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PAKISTAN’S FIRST INDEPTH NEWSPAPER ON CUSTOMS
Daily
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Karachi, Fri August 4, 2017
MULTAN
IMRAN ALI
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he Model Customs Collectorate Multan has generated Rs4billion revenue during the month of July Fiscal Year 2017-18. The MCC Multan has fetched Rs244.490million from Customs Duty during the first month of Fiscal Year 2017-18 while Multan Customs was able to collect
Rs192.776million of Customs Duty during July of Fiscal Year 2016-17 . The MCC Multan has posted almost 25percent growth in the revenue collection of Customs Duty collection during the first month of current economic year against the corresponding period of 2016-17. The MCC Multan has made a collection of Rs2465.490million of Sales Tax during July’s economic year 2017-18. On the other hand, Multan Customs received Rs1474.161million in the corresponding month of July of the economic year
Vol 2, Issue No. 181
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2016-17. The Model Customs Collectorate Multan has suffered a shortfall in the Sales Tax collection due to fall in the import consignments of High Speed Diesel in the last few months of Fiscal Year 201617. The collectorate has faced Rs431.089million less collection of Sales Tax than the collection of fiscal year 2015-16. The Model Customs Collectorate Multan has collected Rs15.822million of Federal Excise Duty during July in FY2017-18 whereas it did Federal Excise Duty of Rs15.118million for the duration of July in the yesteryear of 2016-17. Multan Customs has allocated the collection of Income Tax of Rs45.891million during July in economic year 2017-18 but it collected Rs15.078million in the same month for the previous monetary year of 2016-17.
Multan Customs collects Rs4b revenue during July FY2017-18
Delay in launching of Electronic Data Interchange causing loss of Rs 100b
FBR collects Rs 3,362b against set target of Rs 3,112b in FY2016-17
Malaysia seizes ivory, pangolin scales from Africa
Dr Arslan pays glowing tributes to Frankfurt posted Kh Khuram
The Model Customs Collectorate Multan has generated Rs4b revenue | SEE PAGE 01 |
TheChineseexportersarecreatinghurdles inlaunchingofElectronicDataInterchange | SEE PAGE 02 |
FBRhasdisclosedthefinalfiguresofrevenue collection for financial year 2016-17 | SEE PAGE 05 |
Malaysian authorities say they’ve seized 23 pieces of elephant tusks and 301 kg | SEE PAGE 07 |
Collector MCC Islamabad, paid glowing tributestooverseaspostedAddlKhKhuram | SEE PAGE 08 |
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FBR to deduct 15% WHT on royalty, fee for technical services Friday, August 4, 2017
National
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to deduct 15 per cent withholding tax from royalty or fee of technical services being paid to a non-resident. The FBR in its Withholding Tax Card 2017/2018 stated that under section 152(1) of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 every person shall deduct 15 percent tax of the gross amount while making payments for royalties and fee for technical payments to non-resident at the time royalty or fee for technical services is actually paid.
Delay in launching of Electronic Data Interchange causing loss of Rs 100b
FTO adjourns hearing of case filed by M/s Sweba Impex LAHORE
SAJID NAWAZ
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he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has adjourned the hearing of a case filed by M/s Sweba Impex (Private) Limited against Regional Tax OďŹƒce-II (RTO-II) until the next date of hearing. According to the details, FTO Consultant Tariq Yousaf heard the case of M/s Sweba Impex in which the counsel for the appellant argued that the RTO had failed to release the sales tax refund of the last two years claimed by the company. He said that the RTO-II collected excessive tax from the company during the last two years. They approached the commissioner concerned many times for issuance of the refunds but the RTO-II oďŹƒcials did not pay the refunds after the passage of reasonable time. At the end, the company decided to approach the FTO seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO-II to clear the refund claims. The counsel further said that the RTO should refund the excess collection in wake of taxes by the end of financial year but the situation is quite otherwise. Delay in issuance of refunds put burden on the taxpayers, he said, adding that the RTO should make audit of the cases and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayers.
