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Vol 1 Issue No. 154

Karachi, Thu August 6, 2015

LAHORE

M HAYAT

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akistan customs ofRicials left for India to attend 19th Customs Border Liaison Committee (CBLC). According to details, Central region Chief Collector of Customs Rozi Khan Burki, Collector of Customs Lahore Preventive Mukarram Jah Ansari, Additional Collector of Customs Wagha Sadi Munib, Assistant Collector Ap-

Price Rs. 14.00

praisement will attend the CBLC meeting in India.

The delegation will be led by the chief collector of customs. The CBLC meeting is being held between the two countries after every two month one after other in Pakistan and India to streamline major trade related issues on both sides of the Wahaga border. Earlier, CLBC had met during May 2015 in Lahore Customs House in order to discuss cross border Customs related issues to make bilateral trade between the two countries more subtle and cost effective.

CollectorSaleemlaudsAppraisementWestforRs17.204binJuly

No plan to freeze non-filers’ accounts: Shahid Asad

Customs Appraisement East collects Rs 22.575b in July

Faisalabad ASO impounds non-duty paid Toyota Hiace

CollectorTariq orders completion of Eduljee Dinshaw Road

The MCC-AppraisementWest has collected at least Rs 17.204 billion | See pAge 02 |

The FBR has denied any planning to freeze bank accounts of non-filers | See pAge 03 |

The MCC-Appraisement East has collected Rs 22.575 billion | See pAge 04 |

TheCustomsASOJhanghasimpounded aToyotaHiaceVanworthRs1.2million | See pAge 03 |

MCC-PreventiveCollectorSyed MuhammadTariqHudahasinstructed | See pAge 12 |

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Puerto Rico fails to make $58m debt payment Thursday, August 6, 2015

National

SAN JUAN: The government of Puerto Rico has confirmed that it failed to make a US$58 million debt payment that was due Saturday, a significant escalation of the debt crisis facing the United States island territory.

Puerto Rican officials had warned that they would not make the payment because the island legislature failed to appropriate the funds, but they argued it should not be considered a default.

Moody’s Investor Service said the missed payment was the first in what it believes will be broad defaults on commonwealth debt.

collector Saleem lauds Appraisement west for collecting rs 17.204b in July

ApAT asks khalid pervaiz to call off his strike on 5 August LAHORE

M iMrAn MeHAr

KARACHI

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AfTAB cHAnnA

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ll-Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran has written an open letter to Khalid Pervaiz, urging him to call off his August 5 strike call against withholding tax.

It has argued in the letter that the unsuccessful strike will damage the cause of the traders who, it said, had staged a successful shutter-down strike from Khyber to Karachi on August 1, 2015. On the other hand, while addressing a press conference, Khalid Pervaiz, Haji Maqsood Butt and others urged the traders to withdraw all their money from banks in support of their August 5 strike. In another press conference at the Lahore Press Club the leadership of APAT, including president Ajmal Baloch, chairman Haji Shafiq, central general secretary Naeem Mir, said they would not participate in the strike on August 5 that has been called by Khalid Pervaiz group.

The press conference was also attended by other trading community leaders, including Ashraf Bhatti, Agha Adnan, Babar Butt, Unsar Zahoor Butt, Mushtaq Ahmed, Abdul Wadood Alvi, Malik Tahir, Alti Nusrat Butt, Mian Tariq Feroze, Malik Kalim and Mian Khalil.

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he Model Customs Collectorate MCC-Appraisement West has collected at least Rs 17.204 billion in the very Rirst month of the new Riscal year 20152016, it is learnt.

According to details, though the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is yet to allot the revenue collection targets to the MCC Appraisement, MCC East, MCC Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and MCC Exports. However, despite that the revenue collection target is much higher.

At all, the MCC-Appraisement collected Rs 17.204 billion under the head of duties/taxes and out of which Rs 5.84 billion as customs duty, Rs 7.199 billion as sales tax, Rs 640 million as additional sales tax, Rs 3.371 billion as income tax and 140.78 million as federal excise duty. The sources told Customs Today that the revenue collection report for the month of July 2015 had been sent to Collector MCC-Appraisement West Muhammad Saleem who reportedly appreciated the customs ofRicials’ efforts for the higher revenue.

Meanwhile, Collector of Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-West, Muhammad Saleem has appreciated the efforts of ofRicials for surpassing the revenue target of

Rs 217.40 billion for the Riscal year 2014-15.

In this regard, a high level meeting was held at the conference room of the MCC Appraisement-West with Collector-MCC Appraisement-West Muhammad Saleem in the chair on Wednesday.

The meeting among others was attended by additional collectors, deputy collectors and appraisers.

The collector lauded the efforts of Appraisement-West and hoped that these efforts would continue too in the future to ensure maximum contribution to the national exchequer in terms of taxes, sources told Customs Today.

The sources said that the tax collection target had been achieved successfully Rifteen days before the closure of Rinancial year 2014-15

and the target was surpassed, adding that the MCC AppraisementWest had been meeting the revenue target for past few years i.e. Rs 191 billion in FY2013-14.

“The ofRicials of the MCC-Appraisement-West had held auctions of the conRiscated goods thrice a month after passage of ten days at regular interval at the AICT, West Wharf and KICT”, sources added.

Customs Appraisement East collects Rs 22.575b in July KARACHI

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he Model Customs Collectorate MCC-Appraisement East has collected Rs 22.575 billion in the Rirst month of the new Riscal year 2015-2016.

According to details, the MCC-Appraisement East has collected du-

ties/taxes under the head of customs duty, sales tax, withholding tax and federal excise duty.

The MCC-Appraisement East collected Rs 149.19 million on July 1, 2015; Rs 585.10 million on July 2; Rs 802.78 million on July 3; Rs 510.99 million on July 4; Rs 615.17 million on July 6; Rs 1,377.84 million on July 7; Rs 856.12 million on July 8; Rs 798.42 million on July 9; Rs 949.82 million on July 10; Rs 502.24 million on July 11; Rs 1,003.63 million on July 13; Rs 914.05 million on July

14; Rs 843.37 million on July 15; Rs 836.71 million on July 16; Rs 992.75 million July 22; Rs 1,633.53 million on July 23; Rs 2,143.53 million on July 24; Rs 858.70 million on July 25; Rs 1,232.95 million on July 27; Rs 1,480.91 million on July 28; Rs 1,157.78 million on July 29; Rs 1,247.24 million on July 30 and Rs 1,082.79 million on July 31, 2015.

