVs. The majority of Samsung’s shipped panels were 55and 48-inch, together accounting for 70% of its total shipments, followed by 40-inch panels at 20%. “The significant growth can be attributed to changes in the company’s pricing strategies for 4K2K TVs,” explains Brian Chen, senior industry analyst with MIC.
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Par pharma commences shipments of generic Androgel bbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced that it has begun shipping testosterone gel 1%. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously approved Par’s Abbreviated New Drug Application for the product. Testosterone gel 1% is the generic version of AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) AndroGel 1% and is indicated for replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone. Par previously entered into a settlement and license agreement and consent decree that permit Par to launch the product at this time, which is five years earlier than the expiration of the relevant patent.
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he Queensland government has ruled out major development of a port in Cairns that would jeopardise Australia’s pledge to Unesco to limit industrial impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. A parliamentary committee on Tuesday recommended the government consider making Cairns a “priority port”, which would pave the way for capital dredging to enable shipping channels. But the minister for state development, Anthony Lynham, said the government would not waver on its commitment to limit industrial development to four other ports as part of its conservation plan to keep the reef off the world heritage “in danger” list. “I appreciate the committee’s consideration of the [sustainable ports development bill] and their report will be considered in full and in detail,” he said. “However, the government will not divert from elements of the bill which form part of our Reef 2050
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plan. “The Queensland and Australian governments committed to Unesco for only four priority regional ports, and that commitment must stand.” The infrastructure, planning and natural resources committee moved unanimously for the government to consider adding Cairns to the “priority” list, weighing up the economic beneTits to the region beside impacts on the reef and its commitment to Unesco. The UN’s world heritage committee decided last month not to list the reef as in danger but noted that “restrictions on port development and its associated activities such as the disposal of dredged material” were
among promises that “require translation into legislation”. “The world heritage committee welcomes … limiting capital dredging for the development of new or expansion of existing port facilities to within the regulated port limits of the major ports of Gladstone, Hay Point/Mackay, Abbot Point and Townsville,” it said. WWF Australia reef campaigner Richard Leck said Lynham’s statement was welcome. “It would be a breach of trust and a signiTicant risk to the world heritage status of the reef were Queensland to go back on its commitment and expand its priority ports from four to Tive,” Leck said.
new england’s ports seek to stage comeback
he noise and bustle of nearby neighborhoods fade away at New Haven’s sprawling port. An oil and chemical tanker Tloats placidly at a dock. A tug pushes a barge out in Long Island Sound. Only occasionally do trucks rumble up to a scrap metal business or deliver materials for road work. What was a key port for lumber and other goods dating to Colonial
perations at Mumbai Port Trust were completely stopped due to the national strike today, but cargo handling at country’s largest container port JNPT across the harbour was only partially hit as operations continued in its two private terminals. “Both NSICT-DP World and GTI-APM Terminals are working as normal and the liquid terminal is also unaffected. For the container terminal operated by us, we had prepared a contingency plan and offloaded all the cargo in advance itself,” JNPT chairman Neeraj Bansal told PTI. He said around 1,400 workers at the port, a majority of them handling operations at its own terminal, have not reported to work today while 300 officers are at port. The port is hoping that workers will join midway through the second shift, as the single day strike ends, Bansal said, adding that in the worst scenario, he does not expect an impact in cargo handling of over 2,000 standard container units because of the strike. All-India Ports & Docks Workers Association secretary and Mumbai Port Trust employee Uday Choudhary said a majority of the 12,000 employees at one of the oldest ports in the country have abstained from work, halting operations completely. No official from MbPT was immediately available for comment. Choudhary said the port employees are protesting against corporatisation of major ports announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the budget, to stop hiring workers on contracts and also for pension benefits.