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ISLAMABAD
M FAIZAN
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he Chinese exporters are creating hurdles in launching of Electronic Data Interchange System between Pakistan and China, sources said. Sources told Customs Today that due to non-availability of import
and export data, Pakistan is bearing revenue losses of more than Rs 100 billion under the head of customs duty and other taxes. Sources said that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has requested the finance and commerce ministries to consult the Chinese government to resolve the issue on priority basis. The FBR has suggested to brings this matter with Chinese government, including Chinese premier
and with other offices and political leader ship and especially during their official visits to China this point must be incorporated in agenda. Federal Board of Revenue has send the same proposal to the prime minister and president offices with small amendment that this topic make the part of agenda in near future talks between China and Pakistan at any level and directions may be issued to other rel-
evant department. It is pertinent to mention here that Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) has been signed between China and Pakistan in this regard. But now the project is completed and technical system is already installed at Pakistan and Chinese side, but Pakistan is still looking at to China Customs Administration Authority for execution of plan.
Customs Court grants bail to suspects booked in smuggling
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KARACHI
M B RANA
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ustoms Taxation and AntiSmuggling Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted bail to suspects, Irfan Ahmed, Syed Muhammad Zeeshan Hydair and Mahboob Rahmatullah alias Mehboob Moti. The suspects were booked for attempting to smuggle contraband foreign currency amounting to $1029531.24 from
Karachi to Dubai. During the hearing, counsel for the suspects appeared before the court and moved the bail applications. The counsels argued that their clients were innocent and were falsely implicated in this case, who were ready to face trail, therefore, the court might grant them bail till the final order of the case. According to the investigation officer, prosecution has concrete evidence therefore, bail should not been granted to the above men-
tioned accused persons. After the arguments, court granted them bail against the surety of Rs1,00, 000 each and directed the suspect to appear before the court on next date of hearing. According to the prosecution, on a credible information, officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted a raid at Jinnah International Airport Karachi (JIAK) and intercepted a passenger namely Irfan Ahmed and during the search of his personal luggage (hand carry)
recovered amount equivalent to US$ 1029531.24. Investigation officer informed the court that suspect was deport to Dubai by Emirates Flight No EK- 601 and was trying to smuggle the above mentioned foreign currency. On the spot interrogation Zeeshan Haider voluntarily admitted to have handed over the packet of currency (containing US dollars) to Irfan Ahmed, he also admitted that he has been facilitating Irfan Ahmed in smuggling of US dollars several time.
Meanwhile, Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted interim pre-arrest bail to suspect, Naveed Zaman, against the surety bonds of Rs 100,000, who was booked in a case of smuggled/ non-duty paid Honda Accord Saloon car bearing registration number BFT-418 model 2003 worth Rs 2,232,998. During the hearing, counsel for the suspect appeared before the court and moved the bail application.