Meanwhile, Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-East Collector Manzoor Hussain Memon has made adjudication proceedings

mandatory in the cases of mis-declaration of PCT classiRication, which attracts higher rate of duty under Section 32 of the Customs Act, 1969 read with SRO 499(I)/2009 dated 13-06-2009. According to details, in terms of sub-clause(e) of Serial No 1 of SRO 499(I)/2009 dated 13-062009 where the ascertained PCT classiRication attracts higher rate of duty, redemption Rine on customs value at the rate of 20 percent is prescribed. The Appraisement-East observed that the assessing ofRicers

are not applying the aforementioned legal provision strictly and are using their discretion in making cases on the misuse of PCT classiRication. The aforesaid act of assessing ofRicers is against the spirit of law; rather it is tantamount to collusion for evasion of government revenue in the head of Rine and penalty, the order further stated.

It stated that to curb this illegal practice, “it is directed that, henceforth, in all such cases where an importer mis-declares PCT classiRication.

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Cement export to India up by 2.82% to 696,417 tons in FY13-14 LAHORE: The export of local cement export to India has increased by 2.82 per cent to 696,417 tons from 677,306 tons during the fiscal year 2013-14.

However, the overall cement exports during June 2015 were 552,000 tons against 688,000 tons during June 14, reflecting the massive decline of 19.77pc. Total despatches during the corresponding month were 3.266 million tons as compared to 3.225 million tons during the same month last year, showing a marginal increase of 1.27pc, mainly affected due to the substantial downfall in exports.

Multancustoms collectsrevenueofrs 2191.581minJuly MULTAN

Thursday August 6, 2015

National

no plan to freeze non-filers’ accounts: Shahid Asad

iMrAn ALi

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he Model Customs Collectorate Multan has collected Rs 2191.581 million during the month of July, 2015. The Model Customs Collectorate Multan has collected the customs duty of Rs 237.471 million during the first month of fiscal year 2015-16. During the last fiscal year 2014-15, the MCC Multan had collected Rs 166.824 million customs duty. The Model Customs Collectorate Multan has witnessed increase in collection up to 42.35 percent as compared to previous fiscal year 2014-15. Almost Rs 1905.25 million sales taxes have collected by the model of customs collectorate Multan.

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Six top customs officials assume charges after transfer ISLAMABAD

SHAHiD MinHAS

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everal top officials of Federal Board of Revenue’s Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) have assumed/relinquished charges of their respective posts after transfer.

Muhammad Nazim Saleem, a PCS officer of BS-21, assumed the charge of the post of Member, FBR (HQ) after relinquishing the charge of the post of Chief Collector, Chief Collector (Enforcement), Karachi, on August 4, 2015. Imtiaz Ahmad Khan (PCS/BS21) has assumed the charge of the post of Director General, Directorate General of IPR, Lahore. He relinquished the charge of the post of Director, Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation, FBR, Lahore.

Abdul Rashid Sheikh (PCS/BS-21) assumed the charge of the post of Chief Collector (Customs), Appraisement (South), Karachi.

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ISLAMABAD

SHAHiD MinHAS

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he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has denied any planning to freeze bank accounts of non-Rilers in order to deduct taxes.

Shahid Hussain Asad, Senior Member Inland Revenue-Policy and OfRicial Spokesman of the FBR, said that there was no such a policy in pipeline to freeze bank accounts of non-Rilers as All Pakistan Truck Trailer Motor Owners Association president Lala Yasir Naseer and Goods Transport leader Nabeel Tariq claimed in a press conference here on Monday.

He said that 0.3 percent tax on bank transactions was only an advance tax on non-Rilers and non-Rilers could become “Riler” at any time by submitting their income tax returns. It may be mentioned that the federal government had decided to reduce the withholding tax on more than Rs 50,000 bank transactions a day for non-Rilers from 0.6 percent to 0.3 percent for three months following the countrywide protests by the business community, subject to Riling of returns by traders during the same period.

Meanwhile, he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is planning to introduce electronic monitoring system to evaluate the production of different sectors in order to collect accurate taxes from them.

As per details, a meeting was arranged under the supervision of FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa to make consideration over the electronic monitoring system, while four sectors including sugar, cement, beverages and papers and board were selected at initial stage to keep an eye on their production.

Senior Member Inland Revenue Policy, Shahid Hussain Assad, Member IR Muhammad Ashraf Khan, other member and director generals of FBR attended the meeting where

the professional abilities and capacity of the ofRicials were also re-

it may be mentioned that the federal government had decided to reduce the withholding tax on more than rs 50,000 bank transactions a day for non-filers from 0.6 percent to 0.3 percent for three months

ASO impounds non-duty paid Toyota Hiace

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he Customs Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Jhang has impounded a Toyota Hiace Van worth Rs 1.2 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 455,640.

An ASO team, following the directions of Assistant Collector Model Customs Collectorate, Umer Bin Zafer Chattah, intercepted a vehicle bearing Registration No. LES-

8615 at Faisalabad Road, Jhang.

The ofRicials asked the driver namely Sajjad Hussain to produce the documents showing the legal possession of the vehicle. But he could not show any documents on which the customs ofRicials took the vehicle into custody under Section 156 (I) of the Customs Act 1969.

The ofRicials asked the driver namely Sajjad Hussain to produce the documents showing the legal possession of the vehicle. But he

could not show any documents on which the customs ofRicials took the vehicle into custody under Section 156 (I) of the Customs Act 1969.

On the other hand, ASO has sent contravention report in this regard to the Customs Adjudication for further legal proceedings.

ASO team comprising Superintendent Zahid Raza Bukhari, Inspectors Asghar Mehdi Naqvi, Shouqat Khan, Mujahid Abbas and other participated in the raid.

viewed. The high ups showed satisfaction over that FBR ofRicials have proper understanding about the above mentioned four sectors.

