Dec 19 layout 1

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pAkIStAN’S FIrSt INDepth NewSpAper oN cuStoMS

Daily

Vol 1 Issue No. 269

Karachi, Sat December 19, 2015

ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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hairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Nisar Muhammad Khan will preside over the third meeting of Board-in-Council on December 28.

Sources told Customs Today that this meeting is called after the retirement of two members including Member Taxpayers Audit Syed Ijaz Ahmad Shah and Member Legal Ahmad Dildar. During the meeting the participants will appreciate the outstanding services performed by outgoing ofQicials.

Price Rs. 14.00

Member Customs Nasir Masroor, Strategic Planning and Reforms and Spokesman of FBR Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, Inland Revenue Policy Member Rehmatullah Khan Wazir, FATE Member Nadeem Dar, Inland Revenue Operations Member Dr. Mohammad Irshad, HRM Member Khawaja Tanveer Ahmed, Accounting Member Seema Majid and other members will participate in the meeting. Meanwhile, In a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Nisar Muhammad Khan on Wednesday defended the government decision to levy regulatory duty. Senators Kamil Ali Agha, Ilyas Bilour, Mohsin A z i z a n d others e x pressed concern over the government decision to levy regulatory duty of Rs 40b.

Faisalabad Customs seizes smuggled items worth Rs 6.72m in Dec

DG determines values of liner alkyl benzene sulphonic acid

Trade Commissioner of Italy meets Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar

Hyderabad ASO confiscates 20 cartons of gutka

ICCI for focusing on SMEs to boost economic growth

Faisalabad Customs authorities impounded smuggled items Rs 6.72m | See pAge 02 |

DG of the Customs Valuation has determined the customs values | See pAge 03 |

The visiting Trade Commissioner of Italy, Mr. Riccardo Monti called on Dar | See pAge 04 |

The Customs ASO has seized smuggled Indian gutka worth Rs 600,000 | See pAge 12 |

The govt should take urgent measures to address the key issues of SMEs | See pAge 09 |

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IHC admits contampt plea against TDAP CEO Saturday, December 19, 2015

National

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court admitted contampt of court plea against Chief Executive Officer of TDAP S.M. Muneer.

Sources told Customs Today, that Islamabad High Court already issued him a notice in this regard. Sources said that IHC bars SM Muneer to take part in FPCCI elections campaign but during a luncheon hosted by a candidate who is taking part in the elections for senior vice prsident Khalid Tawab,SM Muneer appeals to audience to vote for Khalid Tawab. After his speech a candidate of businessmen panel Senator Haji Ghulam Ali filed a petition in Islamabad High Court against S.M. Muneer.

Faisalabad customs seizes smuggled items worth rs 6.72m in December

KARACHI

FAISALABAD

MuhAMMAD YouSAF

NAeeM SheIkh

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he Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling on Thursday adjourned until January 25 the bail confirmation pleas of suspects in a case pertaining to pilferage of US the Army transit cargo. Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi adjourned the hearing due to absence of accused persons’ counsel.

According to the details, Ghani International, an authorized representative of Consulate General of the United States, filed goods declaration for a consignment of US Army reverse cargo. He declared that the cargo contained generators, transformer and equipment for export to Dubai via Karachi port. During perusal and observation of the scanning images and weight, and weight slips of the GDs, the images of instant GD did not appear as per the description declared in the invoice and packing list. Therefore, the consignment was examined physically in the presence of representatives of Multitrans International (Private) Limited, and Peerzada Services International being the authorized representative of the US Consulate General.

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he Faisalabad Customs authorities impounded smuggled items worth Rs 6.72 million during 15 days of December.

Sources told Customs Today that customs intelligence ofQicial seized a used generator of 15 KVA worth Rs 200,000, smuggled generators 20 KVA worth Rs 220,000 , cotton cloth bed sheet and curtain cloth 110 rolls 8356 kgs worth Rs 1,737,072 and smuggled printed and dyed cloth 402 kilograms worth Rs 360,000.

Faisalabad custom intelligence under the head of FIU Khushab registered two seizure cases including Hino Ranger Truck bearing registration no. SBA-824 worth Rs 3,000,000 and Toyota car bearing registration no. NZE 121 worth Rs 1,200,000.

The cutoms team which took part in the operation includes Zahid Saleem Mirza SIO, Main Muhammad Yousaf and Farzand ali IO Tajamal Hussain, Muhammad Musaddiq Ahmad sepoys. Seizure report submitted to adjudication department for further legally action.

Meanwhile, The Customs Intelligence and investigation has conQiscated foreign origin used generator worth Rs 220,000 involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 139,700. Following credible infor-

Judge Faiz rasool adjourns bail confirmation pleas of suspects

mation, the intelligence team intercepted a mini truck bearing Registration No. FSD-2639 and recovered a generator. The team asked the driver named Usman Ali to show the documents regarding the legal import of the generator but he remained fail to do so. Therefore the

customs seized the generator under Section 16 and 18 of the Custom Act 1969 and Section 3(1) and 3 (3) of Import and Exports Control Act, 1950 punishable under Section 156(1)90 and 157 of the Custom Act, 1969. The intelligence team comprising Senior Intelligence OfQi-

cer Muhammad Tahir Iqbal, Intelligence OfQicer Faizi Raza and Mr Mansoor Khan and Sepoys Mukhtar Ahmad, Masood Iqbal and Muhammad Iqbal participated in the raid.

For the further investigation, report submitted to the adjudication department.

25 customs’ officials to attend 21st Mid career Management course

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KARACHI

AFtAB chANNA

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t least 25 ofQicials of the BS18 of the Pakistan Customs Service have been nominated for the 21st Mid Career Management Course to be held at National Management College-Lahore and National Institute of ManagementKarachi, Customs Today has learnt.

In this regard, Secretary MgtCustoms-II Ghulam Ali Malik has is-

sued a letter No C.No/1(2)/2006M-II(Cus-II) asking the selected ofQicers to submit required documents

by December 28, 2015 so that their names be forwarded to the Establishment Division.