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ISLAMABAD M FAIZAN
A
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t last, the Federal Board of Revenue has disclosed the final figures of revenue collection for financial year 2016-17. Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Tariq Mehmood Pasha has informed the Senate Standing Committee for Finance that the FBR collected Rs 3,362 billion in financial year 2016-17 against the set annual target of Rs 3,621 billion, while in financial year 2015-16, the FBR collected Rs 3,112 billion revenue against the target of Rs 3106 billion. The meeting of Senate Standing Committee was held in Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senate Senator Salim Mandvi wala. Chairman FBR Tariq Mehmood Pasha briefed the committee that current financial revenue target is Rs 4,013 billion and the FBR has no plan to review it at the movement. No matter who is in power, the FBR just executes the decisions of the current govern-
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Friday, August 4, 2017
ment, he said. Committee also took the notice of difference on revenue figures between Federal Board of Revenue and State Bank of Pakistan. FBR took plea that all items are not included in State Bank data. The committee has briefed by the chairman FBR that only Auditor General can audit of FBR accounts but FBR can audit all the companies accounts,
d hmoo riq Me a T R B ittee an F comm e Chairm h t d venue briefe cial re Pasha n a n fi d urrent ion an that c 13 bill 0 , 4 s view is R n to re a target l p o n t R has emen the FB e mov h t t a it
while other audit companies also audit the companies accounts. Auditor General office has recovered Rs255 billion through audit from 2012 to 2017. Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan in reply to question said that there was no pressure on State Bank regarding Panama case by the government. The Standing Committee told that in 2013-14, audit of all cellular companies, including PTCL have begun. There are some issues related to withholding tax and federal excise duty. We have submitted the report to the Public Accounts Committee but PAC has not reviewed it. The meeting was attended by Senators Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari, Aisha Raza Farooq, Kamil Ali Agha, Saud Majeed, Sardar Fateh Muhammad Mohammad Hussaini and Usman Saifullah, Governor and Deputy Governor State Bank, Chairman FBR, Auditor General Pakistan and other senior officials.
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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
Latest IMF review
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n its latest critical review of the economy, the International Monetary Fund has assessed the gross external financing requirements of Pakistan at $16.2 billion for the current fiscal year. However, the review also indicates external vulnerabilities and fundamental contradictions in the external sectors as the economy is not only facing rising current account deficits, but also pressure on the foreign currency reserves. The donor agency has favoured this nation by revealing the facts and figures about the nature of external debts which have reached $87.1 billion. This belies the fund’s own optimistic projections of the country’s economy as it admits the challenges of external vulnerabilities, widening current account deficits and rising medium-term external repayment obligations. The government is claiming the credit of a stereotype performance by accepting external financing from various donor agencies. The life of expatriate Pakistanis in Middle East is going from bad to worse, lowering the volume of their remittances, imports are burdening the current account situation and exports failed to be picked up. Now the agency wants the government to withdraw subsidies on electricity and other utility services and it is yet to be seen how it will respond and manage the financial affairs. According to experts, the gross external financing requirements could increase to $19.7 billion during the coming years but many hard facts could be concealed from the public to keep the inflow of foreign investments unhindered. It is also assumed that the current account deficit will reach $10.1 billion and external debt payments will be $6.2 billion during the current fiscal year. The government figures for the last fiscal year put the deficit at $11.5 billion. However, the government has projected the current account deficit at $9 billion, but experts put the real figures close to $13.5 billion for the fiscal year 2017-18. Pakistan’s trade deficit remained a record $32.6 billion during the fiscal year 2016-17. Though the prime minister had announced an export package of Rs 180 billion, the exports are expected to decline further while imports will record a significant growth in coming years. Unless the government generates money through its own resources, it will be difficult to boost the national economy by depending on foreign loans and grants.
Lack of national brands T
LAHORE
DR AFTAB AFZAL
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he chief of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pointed out that lack of awareness about importance of branding and value addition has come as a big hurdle in the way of business and trade in the country. Despite having strong agriculture and industrial bases, the Pakistani business community could not introduce a significant value added product in the world market and absence of branding is shifting all the benefits of the local products to other countries which are earning huge money from global
trade. On another note, Pakistan is still struggling to achieve minor export targets as exports have constantly been declining for the last many years. China produces run-ofthe-mill products for foreign buyers on the condition that every product will be marked by ‘made in China’. However, Pakistan exports best quality towels, bathrobes and many many other products without insisting on the ‘made in Pakistan’ labels and without any brand name. Instead, several European companies import Pakistani products and sell in local markets with their own brand names. In some cases, they send their own stickers to
the Pakistani exporters and the product user never knows it is made in Pakistan. This practice has been allowed by the government for several years. Though it brings short term benefits for the exporters, but long term losses for the country. The LCCI chief is correct to say that the country is getting far less benefits from the potentials of its quality products. In another case, South Korea used to import cotton from Pakistan at minimal rates, but made 10 times more money after processing it in their country. Pakistan exports tons of marble and precious stones to Singapore and other nations, which turn the raw stones into
value added goods and earn billions of dollars. One fails to understand when the policymakers of this country will learn from others’ experiences. According to economists, Pakistan still has the potentials to introduce various kinds of brands in the international markets, from fashion designs to industrial products. Pakistan is the leading sports goods exporter, but even this section lacks any brand name. It is advisable that the government policymakers, business community and all the stakeholders should sit together and work out a policy for the promotion of business and trade.