The chairman and others participants of the meeting were briefed about the systems, while the Rinal decision regarding the instalment of the system would be taken in upcoming sessions in this regard. Sources said that FBR had decided to establish electronic monitoring system following the analytical reports presented by ofRicials over the production of sugar, cement.

Traders reject govt offer for talks raders have rejected the government call for holding dialog on withholding tax, however, dialogue between the Federal Board of Revenue and chambers’representative has completed. According to details, the government has invited traders for talks on the issue ofWHT tax on bank transactions but traders have rejected the call and did not join the meeting held in the FBR headquarter on Monday.

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Govt giving priority to development in Balochistan: PM Thursday, August 6, 2015

Business

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said that government has given priority to development in Baluchistan as it would play a central role in progress of the country.

Talking to Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch who called on the Prime Minister here at the PM House, he said Balochistan was the main beneficiary of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Chief Minister Balochistan briefed the Prime Minister about the development projects and security situation of the province.

0.3% withholding tax: Traders mark another strike day today LAHORE

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espite announcement of calling off strike by different traders’ bodies, a large number of businessmen and goods transporters under the banner of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Khalid Pervaiz Group have announced to observe countrywide strike today (Wednesday) against the imposition of 0.3 per cent withholding tax on banking transac-

tions on non-filers.

This is the third time in two weeks when the traders are observing strike across the country.

All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, led

by Naeem Mir, also marked strike day on Aug 1 against the undue taxation measures of the government.

The Khalid Pervaiz’s faction had also observed a strike at the end of July when it successfully closed down wholesale markets of Punjab against the imposition of the WHT. Their successful strike compelled the government to revisit its decision. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, after that strike, held a meet-

close market on Aug 5. He claimed that more than 50 trade bodies have announced to join the shutter down on August 5 (today).

Meanwhile, Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Ijaz A Mumtaz said that strikes would cause undue damage to the economic activities and hit the government efforts aimed at progress and prosperity of the country hard.

He said that government would have to solve the issue through negotiation to deter the traders from more strikes.He said that government would have to solve the issue through negotiation to deter the traders from more strikes.

cng association flays collection of ‘higher’ taxes

govt striving to revive country’s economy: president ISLAMABAD

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ISLAMABAD

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resident Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said the government is striving hard to revive country’s economy and its policies are in right direction. The policies of the present government are producing positive results, the President said addressing the Best Achievement Awards Ceremony of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

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ing with traders in which the withholding tax was halved but was not revoked fully.

However, the said group of traders had refused to accept the government’s decision and had given a countrywide strike call for August 5.Khalid Pervaiz has declared that the country will see another historic shutter down on Wednesday. He said his group is being supported by transporters organizations, Karachi’s major trade bodies and Balochistan’s whole business community. He informed that traders of Balochistan did not observe shutter down on last Saturday and announced to

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he owners of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations have expressed concerns over collection of ‘higher’ sales and income taxes from the industry.

The representative of people related to CNG business said that due to these taxes the industry cannot be run smoothly.

All Pakistan CNG Association President Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, in a statement, alleged that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been ‘illegally’ collecting enhanced sales tax and income tax from the CNG industry. He said that a delay in addressing the tax issue would exacerbate problems for all stakeholders and, therefore, it must be resolved on a priority basis.

Paracha said that the Supreme Court had directed the government to slash sales tax on the CNG industry from 26% to 17%, but it was not followed. Rather, a deceptive for-

mula was introduced that showed sales tax at 17% but its impact on CNG station operators was not less than 32%.

Meanwhile, The government is planning to establish capital market business hubs in the cities having small industries and attracting foreign remittances.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) had recommended the government to set up business hubs in the cities such as Mirpur, Abbottabad, Sialkot, Dhadial etc to expand the outreach of capital market.

pak scientists asked to produce new ‘healthy’mango varieties MULTAN

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he country’s scientists have been asked to produce new varieties of mango, maintaining the local taste to attract the foreign buyers and boost the country’s economy.

Punjab Special Secretary Agriculture Gulzar Hussain Shah, during his visit to different sections of Mango Research Institute (MRI), said that the scientists should develop mango varieties having good nutritional value, exotic taste and aroma, good shape & colour, more pulp and smaller stone and a stronger connecting branch so it does not fall due to duststorm.

According to a release issued by Punjab Agriculture Department, Gulzar said that the varieties having exotic taste, better shelf life & quality and good nutritional value can penetrate lucrative foreign markets like Japan, USA and European Union.

MRI Director Mushtaq Ahmad Alvi disclosed that two new mango varieties including‘Azeemo’and‘Sindhri Late’were being introduced, which he added matched international standards and possessed good export potential.

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Ministers brief farmers about Rs20b subsidy on DAP ISLAMABAD

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ith the aim to ensure smooth disbursement of Rs20 billion subsidy on Phosphatic & Potassic Fertilizers, speciRically diammonium

phosphate (DAP), the federal ministers have called on farmers and stakeholders to discuss the ways of implementation of announced subsidy.

According to a handout, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi and Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan briefed

the delegations on the package which will give relief to farmers all across the country. Jatoi stated that a mechanism had to be evolved to ensure that the subsidy actually reaches the farmers. He also mentioned that the Government of Pakistan announced in the federal budget 201516 to give subsidy of Rs 20 billion on Phosphatic / Potassic Fertilizers.

Various proposals were discussed to reach consensus on a viable arrangement that ensured transparency as well as high visibility and enforcement of the initiative. The Ministry reiterated that pricing must be made prominent and transparent by all fertilizer companies and they must ensure provision of updated price lists to dealers who will guarantee their

prominent display.

Moreover, any change in price will be communicated by companies to provincial governments and National Fertilizer Development Centres (NFDCs).

The Minister stressed that companies need to make sure dealers refrain from overcharging and appropriate action must be taken against dealers who have over-

charged farmers.

Meanwhile, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has discovered huge oil reserves in Lower Sakessar area of District Chakwal. The OGDCL made discovery of signiRicant reserves of hydrocarbons at Chak Naurange South-1 well, which initially produced 180 barrels per day of crude oil with jet pump.

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LAHORE M HAYAT www.customsbulletin.com extile millers will not pay any additional tax or Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC), All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman S M Tanveer has said.