The letter urged the ofQicials the latest medical examination report duly authenticated by the civil surgeon/government hospital may be furnished to the board immediately for onward submission to the Establishment Division.

The ofQicers who will be part of

the 21st Mid Career Management Course included: Muhammad Rashid Munir SIddiqui, Deputy Director PCA Directorate Karachi, Dr Muhammad Aitzaz Khan, Deputy Collector MCC Peshawar, Rizwan Bashir, Deputy Collector DG Customs Valuation Karachi, ShaQiq-ur-Rehman, Deputy Director PCA Lahore, Shahid Jan, Deputy Collector MCC Islamabad, Mushtaq Ali Shahani, Deputy Collector MCC Gwadar, Shahid Ali, Deputy Collector MCC PMBQ, Salman Afzal, Directorate of Intelligence and In-

vestigation-FBR, Ather Naveed, Deputy Collector MCC PMBQ, Baasit Hussain, Deputy Collector Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-II, Wajid Ali, Deputy Collector Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-Islamabad, Saadiya Noori, Deputy Collector Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation-FBR, Irum Sohail, Deputy Collector MCC Preventive Lahore, Sumair Mustansar Tarar, Deputy Collector MCC Preventive Lahore, Afzaal Ahmed, Deputy Collector Directorate of In-

telligence and Investigation FBR, Pirzada Muhammad Omar Qasmi, Deputy Collector MCC Faisalabad, Ataullah Shabbir, Deputy Collector MCC Appraisement East Karachi, Ansir Anise, Deputy Collector MCC Islamabad, Ali Raza Turabi, Deputy Collector MCC Preventive Karachi, Muhammad Tayyab, Deputy Director, Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation FBR, Shakir Muhammad, Deputy Collector MCC Exports PMBQ, Asad Ullah Larik, Deputy Collector Collectorate of Customs.

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Customs Court extends remand of alleged cell phone smuggler LAHORE: The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has extended the judicial remand of an alleged cell phone smuggler. According to the details, an accused Tariq Kazmi was arrested by the Customs Appraisement at Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore when he was coming back from a Gulf state following the recovery of 70 costly cell phones from his luggage. The authorities of Lahore Customs presented him before the court where the accused was sent on judicial remand.

On Wednesday, Special Judge Chaudhary Ameer Muhammad Khan approved his further judicial remand for 14 days and sent him to jail for further trial.

Federal, provincial govts to discuss matter of gSt on services

Saturday December 19, 2015

National

Dg determines values of liner alkyl benzene sulphonic acid

ISLAMABAD

ShAhID MINhAS

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he federal government has called provincial revenue authorities to discuss issues pertaining to general sales tax (GST) on services.

According to the details, the meeting will be held at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters in Islamabad where all heads of provincial revenue authorities will participate.

Sources said that the officials would also discuss the matter regarding the withdrawal of GST on internet services, as the federal and provincial governments have earlier announced to withdraw tax on internet services.

Besides, the matter of dual taxation would also be reviewed.

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excise seals 50 tax defaulters’ properties LAHORE

M IMrAN MehAr

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he Excise and Taxation Department has sealed over 50 properties in Kasur during first 15 days of December, 2015 in an operation against property tax defaulters. According to the details, the teams under the supervision of Excise and Taxation Officer Malik Muhammad Aslam and on the special directions of Director General Akram Ashraf Gondal sealed tax defaulter properties.

The department has also recovered millions of rupees in first fifteen days of the month under the head of property tax. The Punjab Excise is receiving property tax with one percent penalty amount to recover due taxes. The officials said that the grand operation will be continued against defaulters to recover taxes.

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KARACHI

AFtAB chANNA

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he Directorate General of the Customs Valuation has determined the customs values of Liner Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (Soft and Hard) vide Valuation Ruling 781/2015.

The practice to determine the values of Liner Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (soft and hard) vide Valuation Ruling 781/2015 was undertaken under Section 25(A) of the Customs Act, 1969.

According to details, Valuation Ruling No 609/2013 was issued in 2013 by the Directorate General of Customs Valuation. And, since the ruling was quite old besides several representations were received from Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Manufacturers’ Association and importers for re-determination of customs value of said item following its downward trend in prices in the intentional market.

Accordingly, an exercise was initiated to determine the customs value of Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (soft and hard types) with a view to reQlect the current prices prevailing in the international markets. Accordingly, the customs values of Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (Soft & Hard types) with PCT Headings 3402.1110 and 3402.1190 of all origins would be assessed to duty and taxes at at $ 1.275/kg while Linear Alkyl Ben-

zene Sulphonic Acid (Soft & Hard types) under PCT Headings 3402.1110 & 3402.1190, Iran imported by land route at $1.25/kg.

Meanwhile, The Directorate General of the Customs Valuation has determined the customs values of of skimmed milk powder, instant milk powder vide Valuation Ruling No 780/2015.

The practice to determine the values of skimmed milk powder and instant milk powder were done under Section 25(A) of the

Accordingly, an exercise was initiated to determine the customs value of Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (soft and hard types) with a view to reflect the current prices prevailing in the international markets

Quetta customs seizes 160kg fine quality hashish KARACHI

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irectorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations Quetta has seized a huge quantity of hashish during a crackdown on Quetta-Chaman Road.

Sources told Customs Today that Customs Intelligence Director Iqbal

Bhawana received information regarding smuggling of hashish. He constituted a customs raiding team which intercepted a truck on Chaman-Quetta Road and seized 160 kiograms of hashish. Sources said that the market value of the seized hashish is in millions of rupees. The hashish was hidden in secret parts of truck. Customs team arrested the driver and his companion and started further investigations in this regard. It is pertinent to mention here that customs intelli-

gence and investigations authorities recently seized huge quantity of contraband items.

Meanwhile, Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigations FBR Quetta has seized a huge quantity of smuggled aluminium sheets and aluminium scrap. While in another operation, the Customs authorities have taken into custody smuggled carpets and generators.

Sources said that the Customs authorities received information regarding the smuggling of the items.