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Operations at Mumbai Port Trust completely stop due to national strike
times is, like other New England ports, facing a reckoning after a lengthy decline. In the region that nurtured the beginnings of New World commerce with whaling, Tishing and shipbuilding, state and local governments are taking stock of aging infrastructure at deep-water ports. As they move to stake out their share of global trade, the challenge is how to stay relevant
in an age of ever-larger ships. “There are so few people who know about our deep-water ports,” said Judith Scheiffele, executive director of the New Haven Port Authority. “I think it’s kind of taken for granted.” New England’s ports saw their national rankings in terms of total trade plummet since the 1970s, a trend that only accelerated with the Great Recession.
feasibility to be carried out to develop kuala Tanjung port
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ROTTERDAM
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he Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed a partnership agreement with the Indonesian Port Corporation Pelindo I in Medan, North Sumatra, for the development of the new deep sea port Kuala Tanjung. The port authority will now carry
out a feasibility study for the new port together with Pelindo I. A project organization will be created for this purpose that will include a number of the port authority’s employees locally and based in Rotterdam. Depending on the outcome of this feasibility study, the authority will assess whether it will enter into a joint venture with Pelindo I for the further realization of the port. CEO Allard Castelein signed the
agreement on behalf of the Port Authority: “We want to share our knowledge in the construction, development and management of Kuala Tanjung. We are conTident that the Port Authority and Pelindo I will form a strong team that will serve the country and provide for a better future.” Castelein will take part in a Rotterdam delegation that will travel through Indonesia under the leader-
ship of Ahmed Aboutaleb. The Mayor of Rotterdam was present during the signing and indicated that he hoped that new port will create many new jobs in Sumatra. “This is a good opportunity to develop new activities and to attract investors.” Kuala Tanjung is a newly to be developed port near the city of Medan located in the Strait of Malacca, one of the most important shipping routes in the world.
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Quetta Customs seized huge quantity of charas KARACHI: Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigations Quetta, during a successful operation, has seized a huge quantity of fine quality charas. Sources told Customs Today that DG Customs Intelligence and Investigations received information that a huge quantity of charas is being smuggled through a car and high roof vehicle. After receiving the tip, Director Customs Intelligence constituted a raiding party who intercepted a white Toyota Corolla car on Quetta Chaman Road.
Friday, September 04, 2015
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Hyderabad ASO seizes 14,000 litres of smuggled Iranian diesel KARACHI
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he Model Customs Collectorate Hyderabad has seized 14 thousand litres of Iranian diesel oil worth Rs 1.4 million near Hyderabad city. Sources told Customs Today that Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation received credible information that a huge quantity of Iranian diesel was being smuggled from Karachi to Mirpur Khas. On receiving the information, the ASO constituted a special team to thwart this attempt. The special team intercepted an oil tanker and seized 14,000 litres of Iranian diesel oil. The market value of that conTiscated Iranian diesel is estimated to be around Rs 1.4 million. The ASO team arrested two accused persons namely Khan Zaman, and Ishaq Khan on the spot. It is pertinent to mention here that the ASO has seized 97,000 litres of Iranian diesel during the last Tive months in different crackdowns. Meanwhile, 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.
KP NAB arrests suspect involve in transfer of property worth millions PESHAWAR
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he National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has arrested Khiyal Ahmed, a private person, who allegedly transferred property worth millions of rupees in connivance with officers of the Revenue Department Peshawar. As per details, the matter
was brought into the notice of NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities. Taking cognizance of the matter, an inquiry was launched to ascertain the real facts and collect requisite evidence regarding the subject matter. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that in the year 1991 Supreme Court on a reference of Custom court had forfeited the property worth millions of rupees in the name of Ayub Afridi, his sons and nephews. The accused Khiyal Muham-
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mad fraudulently transferred the forfeited property in his name through the active connivance of officers the Revenue Department and thus tried to pave the way for Ayub Afridi to retake forfeited property. NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is actively perusing the case and more alarming facts and names of some high profile persons are expected to come forth in the scam. The accused person will be produced before Accountability Court Peshawar for obtaining their physical remand.