Addressing a press conference after presiding over a general body meeting of the association, he said that his association will knock the door of the court against the government steps.

The Pakistan’s textile industry cannot compete in the world if Rs 38 billion GIDC, Rs 72 billion surcharge and Rs 65 billion innovation tax are imposed on the industry for nothing.” Tanveer deferred the August 7 strike of the textile industry after assurance by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that e il t x e ’s t n a t is k their problems a p e h T ete p m will be reo c t o n n a solved by Auindustry c s 38 gust 31. He the world if r

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in s 72 billion r , c iD g n o li bil d rs 65 surcharge an tax are ation billion innov industry he imposed on t g.” for nothin

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

said that the general body of the association has given him the mandate of calling off the strike for a month.

“We will call another general body meeting on September 4, 2015 to decide whether to hold strike for one day or indeRinite period in case the government failed to resolve industry issues,” he said.

“I have my full conRidence on the pro-industry approach of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and the federal Rinance minister Ishaq Dar,” he added.

He said the association has decided to defer the strike for a month on the request of the federal Rinance minister who has constituted four committees to resolve industry issues. “The Rirst meeting of these committees will be held on Thursday,” he said.

He said these four committees have been constituted to tackle the issues relating to the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Water and Power, Ministry of Oil and Gas and the Federal Board of Revenue.

“Already, we have made a detailed presentation on the industry issues to the federal commerce minister Khurram Dastgir and the senate’s standing committee on textile.

He said all the participants of these meetings have agreed that the textile mills are being closed down due to the wrong policies of the government.

“The government has burdened the textile industry with Rs 38 billion Gas Infrastructure Development Cess, Rs 78 billion electricity surcharge and Rs 65 billion innovative taxes,” he said.

“The total impact of this burden comes around Rs 157 billion per annum, which is 12 percent of the sales of the industry.”

He said the textile millers were unable to bear this burden and compete in the region. “The federal Rinance minister has also agreed that the textile industry has become uncompetitive in the region.”

He said the textile exports have increased by 230 percent in Vietnam, 160 percent in Bangladesh, 97 percent in China and 94 percent in India during 2006 – 2013. On the other hand, Pakistan textile industry has registered a growth of merely 22 percent during the same period, which is even less than the world average increase of 44 percent. He said the viability of the textile industry has been challenged because of the undue burden and jobs of 15 million workers are at stake.

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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

Augmentation of textile woes

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he culture of forming committees on pressing issues is the best option for the government to delay any solution. Textile exports of the country have been falling for the last five years as its share of trade has fallen from 2.2 percent to 1.8 percent in the global market.

If the prevailing trend continues, the share of textile trade will fall to 1.5 percent in the next five years.

After a meeting with the representatives of the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has constituted a committee to resolve the issues of the textile industry. This vital industry is facing many challenges, including imposition of surcharge on electricity bills, settlement of sales tax refunds, anomalies in tax system and unbridled yarn import. Dar assures the businessmen that the matter of sales tax refund would be resolved on priority basis and seeks the filing of refund claims by August 31. According to experts the rising cost of doing business has adversely affected the textile exports despite achieving GSP-Plus status from the European Union.

The Senate Standing Committee on Textile Industry has blamed the energy crisis as a major cause of decline in overall domestic productivity, including textile output. It also led to decline in foreign direct investment.

According to All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Chairman SM Tanveer, the government will collect Rs 72 billion under tariff rationalization surcharge, Rs 38 billion under Gas Infrastructure Development Cess and Rs 60 billion from export of textile products. The government policies are adding to the woes of the textile industry as billions of rupees refund claims are pending with the finance ministry. According to the association, the cost of doing business in Pakistan is much higher than its competitors such as China, India and Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s share of textile products in the global market was 2.2 percent five years ago, which is also not admirable as the country is a major cotton producer in the world and it should have a lion share in the global market.

Bangladesh has leading garment industry whereas Pakistan is also not less than any country with highest production capacity.

The textile manufacturers need maximum facilities and minimum risks to compete in the world market. Therefore, the government needs to overcome energy crisis and introduce tax relief for the textile industry.

Many Chinese business tycoons are willing to establish joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts and this could be only possible when security situation is improved, tax relief is given and energy crisis is over.

Businessmen strike again T

LAHORE

Dr AfTAB AfZAL

www.customstoday.com

he traders across the country held a successful shutter-down strike to protest against the imposition of withholding tax on bank transactions. Most of the markets in major cities and towns remained closed despite differences among the trade bodies on the schedule of the strike.

On another note, the government has offered various incentives to the non-filers to bring them into the tax net. The newly registered taxpayers will be exempted from audit for three years if they would agree to declare their assets and income.

The government is also considering introducing a tax amnesty scheme for non-filers, but the traders look these steps as an attempt to divide the business community.

The traders have shown unity

against the government attempt to document their income and assets by observing the countrywide strike. No doubt broadening of the tax net and documentation of the economy remained major challenges for the successive governments in Islamabad. In principle, the government has the every right to impose any tax, but in practical, its tax policy is always marred by flaws and frictions and it hits snags at the implementation stage.

It is really crazy to implement right decision through wrong methods and this has been routinely happened in Pakistan since its inception. During the Ziaul Haq’s era, the Zakat ordinance was issued and banks were told to deduct Zakat from every account without realizing that not all the Pakistanis are Muslims and not all the Muslims are liable to pay Zakat.

There are certain conditions for the deduction of Zakat, but the banks were told to deduct Zakat even if the money

Govt also considering introducing tax amnesty scheme for non-filers, but traders look these steps as an attempt to divide them

is deposited a day earlier in an account.

The government has imposed TV fees on every electricity connection and TV fee is collected even if the connection is in a graveyard.

Thousands of Pakistanis are working abroad and send billions of dollars remittances and they are also made liable to pay withholding tax on bank transactions.

The government is administrating wrong pill to cure the patient. The Federal Board of Revenue has started an initiative to purge the department of corrupt elements, but this is a process and not a real-time solution.