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Hong Kong exchange denies IPO Friday August 4, 2017
World
HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s stock exchange has rejected the application for a potentially multimillion-dollar listing involving one of Asia’s richest men, as the city a hot spot for initial public offerings has come under increasing regulatory scrutiny. The exchange in June sent back the IPO application of AMTD Strategic Capital Group, which was filed the previous month, deeming it to be “substantially incomplete” without elaborating on what it found lacking, according to a list posted on its website. The commercial-insurance brokerage firm was seeking to potentially raise about $200 million, according to reports. AMTD Strategic Capital is majority owned by AMTD Group, an Asian financial firm founded in 2003 whose other businesses include an investment bank.
Malaysia seizes ivory, pangolin scales from Africa
SEPANG
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alaysian authorities say they’ve seized 23 pieces of elephant tusks and 301 kilograms (664 pounds) of pan-
HK exports, imports rise in first half year ong Kong saw the value of total exports of goods in the first half year up 8.8 percent over the same period in 2016 and the value of imports of goods up 9.4 percent year-on-year, statistics showed. In exports, the value of re-exports increased by 8.8 percent, while the value of domestic exports expanded by 3.2 percent, according to the Census and Statistics Departments of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Concurrently, a visible trade deficit of 228.5 billion HK dollars (29.3 billion US dollars), equivalent to 11.3 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first six months. In June alone, the value of total exports of goods (comprising re-exports and domestic exports) rose by 11.1 percent over a year earlier to 329.4 billion HK dollars, after a year-on-year increase of 4.0 percent in May. –CB Report
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golin scales believed to have been smuggled from Africa in a haul worth nearly $1 million. Customs senior official Mohamad Pudzi Man said officials raided the Kuala Lumpur airport cargo warehouse Sunday and found the ivory in two boxes marked as “food stuff.” He said Wednesday that the ivory, worth 275,000 ringgit ($64,139), was flown
in on an Etihad Airways flight from Lagos and transited in Abu Dhabi before arriving in Kuala Lumpur. He said that later Sunday, officials confiscated six sacks of pangolin scales worth 3.86 million ringgit ($900,291) shortly after it arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Congo. Mohamad Pudzi said no one was arrested and the case was under investigation. Meanwhile, Six Royal Malaysian Customs officers have been arrested over the past two days for alleged involvement in helping a secret society to smuggle drugs into the country. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh, when contacted, confirmed the arrests.b “Yes, we have arrested them and will conduct further investigations,” he said. The officers, who were based at the KL International Airport, were alleged to have received money from the society for ‘allowing’ various types of drugs and other raw substances to be processed as drugs, to enter the country at least over the past one year.
Boucher’s Bank of Ireland legacy set to be fulfilled in dividends
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ichie Boucher shunned the spotlight as Bank of Ireland unveiled the last set of results under his stewardship on Friday – leaving his chief financial officer Andrew Keating and head of Ireland retail Liam McLoughlin to talk to analysts and reporters. But his fingerprints were all over them. Bank of Ireland, alone among Irish lenders bailed out during the crisis in avoiding State control, revealed that
it has finally started to set money aside to cover Boucher’s most sacred ambition in recent years: reinstating dividends to investors. Payouts are expected to start early next year. While Bank of Ireland’s level of bad loans were never as bad as the rest of the industry’s reflecting its (relatively) more conservative lending practices in the bubble years Boucher has been playing a long game wading through bad loans. –CB Report
Dubai runs workshop to curb counterfeits DUBAI
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he Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Department of Dubai Customs organized a workshop to step up efforts aimed at fighting fake goods. The workshop was attended by 24 officers from Dubai Customs and other relevant government bodies across the UAE, as well as representatives of some intellectual property law firms. The workshop is the third of its kind to be held since the beginning of this year 2017 with participants totalling 77 beneficiaries from local and federal government entities. The event focused on measures undertaken by a host of famous international businesses to protect their trademarks. Agents from five companies lectured the audience with hands-on experiences about what they do to safeguard their
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brands against counterfeiting and piracy activities. These were Fossil (watches), Philip Morris (cigarettes), Borg Warner (automotive technologies), Hindustan Pencils (stationery), and Lacoste. IPR presented a working paper by Mahbooba Baqer, head of Awareness and Education Section, who highlighted the concept of intellectual property and the procedures put in place by Dubai Customs to handle cases of trademark infringements. Participants also learned about the techniques used by specialists to identify fake products from good ones. Law firms’ representatives presented common methods employed by intellectual property infringers to produce fake copies of genuine brands, and answered the audience’s questions on latest global trends in counterfeiting. Yousef Ozair, director of IPR Department, who opened the workshop, affirmed that Dubai Customs gives utmost attention to educating and raising awareness of customs.
Oman oil price rises 92 percent
ubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) said that Oman oil price (September delivery 2017) reached $48.37. The DME statement on said that the price of Oman oil rose 92 cents from Wednesday’s price, which was $47.45. The average price of Oman oil (August Delivery 2017) has stabilised at $46.52, thus $4.03 per barrel lower than July delivery 2017. Meanwhile,Oman raised OMR41 million by way of treasury bills this week. The treasury bills are with a maturity period of 28 days, from July 19 to August 16, 2017. The average accepted price reached 99.924 for
every OMR100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at 99.920 per OMR100. Whereas the average discount rate and the average yield reached 0.98881 per cent and 0.98956 per cent, respectively. The interest rate on the Repo operations with CBO is 1.728 per cent for the period from July, 2017 while the discount rate on the Treasury Bills Discounting Facility with CBO is 2.478 per cent, for the same period. The treasury bills are short-term highly secured financial instruments issued by the CBO on behalf of the Government, which helps the licensed commercial banks. –CB Report
Singapore business loans up by 10.5 percent
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SINGAPORE
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t’s the highest growth since October 2014. Loans from Singaporean banks accelerated 7.6% YoY in June, the highest YoY growth in two years since October 2014. According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), total bank loans rose from
$590.4b in 2016 to $635.5b this year. Business loans grew 10.5% YoY from $345.1b to $381.1b. Among the business loan categories, OCBC noted remarkably higher lending for financial institutions, business services, and general commerce. Lending for financial institutions climbed 32.0% from $67.7b to $89.5b, marking the tenth consecutive month of double-digit growth. Lending for business services
hiked 27.9% at $8.7b for June, the sixth month of double-digit growth. MAS also reported an increase in general commerce loans by 20.9% to $68.3b. However, loans from the manufacturing sector dragged by 1.9% from $27.3b to $26.8b. Meanwhile, consumer loans for the month also increased 3.7% from $245.3b to $254.4b. Under consumer loans, those for housing grew to 4.1%,
whilst those for cars upped to 3.2%, marking the seventh straight month of expansion. According to OCBC Bank head of treasury research and strategy Selena Ling, “Looking ahead, the bank loans growth momentum should sustain in 2H17 to average 7.0% yoy for the full-year as per our forecast, given that domestic business sentiments have improved and the 2H16 base was low at +0.1% yoy.”
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Khushab FIU confiscates F/O smuggled aluminum valued Rs14m FAISALABAD: The Field Investigation Unit (FIU) of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Faisalabad has confiscated foreign origin aluminum worth Rs14million involving customs duty and taxes of Rs08.2million. According to details, Superintendent Muhammad Tahir received a tip-off about some smuggling attempts. He immediately constituted a customs team comprising Intelligence Officer Ansar Saleemi and Muhammad Siddique.
Friday, August 4, 2017
CUSTOMS BULLETIN
Dr Arslan pays glowing tributes to Frankfurt posted Kh Khuram ISLAMABAD TARIQ DERYA
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r. Arslan, Collector Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad, paid glowing tributes to overseas posted Additional Collector Khawaja Khuram Naeem at a farewell bidden by the officers of the MCC Islamabad in the capital. Khawaja is posted as Commercial consul in Frankfurt Germany. Speaking on the occasion, Collector MCC Islamabad Dr. Arslan described Khawaja as a solid professional who always led the way in performing the prime duty of revenue generation and resource mobilization at the AFU. The AFU Islamabad is not only a easy customs station but also a very tough and sensitive as consignments of Federal Government, Pakistan Army, Diplomats like American embassy and other are handled here. He said that, during his 22-month of tenure, Khawaja acquitted himself well in discharging his responsibilities. After leaving of Khawaja, there will be a gap for the MCC Islamabad to cope with the matters relating with the AFU. During Khawaja’s tenure, the AFU Islam-
abad surpassed its all revenue targets. He said Khawaja had the ability to not only drive the revenue
growth but also ensured a unity of purpose and the highest work ethics. Speaking on the occasion,
Khawaja thanked his collector and colleagues for giving him a memorable farewell. At the end, souvenirs,
gifts and a shield were presented to Khawaja Khuram by Collector MCC Islamabad and his colleagues.
Customs Tribunal settles case filed by M/s Five Star Trading ISLAMABAD
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ustoms Appellate Tribunal disposed of a customs reference filed by M/s Five Star Trading and dated in office the hearing of other cases with directives to the department and appellants during fourth week of July. Customs Appellate Tribunal’s bench comprising of Members Tribunal, Syed Muhammad Anwar
and Muhammad Nasir Khan heard the case being contested against Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigations, Islamabad. Customs Appellate Tribunal also dated in office hearing of recently filed customs reference filed by M/s Kohinoor Trader. Earlier, the bench had dated in office hearing of the matter after directing parties to submit case related documents. Counsels from M/s Five Star Trading had appeared before the bench and demanded time from the bench for finalizing preparations for the case.
Customs Appellate Tribunal’s Member Technical, Ziauddin Wazir heard the cases of Raja Nabeel, Waqas Enterprises, Arshad Khan and Musawir Shah had filed the cases. Raja Nabeel had filed the cases against Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Islamabad. Other three appellants had filed their cases against Collectorate of Customs, Islamabad. The appellants had filed cases against Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigations, Islamabad and Collectorate of Customs, Islamabad.
The tribunal had also heard cases filed by M/s Trade Master, M/s Waseem Autos, M/s Nisar Traders, M/s Parts and Parts, M/s Chief Autos M/s Aman Elahi, and M/s Kohinoor Traders had filed these references. M/s Trade Master had filed case against Customs Collectorate only. All of other appellants had filed cases against DG I&I. M/s Kohinoor Traders had filed two cases against Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigations, Islamabad. Meanwhile, Customs Appellate Tribunal reserved decision of a customs reference filed by M/s
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Royal Group after hearing arguments from sides on Thursday. Customs Appellate Tribunal’s bench comprising Members tribunal, Syed Muhammad Anwar and Muhammad Nasir Khan heard the case being contested against Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigations, Islamabad. During last hearing the bench had directed the parties to conclude arguments and submit record relating to the case. The bench had also received record on departmental proceedings pertaining to the case.