Customs Act, 1969. According to details, Valuation Ruling No 708/2015 was issued on 23-012015 by revising the values of skimmed milk downwardly as notified earlier vide Valuation Ruling 696/2014 dated 01-10-2014. The importers through Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries have been requesting since August 2015 for further downward revision of value on the plea that international market of the goods in question have further gone down.

Faisalabad FIA arrests two human traffickers he Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a human traffickers, Abdul Naeem and Tahir Mehmood during a raid. Almost eight cases of different types including 363/15, 373/15, 375/15, 376/15, 377/15, 378/15, 379/15, and 380/15 have been registered against the accused persons.

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NBP wins ‘Bank of the Year’ award Saturday, December 19, 2015

Business

LAHORE: The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has won The Bank of the Year in Pakistan 2015” award in a ceremony, in London by The Banker which is a flagship publication of the Financial Times Group of UK. The Banker selects only one winning bank from each of 120 countries across the world. Over 1,000 entries were collected and judges selected winning banks based on which they believe have made the most progress over the past 12 months. From Pakistan, only NBP has been chosen for the award for the year 2015. The Banker “Bank of the Year Awards” is regarded as the Oscars of the banking industry worldwide and for 90 years.

kSe dips 1%, shedding 333pts to close at 32777 as bears roar back KARACHI

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he stocks Friday dipped by 1 per cent, losing psychological barrier of 33,000 level.

The Karachi Stock Exchange benchmark KSE-100 index lost massive 332.50 points to close at 32777.04 level. The market recorded the highest trading level of 33176.72 points and lowest level of 32743.78 points, with the volume of 73,976,990

kinnow export target decreases to 0.2m tonnes

shares, having almost Rs7.85 billion value. As many as 316 companies were active; of which 108 advanced,

trade commissioner of Italy meets Senator Ishaq Dar

KARACHI

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innow export target has been trimmed to 200,000 tonnes from 350,000 tonnes last year in view of sharp production losses due to unfavourable weather conditions to 1.65 million tonnes of the fruit this season from 1.96m tonnes last year. Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) Chairman Waheed Ahmed said kinnow exports got under way from Dec 1, 2015.

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188 declined and 20 remained unchanged. Commercial banks remained the highest traded sector

with total volume of 22,196,400 shares, while cement remained second traded sector with a total volume of 12,604,700 shares. The three top traded companies were Habib Bank with a volume of 7,761,600 and price per share of 208.32 (10.96), B.O.Punjab with a volume 6,305,000 of price per share of 9.15 (-0.24), and Pak Int.Bulk with a volume 5,899,500 of price per share of 29.15 (0.40). The top three gainers were Ferozsons (Lab) with price per share 1095 (35.78), Mari Petroleum with price per share of 1017.90 (33.70) and Sapphire Fiber with price per share of 779.50 (29.50).

ISLAMABAD

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he visiting Trade Commissioner of Italy, Mr. Riccardo Monti called on the Federal Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Thursday. He was accompanied by the Italian Ambassador, Stefano Pontecorvo.

Monti on this occasion apprised the Minister of his country’s strong resolve to foster cooperation with Pakistan in different Qields includ-

ing agriculture, leather goods and textile sectors. He said Italy could contribute both in terms of providing technical knowhow as well as funding different projects. He particularly mentioned about Italy’s expertise in the marble industry and said his country could consider undertaking training programme for Pakistani experts in this Qield. He further said that Italy would invite Pakistani delegations from different spheres for interaction with Italian professionals.

The Italian Trade Commissioner evinced particular interest in the au-

tomobile sector and said as soon as Pakistan announces its auto policy, leading Italian automobile companies including Fiat would visit Pakistan and seek business opportunities here. He also offered close collaboration in the Qields of pharmaceuticals and healthcare. He also shared with the Finance Minister details about Italian companies vast experience in hydropower generation projects and building large dams. The Finance Minister welcomed Italian government’s initiatives to have close cooperation with Pakistan in different sectors.

wB credit of $500m to help strengthen national economy: Basit LAHORE

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pproval of $500 million world Bank credit to support Pakistan’s growth- oriented reforms would help strengthen economy in multiple ways.

This was stated by Abdul Basit, chairman Punjab Board of Investment and Trade while commenting on World Bank report . The Chairman PBIT said that the World Bank decision would not only give added confidence to local investor but would also pave way for foreign investors who always relay heavily on reports of international donors. Abdul Basit said that the World Bank report has put Pakistan among the eight countries, that are now eligible for World Bank borrowing and that is a happy sign. The others countries are Afghanistan India, Bangladesh, Bhutan ,Maldives , Nepal and sri Lanka. Abdul Basit said that According to the report World Bank group has pursued a number of programs to enhance the effectiveness of development projects through citizen engagement in Pakistan and Kenya to improve service delivery and accountability using technology that provides direct links for real time customer feedback.

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40,000Mw electricity cab be produced thru Sindh’s wind corridors KARACHI

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akistan can produce more than 40,000 megawatt electricity through wind corridors located in Thatha district of Sindh province. There are more coastal areas in Balochistan as well where a huge potential of the alternative green energy exists but due to lack of infrastructure facilities, the gov-

ernment has not conducted survey in this regard, said Col (R) Muzaffar Hussain, General Manager, Plants Foundation Wind Energy Limited (FWEL). BrieQing a group of journalists here, Muzaffar said currently the wind projects having 400 megawatt power generation capacity are operational across the country including FFC Energy (49.5 MW) Jhampir, Zorlu Enerji Pakistan (56.4 MW) Jhampir, Three Gorges First Wind Farm Pakistan (49.5 MW)

Jhampir, Foundation Wind Energy – I (50 MW) Gharo and Foundation Wind Energy II (50 MW) Gharo.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) arranged the press tour for the group of journalists from Islamabad and took them to various power projects in different areas of the country. Muzafar said work on more projects with power generation capacity of 600 MW is in process which he said would be completed by 2018. He said Fauji Foundation is

the pioneer in this renewable energy and when it started work on the project investors were hesitant to invest but after successful completion of its projects, conQidence in the investors developed and a number of local and foreign investors are now taking keen interest in this sector. He said different local investors namely Yunus, Gul Ahmad, Tapal and Metro are also investing in the wind energy projects. Giving details about the FWEL-I, II, Col Muzaffar Hussain

said that the projects involve construction, erection and operation of 100 MW of wind generation capacity, at Kutti Kun, close to the port city of Karachi. He said the project would sell electricity to the national grid under 20- year take-or-pay off contracts. He said the projects would pay back its total investment within 10 years and after that the cost per unit of the wind energy would be about Rs 6 while currently its cost is around Rs 10 per unit.

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he Pakistan Customs has decided in principles to make Azakhel Dry Port operational by January 15, 2016 while the prevailing dry port of Peshawar Cantonment will also remain intact.

The decision was taken during a visit of Collector Customs, Peshawar, Qurban Ali Khan along with Additional Collectors, Aftab Haider, Syed Fazal Samad, Adeem Khan and Deputy Collector, Dry Port, Zakir Khan.

On this occasion, DCO Pakistan Railways, Omar Riaz, chairman, Frontier Customs Agents Group KP, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi and other members of the group were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, the Collector Customs, Qurban Ali Khan said that they are very much serious about Azakhel Dry Port and his visit is ample proof of it. He termed Azakhel Dry Port better than the prevailing Dry Port in Peshawar Cantonment and will be operationalize soon.

He said that before the operationalization of Azakhel Dry Port they will review all those aspects and requirements. However, DCO Pakistan Rail-

ways Omar Riaz said that the place site is presently with World Food Programme (WFP) and will be handed over to Pakistan Railways by the end of the current calendar year.

Omar Riaz said that Pakistan Railways is also keen in the operationalizing of the dry port, but the site also has some infrastructure related problems.

In this connection, he said that a PCI had already been prepared, but, it will take some time. However, Pakistan Customs and Pakistan Railways have evolved consensus that the dry port will be operationalize by January 15, 2015.

Meanwhile, The Model Customs Collectorate Peshawar has seized smuggled goods that were being brought into Pakistan in guise of dry fruits, and arrested two suspects in the case. According to the details, Peshawar Customs received information that importer M/s Central Asia Linker would attempt to smuggle large quantity of foreign origin goods into the country.

Moreover, M/s Central Asia Linker imported a consignment from Afghanistan and declared

as Afghan origin dry fruits etc. in 12 trailers but goods two trailers were laden with undeclared stuff.

So customs with the support of Frontier Constabulary (FC) raided and seized two trailers, besides arresting two accused on the spot.

Upon examination, the ofQicials found undeclared goods including PVC panaQlex sheet, cigarette paper, skimmed milk powder, and dried onions.

e sion, th a c c o e li g on th urban A Q Speakin , s m o ry r cust y are ve collecto e h t t a Dr y id th zakhel khan sa A t u o b rious a roof of much se visit is ample p rt o d his el Dry p h k port an a z A rmed g Dr y it. he te revailin p e h t ent han antonm better t c r a w . a pesh ize soon l a n port in o i t ra l be ope and wil

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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

Need to simplify tax laws

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World Bank report has pointed out very serious issue regarding tax liabilities and tax administration in the country. It says that frequent revision of tax regulations and unpredictable tax rules have not only worsened business climate but also deterred the potential investment in Pakistan. The core issues highlighted in the report include complex regulations which it says are difficult to administer and comply with while the vague language of tax laws makes it difficult for small business enterprises to apprehend their tax liabilities. The multiple interpretations of the laws provide a room for both firms and tax authorities to exploit the situation in their favours. The report also says that frequent changes in tax laws mean the taxpayers have to continuously follow tax notifications published in the official gazette to keep themselves abreast of their tax obligations. The report says that the governments in Pakistan and Bangladesh are among the South Asian nations which frequently make changes in their tax regulations. According to the report, administrative burden of tax compliance is very difficult in Pakistan where firms have to make 47 payments and spend 594 hours or 74 man days per year to deal with tax regulations as compared to 12 payments and 175 hours in high income countries. At least 87 percent time in Pakistan is consumed on dealing with taxes or 514 hours per year is spent to comply with value added tax. The report says that 29 percent firms in Pakistan offer gifts to tax officials while corruption not only harmsbusinesses, but also shatters the confidence of the business community in government institutions. As a result, a large portion of population is afraid of coming under the tax net. The report also highlights the issue of corporate income tax in South Asia, saying it has the higher rate than in other developing regions. The average corporate income tax rate in Pakistan and other South Asian nations such as Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka is 32 percent as compared to the global average of 24 percent. The rates of corporate income tax have been reduced in all regions during the past decade. As a matter of fact, not all the official machinery is corrupt, but presence of black sheep is also admitted on the official level.

tApI gas pipeline, challenges T

LAHORE

Dr AFtAB AFZAL

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he dream of regional integration has been transforming into a reality after leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India joined hands in Mary city of Turkmenistan to formally launch the historic TAPI gas pipeline project. The project, which will cost $10 billion, will be completed by 2019 and will ensure supply of 1325mmcfd (million cubic feet per day) natural gas to Pakistan to help mitigate energy crisis in the country. Starting from Galkynys gas Qield of Turkmenistan, the pipeline will pass through Afghanistan into Pakistan and it will culminate at Fazilka

town of India near the Pak-Indian border. The project will beneQit around 1.5 billion people in this region and the ‘blue fuel’ known in the Turkmen’s local dialect will continue Qlowing by 33 billion cusec meters per annum.

Highlighting the importance of the project, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the Qlagship project would usher in a new era of shared prosperity and socio-economic development in the region and transform the lives of millions of people in the region. No doubt the presence of the leaders of all the parties involved in the project indicates the importance they attached to the project and their commitment to complete it as early as possible. As a matter of fact, this is the century of econ-

omy and regional integration. The people living in South Asia and Central Asia share not only common history and culture, but also business trade and economy. Instead of trading with far lung areas, it is better to develop regional trade for the beneQits of the common man.

Despite having vast oil and gas reservoirs in Pakistan, the country has been facing severe energy crisis for the last two decades and supply of gas from Turkmenistan will give new lease of life to the ailing industry in the country.

However, insurgency in Afghanistan and parts of central Asian states is the big threat to the pipeline project. Pakistan on its part can do anything for the safety of the pipeline, but one

country cannot do everything all alone. Prime minister has correctly pointed out that Pakistan has no control over the Afghan Taliban but it will use whatever inQluence it has to bring peace and prosperity to this region. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimohamedow and Indian Vice President Muhammad Hamid Ansari pushed the button of 1,814-kilometer pipeline project, hoping that the work will be completed in four years. Work on another power project CASA-1000 was being carried out expeditiously and it gives a message to India and Bangladesh to change their antiPakistan policies for peace and prosperity of this region.

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Russian grain exports decrease to 17.79mt this season MOSCOW: Russia’s Agriculture Ministry announced on Dec. 14 that as of Dec. 9 it has exported 17.79 million tonnes of grain this season.

Exports were down 6% compared to the 18.96 million tonnes exported in the same season last year.

Russia’s season begins on July 1.

According to the operative data of the Federal Customs Service of Russia, 13.38 tonnes of wheat was exported, down 11% compared to 15.09 million tonnes in the same season of last year.

Barley exports reached 2.81 million tonnes, up 1.9% in the same season of last year and maize exports were 1.43 million tonnes, compared to 892,000 tonnes during the same period a year ago.

ccp wants to educate FccI members about competition law ompetition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) will like to work with Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) in order to facilitate and assist its members in competition issues and for the voluntary compliance of this law, said CCP Chairperson Vadiyya Khalil.

Addressing a function held here today in connection with the launching of CCP road show, she said that the main objective of competition

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law is to enhance economic efficiency and create a level playing field for all economic players. “Hence it is a pro competition, pro consumer and pro growth law”, she added.

She told that CCP has embarked on a national road show to educate businesses about the benefits of competition law. These road shows will be held in 22 cities to create awareness about competition law and ultimately achieve the objectives of economic progress, she added. Earlier, FCCI President Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz welcomed the participants of the meeting and introduced Faisalabad and FCCI. Lauding the role of CCP, he said that it not only provide much needed relief to the consumers but also prevents businesses from the ill impacts of anti competition practices.

He said that CCP has also played a major role in discouraging cartelization and monopolization in the country.

However, time has now come to work beyond economic stabilization by addressing the issues relating to the structural challenges, he said. Ikram ul Haque Qureshi, Member Cartelization, trade abuse and legal responded to various questions and requested FCCI members to contact CCP in case of any issue relating to the CCP.—CB Report

Saturday December 19, 2015

Chambers

IccI for focusing on SMes to boost economic growth T

ISLAMABAD

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he government should take urgent measures to address the key issues of SMEs and focus on its better development in order to boost up the economic growth of the country. The economic development history shows that the strong economies achieved prosperity by creating conducive environment for progressive growth of SMEs and Pakistan could be no exception to this approach. These views were expressed by Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry during an interaction with a delegation of SME sector. He said SME sector was the backbone of the economy as it was making signiQicant contribution to GDP growth, exports and employment, therefore, sound development of this sector was vital to revive the economy. He said government should develop institutional mechanisms to provide technical expertise and support to SMEs and arrange training programs for their capacity building to bring them at par with regional competitors.

Atif Ikram Sheikh said fast growth of SMEs would yield multiple beneQits for the economy as it would accelerate business activities, create more jobs to overcome unemployment problems, promote exports and generate more tax revenue for the country.

The delegation members highlighted the key issues of SMEs. They said lack of access to easy Qinancing, insufQicient institutional support, inadequate network of micro Qinance banks, non-provision of technical ex-

pertise and many other factors were hampering the growth of SMEs and called for urgent redress of these issues to put this sector on the path of progressive growth. They said SMEs were facing capital deQicit issues for expansion & growth and they needed better cooperation and support from the government to turn small and medium enterprises into a vibrant and Qlourishing sector of the economy.

Meanwhile, Businessmen in a meeting at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) showed

Lawrence county’s chamber, eDc to integrate

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NEW YORK

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n integration of Lawrence County’s chamber of commerce and economic development corporation is on the horizon.

The deQinite parameters of such a marriage are not yet known; however, a volunteer integration committee appointed by the boards of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence County Economic Development Corp. has been sanctioned to proceed with the intermixing of the two groups. Linda Nitch, economic development corporation executive director, said the corporation board of directors had passed a motion to integrate with the chamber, with the idea of securing grant funding for the move.

“I have not been privy to any negotiations that have gone on,” she

said yesterday. “They’re telling us that Bob McCracken and I would stay on in our respective positions.”

McCracken, executive director of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, said he, too, was told as well that his job would remain intact and that the two agencies would integrate. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I think it will be a good thing for Lawrence County.”

“I’m out of the loop on this,” he added, as far as knowing any details being planned. “It’s all being done by the volunteer board.”

He was referring to the integration committee, which on the chamber’s behalf includes businessmen Justin Bruce, John Cournan, Frank Moses and Chuck Jackson. Representing economic development on the committee are Jonathan Bruce, Nick Paolini and Mark Tomaszewski.

Lawrence County Commissioner Steve Craig is spearheading it as the

facilitator. Craig, recently re-elected to serve his fourth four-year term as a Lawrence County commissioner, had said during a pre-election interview with the New Castle News that getting the two agencies and the county’s tourist promotion agency to pull together and work for the same goal to attract people, business, industry and jobs to the county was his most important aim if he was re-elected. The process is well under way, he said yesterday, but the legalities and details are not all ironed out yet and the Qinal results could be a few months from now. Meanwhile, The Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce (CBRCC) is pleased to announce the location of its upcoming 48th Annual Gala. The chamber will begin a new year under Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on January 22, 2016 from 7-9:30 p.m.

concerns over the trend of consistent rise in public debt of the country and called upon the government to arrest the rising debt. They said that due to increasing debt every Pakistani now owed a debt of more than Rs 101,300.

ICCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, Senior Vice President Sheikh Pervez Ahmed and Vice President Sheikh Abdul Waheed said the country has witnessed an unprecedented increase of around 434 percent in public debt within a short span of 15 years as our public debt in 2000 was Rs 3,172 billion which has surged to Rs16,936 billion by the end of March 2015. It showed that the successive governments have resorted to huge borrowings without giving consideration to the fact that this reckless approach was pushing the country towards a serious debt trap. They stressed upon the government to make an innovative strategy to get rid of debt issue and give priority focus to exploiting indigenous resources to overcome Qiscal deQicit problems. They said the heavy borrowing by the government from banks has also limited the space for credit Qlow to the private sector due to which businesses were facing problems in growth and expansion.

Valley chamber announces 2015 citizens of the Year he 2015 Male Citizen of the Year is Valley Center Fire Chief, Joe Napier. Chief Napier and his wife, Martie, have been residents of Valley Center for over 20 years and raised both their children, Meghan Napier Fletcher and Jeremy Napier, here. He began his fire service career in Vista, California, rising through the ranks to become a Battalion Chief with the Vista Fire Department. When approached for the VCFPD Fire Chief opportunity, he competed against 30 candidates from across the US. He rose to the top because of his intimate understanding of our community and his tireless efforts he devotes to his self described “dream job.—CB Report

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Sri Lanka Customs strike delays flights at airport Saturday December 19, 2015

World

COLOMBO: A strike by customs officials at the country’s main airport resulted in several international flights being delayed from Colombo, the media reported.

Sri Lanka’s national airline carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, said its flights to London, Beijing, Singapore and Lahore were delayed, Xinhua report.

The delays occurred because customs officials went on a wild cat strike to protest their bags being subjected to checks upon their arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The strike, however, was called off by Wednesday afternoon and officials said flights will operate as scheduled.

Saudi Arabia foils large-scale fuel smuggling attempt

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audi Arabia, whose subsidised fuel prices are among the world’s lowest, it foiled a large-scale bid to illegally export diesel fuel.

canadian man arrested in cocaine smuggling case Canadian man has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his involvement in a ring that used low-flying helicopters to smuggle cocaine and marijuana across the U.S. border in 2008 and 2009. After fighting extradition for years, Sean William Doak pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Monday. Prosecutors say the conspiracy was headed by Colin Hugh Martin, who has yet to be brought to the U.S. The group used helicopters leased through a front company to fly hundreds of pounds of marijuana at a time into remote forest clearings in Washington state. The pilots would meet drivers bringing shipments of cocaine up from the Los Angeles area, and fly that back into British Columbia. One pilot, Sam Lindsay-Brown, committed suicide in the Spokane County Jail after he flew into a setup.—CB Report

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A total of 9mn litres of the fuel in 450 tankers “had been prepared at a number of locations” in Riyadh and the Eastern region before movement to Dammam port, the oil ministry said, quoted by the ofQicial Saudi Press Agency.

No details were given on the planned destination of the fuel, or whether any arrests were made.

The ministry said it was the

largest attempt to smuggle diesel since it introduced technology to “mark” the fuel.

SPA said the large difference between the domestic and external price of fuel motivates such smuggling attempts.

Saudi petrol prices are the cheapest in the Gulf. Motorists in the kingdom can Qill their tanks for around $6 for a sedan or $18 for an SUV. Oil and gas-dependent Gulf economies are coping with plunging revenues after world crude prices fell by more than 60% since early last year.

Saudi neighbour the United Arab Emirates ended subsidies on fuel in July, in a move expected to conserve billions of dollars annually.

It raised the price of petrol but lowered pump prices of diesel.

In October, Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said the kingdom was considering raising domestic energy prices, but last month said his country is not in “dire need” to cut energy subsidies.

china customs tariff commission issues amendments to customs tariff

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he Customs Tariff Commission of State Council (“Tariff Commission”), issued Announcement [2015] No. 23 (“Announcement”), announcing its amendments to the Customs tariff in 2016 (“Amendments”). The Amendments adjust, at the 8-digit HS Code level, the import tariff rates for 787 tariff items, export tariff rates for 250 tariff items, and add another 9 tariff items into the PRC Tariff Schedule.

Among them, the import tariff rates

for 27 kinds of environmental products, such as waste incinerators and wind power generator sets, are lowered to 5%. Also, the import tariff rates for certain consumer or luxury products are substantially lowered.

For example, the import tariff rates for diapers and napkins, sunglasses, suitcases of leather surface, and coats of wool or fur, respectively drop from 7.5% (MFN) to 2% (Interim), from 20% to 6%, from 15% to 10% and from 25% to 13%.—CB Report

NZ’s customs clutches drug racket WALLINGTON

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22-year-old Hamilton man has been sentenced to two years and seven months’ imprisonment for importing and possessing drugs. This is Customs’ eighth conviction under Operation Ruckus, which dismantled a drug syndicate importing methamphetamine precursors.

Hayden Bacon was convicted on four charges including possessing pseudoephedrine (Contac NT), importing a psychoactive substance, and importing and supplying ecstasy (MDMA).

Operation Ruckus began after Customs intercepted eight packages of the methamphetamine precursor, Contac NT, between July and October 2013, which were couriered to addresses in Auckland and Hamilton.

Most packages were hidden inside

laptop bags, while one was concealed in a builder’s spirit level, and another inside lint rollers. The total 11.4 kilogram Contac NT could have yielded up to 3.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth up to $3.4 million. Following investigations, six men between the ages of 22 to 38 years were arrested in Hamilton and Auckland, including Bacon. Benjamin McMullen and Patrick Sinclair were sentenced to home detention for their roles as catchers, while two organisers were each jailed for over two years. Michael Synnott was imprisoned for 3 years and 3 months for a similar role. Further enquiries led to the arrest of two more offenders that were at a higher level in the syndicate. They were sentenced in the North Shore District Court last week (10 December) to 6 and 7 years imprisonment. Customs Manager Investigations, Maurice O’Brien, says disrupting the supply chain of methamphetamine and its precursors is Customs’ number one drug priority.

Italian woman arrested for running cocaine smuggling network

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talian police have arrested a woman who is accused of taking over the infamous Cosa Nostra maQia after her husband was jailed.

Prosecutors claim mother of Qive Teresa Marino, 38, seized control of the gang’s drug trafQicking network and managed its cocaine shipments after her husband was arrested in April last year. With Tommaso Lo Presti behind bars, Marino is said to have become a more central part of the maQia, at a time when women are controlling more prominent roles in the crime family. Traditionally, only

men become ‘maQioso’ but there is believed to have been a seismic shift in the way the Cosa Nostra is run.

Marino ‘directed all criminal activities of the maQia group’, said police, who admitted her husband may still be leaking orders to her from prison.

She is also accused of acting as its treasurer and dishing out cash gifts to other wives whose husbands were also in prison, the Telegraph reported. She and the other 37 people arrested across Italy were charged with extortion, maQia association, drug trafQicking.—CB Report

uS customs opens office at Appleton airport

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U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facility at the airport opened at. No international commercial Qlights are allowed with the designation, only business-related personnel with up to 20 passengers, or cargo.

“This additional dimension international status can only add horsepower to what is already a powerful engine of commerce in northeast Wisconsin,” said Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.

“Our business community is now more directly linked to their international counterparts and the door is open to a world of possibilities.”

The Appleton International Airport marks the Qifth international airport in Wisconsin, joining Green Bay, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine. The new 3,200-square-foot facility includes a customs processing center, a 20-seat waiting room and a walk-up window for passengers or the public to ask questions of the customs agent. One customs agent will staff the facility from 11

a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Airport Director Abe Weber said projections show 75 to 100 aircraft using the airport in its Qirst year as an international airport. Already two planes from overseas will land in Appleton this weekend, he said. Weber hopes the number of international Qlights will grow in the coming years by heavily marketing its international status.

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Former cruise ship employee guilty of smuggling cocaine TAMPA: A man who was part of a group of cruise ship employees who smuggled cocaine into Tampa from Honduras faces 10 years to life in prison after being found guilty.

Desrick Gordon, 23, of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and five other crewmen on the Norwegian Cruise Line received packages filled with between 750 grams and a kilogram of cocaine from a source when their ship was docked in Toatan, Honduras, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

When the ship docked in Tampa, the smugglers gathered at a restaurant near the port to remove their packages and then handed them off to local drug traffickers with ties to the Honduran source.

port Authority poised to lead $14b gateway tunnel project he Port Authority is poised to take a lead role in the multiagency effort to build a new rail tunnel from New Jersey into Manhattan and refurbish the decaying 105-year-old tunnel badly damaged in Superstorm Sandy.

The board of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey took the first step last week by agreeing to create a development corporation that would include representation from the Port, Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Creation of the corporation is expected to help expedite the so-called Gateway Tunnel Project, an effort that could take 10 years and cost about $14 billion, officials said. The federal government has said it will pay for half of the project, but how it will be financed by local governments hasn’t been determined. The tunnel project is

Ports & Shipping

Mediterranean Shipping signs deal for $100m port

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part of the larger Gateway Program for rail improvements along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor from Newark Penn Station to Penn Station in Manhattan, all of which is expected to cost about $20 billion. The urgency of replacing and renovating the Hudson River tunnel has been underscored in recent months, especially by Sen. Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.), who has led efforts to get the project funded and organized. Schumer said the existing tunnel, a crucial link in Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, could be non-functional in as little as seven years. “Everyone thought they had 20 or 30 years, and then Sandy came along and made it much much worse, so we really had to move,” Schumer said. Port Authority executive director Pat Foye and members of the board said expediting the tunnel is regionally necessary.—CB Report

he Mediterranean Shipping Company committed to the construction of a $100m private island cruise port, set to get underway at Sandy Cay in early 2016.

The development is expected to create 600 construction jobs and employ more than 300 permanent employees. Prime Minister Perry Christie, along with MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, signed a heads of agreement on Wednesday, with both sides hail-

ing the moment as a major economic thrust for the northern Bahamas. According to Mr Christie, the agreement paves the way for the construction of the “self-sustaining operation and environmental management” of a cruise port, the likes of which the country has never seen.

Additionally, Mr Christie said the cruise destination, set to serve 369,000 guests annually, is expected to feature shopping, dining, retail and recreational spaces, an amphitheatre and a ship-based inQirmary. The development’s plans also call for a marine reserve at Sandy Cay, offering a unique diving experience for guests. Mr Christie noted that historically, MSC’s cruise activ-

ities in the Bahamas have in recent years generated around $17m of direct expenditure.

MSC is considered the world’s second largest global shipping company. In addition to its shipping properties around the world, MSC has also generated one of the largest and fastest growing cruise lines.

Since it’s inception in 2012, MSC has grown 800 per cent while encompassing a Qleet of twelve cruise ships carrying 1.7 million passengers to 45 countries globally.

It is anticipated that economic activity from the cruise port at Sandy Cay will bring an additional 465,000 annual cruise passengers to The Bahamas,” Mr Christie said.

Saturday December 19, 2015

tV panel shipments declines 0.8% in November he latest large-size LCD panel shipment report by WitsView, a division of TrendForce, says a total of 22.74 million LCD TV panels were shipped in November, representing just a 0.8% decrease compared with prior month and a 2.2% increase year on year.

Iris Hu, WitsView assistant research manager, stated that since branded TV vendors are going to do an annual inventory check at the end of year, some of the December’s panel demand was pulled into November. Consequently, November’s monthly TV panel shipments saw only a small decline.

LG Display (LGD) posted the best TV panel shipment result in November with 4.82 million units shipped and monthly growth of 12.8%. LGD has been expanding its presence in China and is now the leader in LCD TV panel market on account of its close-knit relationships with its Chinese partners.

The other South Korean panel maker Samsung Display Corp. (SDC) by contrast has had uneven performances through this year because it relied too much on purchase orders from the group company Samsung Electronics. Nonetheless, SDC’s monthly TV panel shipments for November grew 11.4% to 4.26 million units due to October having shorter shipment base period. Taiwanese panel maker Innolux managed to post impressive results owing to Mexico’s procurement.—CB Report

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20,000 hoverboards coming via single uk port ruled illegal

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NEW YORK

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rading Standards ofQicers are Qinding it impossible to cope with the tens of thousands of illegal or dangerous hoverboards Qlooding into the UK’s biggest port.

The health and safety inspectors have been under huge pressure as the must-have gadgets pour into Felixstowe, Suffolk, from China and the Far East for the British Christmas market. Staff are being stretched to

the limit – with an astounding 20,000 of the 30,000 hoverboards checked at the container gateway ruled either unsafe or illegal.

The numbers are now so vast that Trading Standards agents have admitted that they simply cannot check them all. A spokeswoman for the Suffolk County Council-based unit said they take note of where the twowheeled balance boards are going before tipping off the relevant authorities that they are on their way and require a thorough checking.

Meanwhile, Container trafQic will

continue to grow, but at a slower rate, underpinning a stable outlook for U.S. ports, Moody’s Investors Service says in a report. Container cargo volume growth through U.S. ports will slow in 2016 as demand for American exports remains weak and U.S. retailers work through high inventories, according to a report by Moody’s Investors Service. Moody’s said it expects container volume will rise 3% to 4% next year, down from 5% growth this year. The strong growth in 2015 was due in part to a large inQlux of container cargo after

West Coast dockworkers reached terms of a multi-year contract with their port employers in late February.

During the months-long negotiation process, which began in May of 2014, the West Coast ports experienced periods of excessive delays with cargo ships waiting to enter the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for weeks. “The growth this year was inQlated by the port gridlock and then the unwinding of that, which has really driven up inventories in the U.S.,” said Moses Kopmar, a Moody’s analyst and author of the report.

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FBR for catching tax defaulters’ luxury vehicles KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to take action against tax defaulter luxury vehicles with the start of new colander year 2016. Sources said that FBR will take legal action against non-taxpayers those have not been paying tax on sale and purchase of vehicle for last two years.

The sources added that the department will freeze the bank accounts of tax defaulters those did not have national tax number but after issuing notices to them at first stage.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

collector Dr Ahmed Mujtaba’s hyderabad ASo confiscates 20 cartons of gutka HYDERABAD ASLAM ANJuM QureShI www.customsbulletin.com

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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) has seized smuggled Indian gutka worth Rs 600,000 during a raid in Kotri, Hyderabad As per details, the ASO team following credible information received through Hyderabad Customs Collector Dr Ahmed Mujtaba Memon, under the super vision of Additional Collector Umar ShaQique conducted a raid to hold smuggled contraband item.

The ASO team comprising Superintendent Sikandar Akbar Phanwar, Deputy Superintendent Anwar Ahmad Saddiqui, Inspector Waqar Ahmad Baig and others conducted raid and held 20 cartons of gutka, which were being smuggled from Quetta to Hyderabad. The suspects managed to escape from the scene, while the team took items in its custody.

Further investigations are underway in this regard.

Meanwhile, The customs intelligence Qield investigation unit Hyderabad has seized smuggled vehicles, tiles, goods items worth Rs 19.5 million. The goods also involves

duty and taxes amounting to Rs 14.2 million. The items were impounded from August upto Novem-

ber 2015. Sources told Customs Today, that customs intelligence and investigation conducted various op-

erations against the smuggled goods and vehicles in different areas of Hyderabad. Sources said that deputy

director FIU Muhammad Tayyab received credible information about different smuggling activities.

customs court allows bail to suspects of using forged documents KARACHI

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he Special Court of Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling has granted pre-arrest bail to M/s Digicom Trading Private Limited’s director and manager suspects in a case of forging documents for reexport of a consignment that contained 71,400 sets of mobile phones worth Rs 107 million.

Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi approved the bail for two suspects against surety bonds of Rs200, 000 each. M/s Digicom Trading Private Limited Director Zeeshan Yousuf and Manager Haris Siddiquie, represented by Advocate Syed Shabeer Hassan Shah moved the court seeking pre-arrest bail.

According to the details of the case, the customs authorities had received a tip-off that a cartel along with other accomplices have planned to get a container cleared fraudulently in the guise of transshipment(TP) but they could not succeeded to shift the container

under TP scheme due to fear of being caught by the customs.

Subsequently, they tried to obtain re-export permission from the Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement under the guise of frustrated cargo but their request was refused. Being perplexed with the situation, the same cartel manipulated to clear the goods on payment of duty and taxes at Karachi, instead of Qiling TP for its transportation to up-country by way of manoeuvring and preparing fake identities and suspiciously managing NOC and authorization.

Consequently, the container,

which arrived from Hong Kong and was lying at MTO Yard, West Warf, Karachi was subjected to scrutiny and examination, which led to recovery of 71,400 pieces of mobile phones worth estimated at Rs107.1 million. The container belonged to M/s Zawah Impex and Co. Lahore and the same was to be transported to Lahore under TP scheme. Suspect Rahim Sultan Ali in collusion with accused Zeeshan attempted to get the goods cleared on payment of duty/taxes through manoeuvring the documents. Haris Siddiquie, employee of M/s Digicom issued the authorization doc-

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uments. Another suspect Junaid was also involved in the crime whose role would be ascertained during the investigation.

Meanwhile, The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has rejected the bail plea of a suspect in a case pertaining to the smuggling of cellular phones and foreign liquor into the country.

Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi announced the verdict after hearing arguments from the defence and the prosecution sides. Pakistan International Airlines staffer had Qiled the bail application, seeking his release on bail.