There are businessmen who earn billions of rupees but do not pay tax and there are government officials who lead luxury life much beyond their sources of income at the cost of taxpayers’ money. Unless a system of check and balance is enforced, blind steps from the government would not serve any purpose.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce fights anti-smoking laws worldwide The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it turns out, actively campaigns against anti-tobacco laws in countries around the world. They reported that the national business lobbying organization, along with its foreign affiliates, has become “the hammer for the tobacco industry, engaging in a worldwide effort to fight antismoking laws of all kinds.” Often without disclosing their tie to tobacco companies, the Chamber or its affiliates lobby against tobacco control by intimating costly litigation for alleged trademark infringement and threatening the loss of international investment while raising dubious questions about the science behind well-proven strategies. They pit countries against each other. The Chamber requested, for example, that Ukraine file an action against Australia before the World Health Organization over one of Australia’s tobacco control laws.

Lcci exhorts govt to resolve wHT through talks he Lahore Chamber of Commerce & IndustryTuesday feared that calls for strikes would cause undue damage to the economic activities and hit the government efforts aimed at progress and prosperity of the country.

In a statement issued here, LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz said that the government would have to solve the issue through negotiation to deter the traders from more strikes. He said the country was well on the way of economic revival and not in a position to afford strikes of the traders who were backbone of the economy.

Ijaz A Mumtaz said that results of forceful implementation of any law were always bad, therefore, the government should take business community on board and find out a solution acceptable to all the stakeholders.

He said expansion of tax net was need of the hour but the government would have to bring the untaxed sectors into the tax net. He said that measures like imposition of withholding tax on bank transactions would not be doing any service to the economy as businessmen had already started to withdraw their capital from the banks and using parallel resources. —CB Report

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gcci assures traders of full support in protest against wHT resident of Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce Khawaja Khalid Hassan remarked that he stands with traders in protest.

Traders in major cities of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Multan are observing strike in protest against imposition of 0.3% withholding tax on banking transactions, Dunya News reported. Goods transport and stockist unions have also joined traders in their protest.

In Karachi, major markets including Joria Bazaar, Boulton Market,Timber Market and other trade centers remained closed. Attiq Mir, the President of All Karachi Traders Union, stated that the government should withdraw withholding tax and hold talks with traders to address their concerns.

He said some clauses in the tax system are conflicting. —CB Report

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Thursday August 6, 2015

Chambers

icci to set up sports development fund for needy athletes ISLAMABAD

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slamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said the chamber has planned to set up a sports development fund to support the needy athletes.

Addressing a press conference here, the ICCI Acting President Ashfaq Chatta that the fund would be set up to acquire funding from the charity persons and utilise it for the beneRit of needy sportspersons.

He said ICC in its next executive meeting, taking place by the end of ongoing month would be discussing the organization of the fund.

Chatta, while appreciating the Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) said that the Association had always been forthcoming and supporting ICCI to organize different sports events, especially for special athletes.

“We hope the relationship between

media and the ICCI for the betterment of sports will further strengthen in the coming days,” he said. Speaking about the downfall of hockey, Chatta said the current national team had become a pale reRlection of Pakistan’s past hockey team.

The departments and other private organizations that used to work for the betterment of hockey have pulled off their hands now, which is

really unfortunate, he said.

He said funds and jobs were the dire need of players and these should be arranged for the upliftof the game.” The ICCI and all other chambers in the country are always available to save the national game,” he said.

Chatta also asked concerned authorities to focus on development of sports in the country. “There was time

FCCI threatens civil disobedience after 5th T

FAISALABAD

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he Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry also supported the traders strike.

Political parties PTI, Jamaat-eIslami, the chamber of commerce of small industries and the JUI-F also supported the cause of the traders and their separate delegations met the trader wings during the strike.

Heavy police contingent was deployed at eight bazaars around the clock tower to avert any unpleasant incident.

In Bahawalpur, shutdown was observed against the imposition of 0.3 percent tax on bank transactions with the traders call for civil disobedience if the government did not withdraw the tax.

The Punjab traders observed complete strike in most areas while partial in some areas here on Saturday against the imposition of 0.6

percent levy on bank transactions, and threatened to launch civil disobedience movement after August 5 if the decision was not withdrawn by the government.

Partial strike was observed in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Badiana, Pasrur and surrounding areas.

Shops, markets and shopping centers remained closed in inter-city bazaars including Tehsil Bazaar, Bano Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Lehaayi Bazaar, Railway Road, Mujahid Road, Karimpura Road, Kashmiri Bazaar and surroundings areas. The shopping, business and trader centres on Kashmir Road, Circular Road, Church Road, Khadim Ali Road, Gohdpur Road, Paris Road, Head Marala Road and Daska Road remained opened as per routine.

Meanwhile, Markazi Anjuman Tajraan Sialkot President Haji Mehar Ghulam Mujtaba and Secretary General Ehsanul Haq have termed the levy on bank transaction as a cutthroat for the traders.

In Faisalabad, traders’ associations observed a complete shutdown to protest against the imposition of 0.3 percent withholding tax on bank transactions.

All eight bazaars around the Clock Tower Square and other major markets in city including Satiana Road, Jaranwala Road, People’s Colony, Jhang Road and others small markets and shopping centres remained close to vent off resentment against the levy on bank transactions.

Later all trader bodies jointly threatened launching civil disobedience movement against after August 5 if their demand for the withdrawal of the withholding tax was not accepted.

Some trader groups also announced another strike on August 5.

The traders bodies said that if the government did not listen to their grievances, they would be constrained to announce strike for an indeRinite period.

when we were dominant in many sports like squash, hockey, cricket and snooker but now we are not even near that legacy now,” he said.

While praising the cricket team for their splendid win against Sri Lanka in all the formats, he said the ICC would soon host a reception for young cricketer Imad Wasim, who played a key role in against Sri Lanka in the last T20.

govttryingtosolve problemsofbusiness community:president amnoon Hussain asks business community to take benefit of govt's liberal economic, investment policies.

President Mamnoon Hussain has said the government is trying hard to solve problems of the business community.

Addressing best achievement awards ceremony of Sialkot Chamber of commerce and industry on Tuesday, he asked the business community to take benefit of government's liberal economic and investment policies.

The president said the confidence of foreign investors is restoring and they are keen to invest in Pakistan. Mamnoon Hussain asked Sialkot chamber of commerce and industry to establish a research department to remain abreast of the latest knowledge in the business and economic sector. —CB Report

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Mexico Customs discovers drug smuggling tunnel in Baja California Thursday August 6, 2015

World

MEXICO CITY: A drug smuggling tunnel coming out into a warehouse of an importexport company of various products was found by forces of the Mexican Army in Tijuana, in the state of Baja California, the press released today. Army forces are waiting for a search warrant issued by a judge to enter the property. According to local media, this tunnel adds to other three underground passages discovered in this border city in the course of 2015. Tijuana is on the border with the United States, considered the largest drug-consumer in the world.

uS customs to test new devices at airports to monitor foreigners NEWYORK

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ustoms and Border Protection ofRicers at 10 major airports across the country will test out a new wireless handheld device that collects biometric and biographic data on foreign travellers exiting the United States in real time.

The intent of the Biometric Exit Mobile Air Test, or BE-Mobile Air Test, program, which is a follow-up to two previous so-called “air exit” pilot programs, is to use that information to verify travellers’ identities, the notice said. The program will not apply to U.S. citizens and certain other international travellers are also exempted.

In those previous tests – one conducted by CBP at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and another conducted by the Transportation Security Administration at HartsRield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – federal ofRicers

canadian customs confiscates 52kg cocaine in windsor anada Border Services Agency says its officers have made a major cocaine bust at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont. CBSA says a commercial truck and trailer were sent for secondary examination where officers discovered 52 bricks of suspected cocaine inside three duffel bags and a tote located in the storage areas of the truck.

CBSA officers seized the suspected cocaine and arrested a 26-year-old Toronto man in the July 27 incident.

RCMP has charged Lavdrim Mehmeti with importing cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Mehmeti remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Windsor on Aug. 4.

Since January 2014, the CBSA says it has made 57 cocaine seizures with a combined total weight of 302 kilograms in the southern Ontario region.

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also collected Ringerprints using a mobile or portable device and biographic data from foreign travellers leaving the U.S. Although the technology used in those pilot programs, which ended six years ago, worked, the Homeland Security Department concluded that the “collection mechanisms” were too resource intensive and too costly to implement so the pilots weren’t expanded or extended.

The notice said that BE-Mobile Air Test will “signiRicantly differ” from CBP’s 2009 pilot because it will use

improved technology, enable ofRicers to receive real-time data and therefore test a different concept of operations, and will be less resource intensive, meaning the test will be conducted on fewer Rlights per week.

In the one-year pilot, CBP ofRicers will position themselves near the departure gate at pre-selected random outbound international Rlights. Once the departure process begins, the ofRicers will review a traveller’s passport or visa to determine if they are eligible to submit biometric information.

Bangladesh Customs seizes 1.8kg gold at Dhaka airport

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ustoms Intelligence ofRicials seized 1.8kg of gold at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in capital yesterday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday, ofRicials seized 714 grams of gold, worth Tk 35 lakh, from Pankaj Kumar who came from Bangkok by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines Rlight at 7:50pm. Omar Faruk, of Munshiganj and a passenger of BG87 Rlight from Malaysia, was arrested with 400 grams of gold yesterday.

Customs ofRicials challenged him when he was crossing the airport green channel and recovered gold from his luggage. Earlier, customs ofRicials seized 710 grams of gold from two passengers of a Rlight of United Airways from Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning. The passengers are Alal Uddin, 30, and Abdur Rahim, 35. OfRicials said two belt buckles made of gold, weighing 460 grams, were found in Alal Uddin’s possession.

US Customs arrests 5 smugglers with narcotics worth $1.3m

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.S. Customs and Border Protection arrest Rive alleged smugglers with a combined $1.325 million worth of narcotics in separate smuggle attempts over the weekend.

At the Port Douglas, two men were apprehended on Friday, July 31, for attempting to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of marijuana in separate incidents. A 70-year-old man was taken into custody after the ofRicers found more than 43 pounds of marijuana, worth almost $22,000, hidden in the bench seat of the Douglas man’s Ford truck. In a separate incident, a 16year-old man was apprehended after the ofRicers found 156 pounds of marijuana, valued at $78,000, concealed through the Agua Prieta, Sonora teen’s Pontiac sedan.

At the Port of Nogales, CBP arrested two Mexican nationals and a Tucson man for attempting to smuggle a combined 264 pounds of cocaine and marijuana in separate incidents through the Mariposa

crossing. On Friday, 23-year-old Jesus Abiram Orduno was arrested after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted the ofRicer of nearly 32 pounds of cocaine, worth nearly $331,000, in the rear bumper of the Tucson man’s Ford SUV. The next day, Aug. 1, 49-year-old Marco Antonio Valenzuela was apprehended after a CBP-narcoticsdetection canine alerted the ofRicers to over 73 pounds of cocaine, valued in excess of $765,000, hidden within a produce shipment in the Sinaloa, Mexico resident’s tractor-trailer. Later that day, 31-year-old Amparo Margarita Corella-Rascon was arrested after a service canine located nearly 159 pounds of marijuana, worth over $79,000, concealed through the Nogales, Sonora woman’s Toyota SUV. All the drugs and vehicles involved were processed for seizure. The suspects were referred to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

oman customs sets alarm to curb fuel smuggling at border

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s alarm bells ring about possibly more smuggling of Omani fuel into the UAE, prominent members of Majlis Al Shura have once again called for measures to curb exploitation of Oman’s resources.

Sultan bin Majid Al Ibri, Majlis Al Shura member representing the Wilayat of Ibri, has questioned the rationale behind opening three Rilling stations in Al Rawda in the Wilayat of Mahda in Buraimi, a border area with Dubai, which has a very small population. “These locations are much sought after as there is a huge market on the other side of the border,” he noted. Similarly, TawRiq Al Lawati, another Majlis Al Shura member repre-

senting the Wilayat of Muttrah, has also questioned the need for three Rilling stations near Hatta on the road to Dubai, noting that less than 500 people reside in the region.

According to Al Abri, Oman, among others, witnesses organised fuel smuggling operations that bring millions and are carried out through the land and sea routes. He feared that a wider gap in fuel prices with neighbouring Emirates will exacerbate the problem. Describing the situation, Al Abri said, “Trailers are being Rilled with fuel, costing around OMR120, which are then sold and reRilled again. You can imagine the extent of the loss.

Swiss customs holds 262kg of ivory valued at $413,000

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ZURICH

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wiss Customs officials at Zurich airport have seized 262 kilograms (578 pounds) of ivory having worth to the tune of $413,000.

The ivory was found during a se-

curity check on July 6 and packed in eight suitcases, Switzerland’s Customs authority said.

It put the estimated black market value at about 400,000 francs ($413,000). The elephant tusks had been sawed into 172 pieces to fit into the luggage, which was being transported from Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam, to Beijing via

Zurich. The head of the customs operation at the airport, Heinz Widmer, said officials estimate that the pieces came from 40 to 50 elephants.

Demand from China’s rising middle class has been fueling elephant poaching in Africa and illegal trade in ivory, which is turned into jewelry and other decorative items.

The whereabouts of the Chinese men wasn’t immediately clear. But Swiss customs said they could face large fines for violating customs and animal protection rules.

The suitcases also contained 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of lion fangs and claws — 21 fangs and 35 claws.

It wasn’t immediately clear what they were intended for.

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Indonesia seizes 6 Vietnamese vessels for illegal fishing JAKARTA: The Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Ministry has apprehended six Vietnamese-flagged vessels for allegedly conducting illegal fishing operations in Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) areas in Anambas, Riau islands. “Patrol vessel Hiu Macan 005 raided the vessels in an operation from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time on Saturday,” the ministry's director general for marine resources supervision, Asep Burhanudin, said as quoted by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Tuesday. Asep said the ministry’s patrol ship caught the Vietnamese fishing vessels when they went fishing in Indonesian waters; after an examination, it was found that the vessels had no fishing permits from Indonesian authorities.

Danish Maersk Line wants to take market shares in special cargo aersk Line wants to be bigger in an area that is not usually associated with the container carrier: special cargo.The Global Head of this business department, Nikolaj Forsberg, elaborates in an interview with ShippingWatch.

Maersk Line is interested in more activity from one of the carrier's smaller and lesser known business departments in order get improved results on the bottom line.This concerns the segment Special Cargo which is cargo that cannot be transported in the conventional container sizes but can be transported on container ships.

"We have access to the whole Maersk Line network for our special cargo.The only factor that decides whether we can transport a certain cargo is pretty much the port facilities at the ports where the cargo is going, as well as the size of the cargo - we can transport cargo of up to 300 tons," says Nikolaj Forsberg, Global Head of Special Cargo at Maersk Line, to ShippingWatch.

Special cargo, heavy lift or break bulk cargo as the segment is also called, has been a part of Maersk Line's business for more than 20 years, but is now receiving extra attention. "It's no secret that the container market is characterized by some extra weight on the supply side. In regards to that, special cargo is a reasonable way to get supply and demand to fit better. It's a strategical gamble to expand the knowledge of what can move on container vessels," says Nikolaj Forsberg.

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Dianacontainerships charterspostpanamaxtoMaersk worth$14,750perday iana Containerships has fixed a postpanamax boxship on a six- to nine-month timecharter to Maersk.

The Great (5,576 teu, built 2004) was fixed at a gross rate of $14,750 per day, minus a 5% commission for third parties, commencing August 15.

After the maximum nine-month period of the charter has been completed, Maersk has the option to extend the contract by a further nine months, plus or minus thirty days, at a gross daily rate of $21,000.

NASDAQ-listed Diana expects the charter to generate gross revenue of around $2.66m for the minimum six-month charter period.

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Ports & Shipping Thursday August 6, 2015

2 canadian freighters arrive at port of Muskegon on same day MUSKEGON

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t's been a slow season overall, but two large vessels arrived at the Port of Muskegon on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The Algorail and Algomarine, two Great Lakes Self Unloading Bulk Carriers, made port in Muskegon this morning. Both ships are owned by the Canadian company Algoma Central Corporation which is based in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Ed Hogan, vice president of operations for Port City Marine Services, said the 638-foot Algorail is likely carrying salt and routinely arrives in Muskegon, but he didn't know if the 730-foot Algomarine had ever made port in the area.

The Algomarine made port at the Mart Dock in downtown Muskegon while the Algorail arrived at a dock just east of that location. As it turns out, it wasn't a smooth Rirst stop in Muskegon for the Algomarine. The ship had an issue with its bow thruster while making port and required assistance from a tug from

Ashton Marine. Hall Jones Electric also assisted the vessel, Hogan said.

The ship is carrying a slag product that will be purchased by Verplank Trucking Co. in Muskegon. According to Algoma Central's website, the ship features six holds that can carry more than 866,000 square feet of cargo. The ship will remain in port for about eight hours and likely be gone by the end of the day, Hogan said. The 2015 shipping season has been a slow one in Muskegon, especially since there haven't been any

foreign vessels, or "salties" making port. Twelve foreign cargo ships visited the Port of Muskegon between 2012 and 2014.

The Port of Muskegon is the largest natural deep-water port in West Michigan.

The Algomarine traveled to Muskegon from its home port in Sault. Ste. Marie, Canada. It was built in 1968 by Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec. The Algorail was built in 1968 by Collingwood Shipyards in Collingwood, Ontario.

Greece'sQueenswaycausesbitumenspillinSpain:Customs MADRID

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panish Customs authorities are demanding that Greece’s Queensway Navigation pay for a bitumen spill from one of its product tankers at Huelva Port.

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Twenty tonnes of bitumen was spilled from the tanker Sunpower (5,000 dwt, built 2008) when one of its cargo tanks overflowed while in port on July 26.

Sunpower was detained by the port after authorities found its crew had failed to maintain the required procedures during cargo operations, which led to the spill.

Further investigations into the incident are underway. The Panama-flagged vessel will be released from detention after the money has been received and the clean-up operation has been completed. The port has deployed emergency anti-pollution measures and has surrounded the leaking vessel with oil booms to contain the spill.

Melbourne port sale inquiry to go ahead

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Melbourne

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n inquiry into the sale of Melbourne's port will report back on November 30, despite the state government's attempts to shut it down earlier.

Victoria's upper house will examine the length of the port's lease, the

value the state will get, and the impact on exporters. The government wanted to bring the inquiry's report back on September 30 after telling the opposition to "get out of the way" and let the port sale proceed.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said September was not enough time to research the port's sale.

"The government wants two months to inquire into the biggest as-

set sale in the state's history but they want more than a year to inquire into parliament's ability to bring back lunch breaks," he told reporters on Wednesday.

The government moved on Wednesday to reverse its decision to scrap parliamentary lunch breaks only a few months after the changes were made.

That decision will be popular with

German, Italian port operators ink Iran deal ontship Italia and Germany’s Eurogate have signed an MoU with Iran’s biggest port company Sina Port and Marine to resume trade after lifting of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The memorandum covers exchange of experience and know-how and development of Iran’s logistics sector and its ports, a European media report said.

In a statement, Contship said the MoU represents“a great opportunity and milestone for the involved countries in this historical period marked by a new level of economic cooperation and political relationships”. Contship Italia is Italy’s largest container terminal operator. Eurogate is Germany’s leading port operator with a 33% stake in Contship Italia. Sina Port and Marine operates Iran’s major ports of Bandar Abbas and Bushehr.

International shipping lines are already stepping up port calls at Iranian ports as the country’s massive maritime trade sector is emerging from the sanctions.

Last month, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and the country’s leading ports operator, theTidewater Middle East Maritime Company, were removed from the US list of companies designated for sanctions and assets freeze.

CEO of the Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) Diego Aponte and chairman of Duaibased DPWorld container terminal operator Sultan bin Sulayem have recently visited Iran.

MSC is the world’s second-largest ocean carrier.The world’s largest carrier and MSC’s partner, Maersk Line, has also said its sees great potential in Iran for trade. Hyundai Merchant Marine, Hanjin Shipping andYang Ming have already started to serve Bandar Abbas, with French carrier CMA CGM expected to call at the country’s largest port onThursday with an 11,356 twenty-footequivalent unit capacity ship.

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hungry MPs who had to sit through Question Time before sneaking out to grab a bite.

The upper house voted unanimously on the port sale inquiry after the government conceded it would not get its way on the earlier reporting date.

The inquiry will have three coalition MPs, three Labor MPs, a Green MP and one from the minor parties.

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Iranian customs announces 55% reduction in car imports TEHRAN: Iran’s Customs Administration has announced a 55-percent reduction in car imports during the first 4 months of the current Persian calendar year. According to the latest statistics of Iran’s Customs Administration, 14186 passenger vehicles worth over 337974 million dollars (304456 million euros) entered the country during the first quarter of the current Iranian year, showing a dramatic drop compared to the same period last year which accounts for the import of 31471 cars worth up to 642817 million dollars.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

Collector Tariq Huda orders completion of Eduljee Dinshaw Road by August 14 KARACHI

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odel Customs Collectorate-Preventive Collector Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda has instructed the contractors and the staff to complete the renovation of the historic and cultural heritage – Eduljee Dinshaw Road by Independence Day, August 14, 2015 at any cost.

He stated this while inspecting the ongoing development work of Eduljee Dinshaw Road and expressed satisfaction on the pace of the work. The collector directed the contractors and labourers to ensure completion of the historic project

by August 14, 2015.

The project aimed at renovating the Eduljee Dinshaw road was launched with the efforts of Collector MCC-Preventive Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda. After renovation of the road, it would be closed for trafRic and the people would come at evening to spend their leisure time and rejuvenate their memories of old times, as plants, park-lanes and other recreational items would be installed at the corners of the road for entertainment of the visitors.

KP NAB nabs ex-minister, 3 revenue officials T

PESHAWAR

nADir kHAn

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he National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested former-provincial minister for revenue Syed Murid Kazim and three revenue ofRicials have been over illegal transfer of government lands in Dera Ismail Khan.

The NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa arrested current Assistant Commissioner Lakki Marwat Qayum Nawaz (ex-district ofRicer revenue) and District OfRicer Revenue & Estate Riaz Muhammad along with Assistant in KP Board of Revenue Gul Hassan.

All the four arrested will be presented at

the Ehtisab court in Peshawar for attaining physical remand for further interrogation. It is alleged that the ex-minister ganged up with the revenue ofRicials to illegally transfer 247 acres of land belonging to the Pakistan Navy in the names of persons known to him and while transferring another 22.7 acres of land in his own name.

Meanwhile, In the Rirst month of new Rinancial year, the Modal Custom Collectorate Peshawar collected Rs 950.13 million under the head of customs duty, sales tax and federal excise duty, along with withholding tax.

According to customs ofRicials, under the head of customs duty, the Custom Houses collected Rs 308.54 million, while it collected Rs 205.47 million as sales tax on imports in

July 2015. Similarly, the Customs House collected Rs 416.34 million as federal excise duty, while it collected Rs 35.96 million under the head of value added tax on commercial imports. Under the head of federal excise duty on imports, a collection of Rs 14.52 million was made, while in terms of withholding tax, Rs 177.74 million duty was collected. The total revenue collection in the Rirst month of the Rinancial year was Rs 950.13 million. It is pertinent to mentioned here that the Peshawar Customs House met the previous target of the Rinancial year 2014-2015 by collecting Rs 17,490.79 million. Like other parts of the country, the traders and business community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa observed complete shutter-down strike on Saturday

against the imposition of withholding tax on bank transactions worth Rs 50,000 and above. With all backing out from different trade organizations and transporters, traders on the call of Tajir Itihad Pakistan (TIP) kept their businesses shut in provincial metropolis Peshawar and in other districts of the province. Central Union of the Anjuman-eTajiran Rabita Committee supported the strike and announced to keep all commercial activities and business centers closed in the provincial metropolitan city. The trade unions leaders include Central Trade Union Cantt President Mujeebur Rahman, Tajir Tanzim KP president Sharafat Ali Mubarak, general secretary Waris Afridi and Shaukat Ali led protest camps in various bazars of the city.

Published by M S Raza Off# 42, 3rd Flr Gull Plaza M.A Road Karachi, Printed by Dhoom Printing Building No RY/A, 11/6,11/7, Mashoor Mahal,off I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi