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Karachi, Fri Dec 07, 2018

KARACHI

WAQAR AHMED ANSARI www.customsbulletin.com

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ollectorate of Customs Appraisement East collected Rs38808.55 million during the month of November 2018 under the head of all duty and taxes. According to details, Appraisement East collected Rs11245.78 million under the head of customs duty (CD), Rs12748.41 million as sales tax (ST), Rs14724.24 as income tax (IT) and Rs 89.58 as federal excise duty (FED).

Earlier, Collectorate of Cus-

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toms Appraisement East collected Rs39981.93 million during the month of October 2018 under head of all duty and taxes including Rs10574.48 million as customs duty (CD), Rs13845.16 million as sales tax (ST), Rs15471.04 as income tax (IT) and Rs91.25 as federal excise duty (FED).

Collectorate of Customs Appraisement East collected Rs39986.5 million during the month of September 2018 under head of all duty and taxes including Rs11372.11 million as customs duty (CD), Rs13927.11 million as sales tax (ST), Rs14598.04 as income tax (IT) and Rs 89.24 as federal excise duty (FED).

FBR declares provision of PT evidence mandatory for importers

DG Valuation Surriya directs to review VR No 748/2015

Customs I&I team recovers Chinese origin auto parts worth Rs20m

Customs Preventive submits FIR of betel nuts smuggling case

Peshawar Customs impounds goods worth Rs45.67 million

FBRmadeitmandatoryfortheimportersto providePTevidenceinclearingofconsignments | SEE pAgE 02 |

DG Valuation asked to review the Valuation Ruling No. 748/2015 | SEE pAgE 03 |

Customs I&I team raided a godown belonged to M/s Afzal Auto Center located | SEE pAgE 04 |

Customs directed investigation oďŹƒcer of Preventive to complete investigations | SEE pAgE 09 |

Collectorate of Customs initiated antismugglingdriveinKPtocurbsmuggling | SEE pAgE 16 |

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People asked to file tax returns at earliest Friday, December 07, 2018

Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue has asked the peoples to file their income tax returns at the earliest to take advantage of numerous facilities offered by the government for active tax payers.

For the facilitation of people, the authority has already extended the deadline for filing income tax return to15th of this month. The source in FBR told Radio Pakistan that immediately after filing income tax returns, the name of the filer would be enlisted among the active taxpayers.

fBR declares provision of pt evidence mandatory for importers

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

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SHAHID MINHAS

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ederal Minister for National Health Services Aamer Mehmood Khan on has announced to impose sin tax on tobacco products.

Addressing the Annual Public Health Conference, the federal minister revealed: “We are sending a sin tax bill in the National Assembly in which taxes would be imposed on cigarettes and tobacco products.”

He went on to add the accumulated tax would be invested on the youth in terms of their human development as well as in education. The notion of sin tax on products containing elements of tobacco, has also been materialized in Philippines, it was revealed.

At the ninth Public Health Conference, Federal Health Minister shared national vision of health reforms in the country. While inaugurating Health conference, he also said that health is key for quality of life, and the key to social sector development. While sharing the challenges the health sector faced, Kiyani, acknowledged that the health system possesses several gaps while adding that this gap has to be minimized. “Achieving Universal Health Coverage is one of our main priority areas. We intend to cover whole of Pakistan through Insurance Program and Health Cards by 2020,”he said. To promote preventive health measures, Federal Minister also highlighted the need of improvements in immunization coverage and its quality, across the country for a better health status.

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) made it mandatory for the importers to provide Payment Transaction (PT) evidence during clearing of consignments, it is learnt here.

OfQicial sources told Customs Today that FBR has directed all Qield formations to stringent the monitoring of clearance of consignments on dry ports and airports across the country in order to curb money laundering, smuggling and discourage the hawala/hundi, sources conQirmed. Sources further added that on the direction of FBR, the customs ofQicials have implemented the strategy and directed all the importers to provide Payment Transaction evidences and also Electronic Import Form for the clearance of their consignments on ports.

Sources said that it is a strategy to monitor that how much payments have been done for the import of goods and also to which country. Without providing Electronic Import Form and Payment Transaction evidence importer will not able to get clear his consignments on the ports, sources conQirmed. It is also important to mention here that State Bank of Pakistan has already made it mandatory for the exporters to provide export form during export of goods.

govt to impose sin tax on tobacco products

Meawhile, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs274 billion taxes during the month of November 2018 against the assigned target of Rs313 billion, recording revenue shortfall of Rs39 billion, it is learnt here. OfQicial sources told Customs Today that the board is facing tough time while achieving the assigned tar-

gets where the board has recorded at least Rs99 billion of revenue shortfall during current Qive months of Fiscal Year 2018-19. The board has collected Rs1380 billions of taxes revenue (provisionally) within Qive months of the current Qiscal years while the assigned target from July to November 2018 was Rs1479 bil-

lion. Sources further said that during the month of October 2018, the board collected Rs270 billion against the assigned target of Rs315 billion posting revenue shortfall of Rs45 billion.

While during July to October 2018, the board had collected Rs1106 billion against the assigned target of Rs1166 billion, sources conQirmed.

IHc bars I&I from cashing post-dated cheques of Hunbal tex pvt Ltd

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ISLAMABAD

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slamabad High Court has disposed of the writ petition preventing the Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Rawalpindi from cashing the post-dated cheques until Qinal decision is made.

However, the court also ordered that show-cause notices issued to M/s Hunbal Tex Pvt. Limited may

continue. According to details, the case submitted by M/s Hunbal Tex Pvt Limited against the Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Rawalpindi was heard

by Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb. During the hearing of the case, the petitioner argued that it is a private limited company incorporated under the company laws of Pakistan and the instant petition is being Qiled as an essential component (reactive dyes) used in textile industry for painting of fabric

through airfreight initially held illegally by customs authority at the AFU Islamabad for about three months after having been Qinally released by AFU authorities again blocked by Customs I&I for about 15 days without issuing any notice under section 171 of the Customs act 1969. The petitioner sought indulgence of this to the extent of nonaction of the Directorate-General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Rawalpindi on the provisional release and the grave abuse of the

power by the Directorate-General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Rawalpindi. The court heard both the parties and ordered that it is an admitted position that the petitioner was able to secure the release of the detained goods on the presentation of the post-dated cheques. A show-cause notice has already been issued to the petitioner; however, the matter is yet to be decided by the Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, after brief submission for the contesting parties arrived at the consensus to the effect that the proceeding pursuant to the show-cause notices issued to the petitioner may continue but the post-dated cheques furnished by the petitioner shall not be encashed until a Qinal decision is made Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Rawalpindi in accordance with the law laid down by this court in the writ petition no.

1026/2017.

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Court approves remand of accused involved in betel nuts smuggling case KARACHI: The Customs court sent suspect namely Abdul Rahim son of Shahdad Khan, Kalim Ullah son of Shah Muhammad, who were arrested in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid betel nuts etc, to customs department on physical remand.

Investigation officer of Customs Preventive produced the suspects along with First Information Report (FIR) and submitted that on an actionable information, a team of customs officials intercepted passenger bus (New Shandar Coach) bearing registration no: BSB-808 and recovered 101,000 pouches One-2-One brand, Indian gutka, 291,840 pouches VM-88 gutka worth Rs5,892,600 and 2,070 kilograms betel nuts worth Rs550,620.

SHc reserves verdict on bail petition filed by ex-chairmen of kpt

Friday December 07, 2018

Karachi

Dg Valuation Surriya directs to review VR No 748/2015

KARACHI

M.B RANA

www.customsbulletin.com he Sindh High Court (SHC) reserved the verdict on bail petitions filed by Muhammad Javed Hanif, Rauf Aktar Rarooqi, former chairmen of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and others, in a case of corruption and abuse of authority for illegally appointing 940 employees in KPT. A two-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro was heard the matter. During the hearing, counsel for petitioners Javad Hanif, Rauf Akhtar Farooqi, Mahmood Sharif, Ameer Ali Barohi, Haji Muhammad Sapras and special prosecutor of NAB completed their arguments. After hearing completion of both sides’ arguments, court reserved order on bail applications which would be announced later. It needs to be mentioned here that Muhammad Javed Hanif, former KPT chairman is confined in Central Jail on judicial remand.

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customs I&I notifies transfers, postings KARACHI

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he Directorate General of Customs Intelligence & Investigation has made transfers and postings within the directorate general.

Superintendent Muhammad Anwar has been transferred from Rawalpindi to Lahore. Superintendent Tahir Iqbal has been transferred from Peshawar to Multan. Principal Appraiser Irshad Ali Shah has been moved from Lahore to Karachi.

Intelligence Officers Sohail Murtaza and Khawaja Ziauddin have been transferred from Karachi to Lahore.

Intelligence Officer Naseer Ahmed has been transferred from Gwadar to Lahore. Intelligence Officer Maqbool Ahmed has been moved from Rawalpindi to Gujranwala. Intelligence Officer Pervaiz Zardari has been transferred from Hyderabad to Karachi and Intelligence Officer Farzand Ali has been transferred from Lahore to Multan. Inspector M. Mubeen Akhtar has been moved from Islamabad to Peshawar.

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KARACHI

WAQAR AHMED ANSARI www.customsbulletin.com

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ustoms Valuation Director General Surriya Ahmed Butt asked Director Valuation Iqbal Muneeb to review the Valuation Ruling No. 748/2015 for removing deficiencies in accordance with law and also taking on board the regular major importers as well as the representatives of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI) and Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCCI).

According to the details, M/s Zami Fabrics agitated against Valuation Ruling No.748/2015 that the department has not made the working/calculations properly while notifying the customs values of the Viscose Fabrics. They also agitated against the price parity maintained between the Viscose Fabrics from various regions. The departmental representatives explained the valuation methodologies adopted by them to arrive at the customs values determined vide the impugned ruling.

After detailed deliberation of the case, Director General Surriya Ahmed Butt advised Director Customs Valuation Iqbal Muneeb to revisit the Valuation Ruling No.748/ 2015 for removing the deQiciencies.

Meawhile, Customs Valuation Director General Surriya Ahmed Butt asked Director Valuation Iqbal Muneeb to review the Valuation Rul-

ing No. 795/2016 for removing deQiciencies in accordance with law and also taking on board the regular major importers as well as the representatives of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI) and Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCCI). According to the details, M/s Faraz Knit Wear agitated against Valuation Ruling No.795/2016 that the department has not made the working/calculations properly while notifying the customs values of the

the departmental representatives explained the valuation methodologies adopted by them to arrive at the customs values determined vide the impugned ruling

fBR to conduct forensic audit of pRAL

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KARACHI

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n bid to improve efQiciency of the information system, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to conduct forensic audit of Pakistan Revenue Automation (Pvt) Limited (PRAL).

The sources said the detailed audit of PRAL would be conducted through independent auditors in information and computer technology (ICT) sector.

PRAL is a private limited company and 100 percent owned by the FBR. The company has been providing services since 1994 and besides FBR it also provides services to the provincial revenue authorities. Presently, the PRAL is providing services, including development of new software system, maintenance of existing system and application at various locations of FBR throughout the country. The sources said previously the system audit of PRAL was conducted in 2013. Later, the World Bank conducted system

analysis of PRAL’s various systems and applications, including IRIS, web-based one customs (WeBOC), sales tax realtime invoice veriQication in 2016. The responsibilities of PRAL include protecting information from disclosure to unauthorised parties and data conQidentiality, integrity and their availability to FBR operations. The FBR developed ICT system for e-Qiling of income tax returns and WeBOC for electronic cargo clearing. The initiatives were taken to enhance trade facilitation and ease doing of business.

Acrylic Yarn. They also agitated against the price parity maintained between the Acrylic Yarn from various regions.

The departmental representatives explained the valuation methodologies adopted by them to arrive at the customs values determined vide the impugned ruling. After detailed deliberation of the case, Director General Surriya Ahmed Butt advised Director Customs Valuation Iqbal Muneeb to revisit the Valuation Ruling No.795/ 2016 for removing the deQiciencies.

pak rupee depreciates against greenback he Pakistani rupee depreciated against the US dollar in interbank. As per the local money market, the greenback picked up 60 paisas against the dollar in interbank for buying at Rs137.80 and it also rose by 70 for selling at Rs137.80. In open market, the dollar added 50 paisas for buying at Rs138 and lost 20 paisas for selling t Rs138.80.

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Customs Appraisement issues notices to three defaulter companies Friday December 07, 2018

Lahore

LAHORE: Collectorate of Customs Appraisement Mughalpura Dry Port issued recovery notices to three companies involved in non-payment of dues.

According to sources of Customs Today, office of the assistant collector customs recovery has issued notices to M/s Aeco International, M/s KK Traders and M/s Fara Agro Pvt Ltd. All of the companies are a defaulter of millions of rupees in the wake of arrears. M/s KK Traders is a defaulter of Rs 395,000 against CUS RC 6322004273.

customs tribunal amends customs I&I team recovers chinese order in seized Iranian origin auto parts worth Rs20m ceramic tiles case LAHORE

LAHORE

SAJID NAWAZ

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ustoms Appellate Tribunal modiQied the order-inoriginal in seized non-duty paid Iranian ceramic tiles in an appeal Qiled by Zikria Arshad, a resident of Gujranwala against Director, Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigations-FBR Lahore and others. Muhammad Sadiq, Member Technical bench-II heard the arguments and scrutinized the record presented by the parties and passed the judgment with remarks that conQiscated goods should be released to the lawful owner on the payment of duties and taxes.

According to the details of the case, on the credible information, Superintendent I&I, after obtaining

Dc Moazzam transfers three customs inspectors ollectorate of Customs Preventive Deputy Collector Headquarters Mohammad Moazzam Raza transferred and posted three customs inspectors with immediate effect.

According to a notification, Inspector Rai Khalid Javed who is performing his duties at Customs Headquarters transferred and posted at Land Freight Unit (LFU) Wagha.

Inspector Qasim Ali Bhtti who is currently posted at Air Freight Unit of Allama Iqbal International Airport transferred and posted at Land Freight Unit (LFU) Wagha.

Inspector Abdul Razzaq transferred and posted at Air Freight Unit of Allama Iqbal International Airport from Land Freight Unit Wagha. All the above-mentioned inspectors stand relieved from their duties from 3.12.2018 with the direction to report at their new place of posting with immediate effect. –CB Report

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search warrants from judicial magistrate raided a godown of M/s Bilal Ceramics and found Iranian origin ceramics tiles. On demand, the owner of the godown failed to produce any legal documents regarding the lawful import of detained tiles and same were seized under Section 156(1) of Customs Act 1969.

After show cause notice, adjudication proceeding culminated and order-in-original passed with remarks that goods to be released to the owner on the payment of duties and taxes along 35 percent redemption Qine @ 35 percent of the value of goods. Not satisQied with the order, same is challenged before the Customs Appellate Tribunal on the grounds that owner of goods already paid liabilities in the imported tiles, the order-in-original passed in a mechanical fashion without following the law and same is liable to set aside.

M HAYAt

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irectorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation team raided a godown belonged to M/s Afzal Auto Center located at Chamra Mandi, Shuja Colony and recovered a huge quantity of non-duty paid auto spare parts worth Rs20 million.

Sources told Customs Today on 1st December 2018 that Rubab Sikandar received actionable information that huge quantity of Chinese origin non-customs paid auto spare parts are dumped in a godown after which she constituted a raiding team under the supervision of Deputy Director Usman Tariq which also includes Intelligence OfQicer Hamid Babar, Nadeem Ahsan, Abid Javed, Agha Sultan Haider and Tipu Sultan.

customs preventive collects Rs4126 million during November

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ustoms Collectorate collected Rs1544 million under the head of customs duty (CD) during the month of November of Fiscal Year 2018-19. Collector Jamil Nasir Khan who is also holding look-after charge of Customs Preventive told Customs Today that customs collected overall revenue of Rs4126 million during the month of November under all heads.

He said that Customs Preventive seized non-duty paid goods worth Rs292 million during the month of November, while the Collectorate col-

lected Rs72 million during the same period of the previous Qiscal year. He said that during the month of November, the Collectorate of Customs Preventive detected three cases of misdeclaration which involved a revenue of Rs135 million while four accused persons were arrested and investigations against them are still in progress.

Collector Jamil Nasir said that customs established a separate team at Air Freight Unit for scrutiny of unclaimed baggage which will submit its Qinal report in two weeks. –CB Report

Sources said that during initial investigations owner of the godown failed to produce any legal documents regarding import and storage of Chinese auto spare parts. Customs I&I team seized spare parts and transferred the same to Directorate of Customs I&I premises while further investigations are still in process till the Qiling of this re-

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port. Meanwhile, Customs I&I team also impounded non-duty paid Mercedez Benz S8 vehicle near Shaukat Khanum Hospital. Sources said that when customs I&I team intercepted the vehicle, the driver parked the vehicle alongside the road and Qled away. Customs team impounded the vehicle and after registering a case started further investigations.

customs I&I undertakes postings, transfers irectorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations Deputy Director Khaldunul Haq issued orders of transfers and postings of twenty employees with immediate effect.

According to a notification, Superintendent Muhammad Anwar transferred and posted from Rawalpindi to Lahore, Superintendent Tahir Iqbal from Peshawar to Multan, Principal Appraiser Irshad Ali Shah from Lahore to Karachi, Intelligence Officer Sohail Murtaza transferred from Karachi to Lahore.

Intelligence Officer Khawaja Ziaud-

din transferred from Karachi to Lahore, Intelligence Officer Naseer Ahmed from Gwadar to Lahore, Intelligence Officer Maqbool Ahmed from Rawalpindi to Gujranwala, Intelligence Officer Pervaiz Zardari from Hyderabad to Karachi, Intelligence Officer Farzand Ali Lahore to Multan and Inspector Mubeen Akhtar transferred from Islamabad to Peshawar. APS Rashid Hussain transferred from Karachi to Multan, Havaldar Muhammad Riasat from Rawalpindi to Islamabad, Havaldar Ehsanullah from Islamabad to Rawalpindi. –CB Report

customs Appellate tribunal declares oNo null & void

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LAHORE

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ustoms Appellate Tribunal decided the case Qiled by Noor Ali, a resident of Quetta against Collector of Customs, Lahore and Collector of Customs Adjudication and others. Omer Arshed Hakeem, member judicial bench-II heard arguments

from both sides and decided the case with remarks that Order-in-Original is set aside and penalty as 20 percent of the value of the vehicle is quashed.

According to the details of the case, the staff of Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) on a credible information intercepted a truck loaded with a huge quantity of miscellaneous foreign origin goods. On demand, the driver failed to produce documents

showing the lawful import and the same were seized under the Customs Act 1969. After show cause notice, adjudication proceeding culminated and Order-in-Original passed that vehicle should be released to the lawful owner on payment of redemption of 20 percent of the value of goods. Being aggrieved with the order, the Appellant Qiled the case before the Customs Appellate Tribu-

nal that Order-in-Original passed against the law and in a mechanical fashion without consideration of relevant facts and same is liable to set aside. On the other side, the representative of the department denied all allegations. After hearing arguments from both sides, Customs Appellate Tribunal decided the case and quashed penalty of 20 percent of the value of the vehicle.

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Friday, December 07, 2018

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MULTAN IMRAN ALI kHAN www.customsbulletin.com

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ollectorate of Customs collected Rs.3537.597 million during the month of November of the Fiscal Year 2018-19.

According to the details, the Collectorate was assigned Rs3789 million revenue collection target from the Federal Board of Revenue for the month of November and it collected Rs3537.597 million against the set target. Multan Customs collected revenue under the heads of customs duty, sales tax, income tax, and federal excise duty (FED) during the above-said period. It collected Rs 1689.988 million against the assigned revenue task of Rs 1311 million under the head of customs duty during November. The Collectorate posted 29 % growth in the collection of customs duty by collecting Rs378.988 million in November. The Collectorate had collected Rs1064.837 million under the head of customs duty during the corresponding period of the economic year 2018-19.

Multan Customs has made a collection of Rs 1805.057 million in wake of sales tax against the set target of Rs1805.057 million during November 2018. The Collectorate achieved almost 48.01% target of sales tax collection during November.

It collected Rs17.477 million against the assigned task of federal excise duty (FED) during the month of November 2018. The Collectorate collected 49% revenue during November 2018. On the other hand, it collected Rs30.820 million in wake of federal excise duty during the corresponding period of November 201718. The Collectorate of Customs collected Rs23.004 million against the assigned revenue task of Rs24 million in wake of income tax during November. It accomplished almost 96% revenue task of income tax during November. The Collectorate had collected Rs21.837 million during the corresponding Qiscal year 2017-18.

Multan Customs has collected additional sales taxes of Rs.3.074 million for the duration of November 2018.

However, Multan Customs had collected Rs3537.597 million overall revenue due to an effective strategy of the Collectorate and collected almost 93% revenue task during November.

Meanwhile, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation generated Rs10.30 million through auction of conQiscated goods and vehicles .

According to the details, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation conducted auction of conQiscated goods and vehicles lying in the warehouse of Customs Intelligence.

Auction was held in the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan ofQice located at the Rajapur near

Khanewal Road.

There were large number of people who participated in the bidding of vehicles and goods. Customs Intelligence offered 11 different lots including vehicles and goods in the auction.

Presented vehicles includes Toyota Premio, Suzuki Jimny jeep, Honda Civic , Suzuki Alto ,Toyota Fielder, Jimny Wide jeep, Suzuki Sierra Jeep, Toyota Vitz , Toyota Corolla X ,Toyota Land Cruiser and others of different models. Customs Intelligence successfully sold out 10 impounded vehicles during public auction in Rs10.1 million while remaining two vehicles were rejected in the auction due to fewer bids offered from their average price. Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation also offered four lots of miscellaneous goods in the auction including bed sheet cloth, new HTV tyres, tubeless tyres, Hydro carbon resin, Vatika hair oil, cosmetics products and others.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation has sold out shampoo, lotion and shaving kits in Rs20,000 during the auction of miscellaneous goods .The net amount generated from the auction of goods and vehicles were Rs10.30 million.

Deputy Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Khial Muhammad Khan has supervised the whole auction process of conQiscated vehicles and goods along with Inspector Malik Muhammad Nasir.

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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

Another policy rate hike

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reater the imbalances, harsher the measures that the policymakers have to resort to stabilise the economy and so is the case with monetary policy planners. In its meeting held on 30th November, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of State Bank of Pakistan again decided to raise the policy rate by another 150 bps to 10 percent effective from 3rd December, 2018. The reason for this hike is that although Current Account (C/A) deficit has shown some early signs of improvement, it is still too high. Other near-term challenges to Pakistan’s economy also continue to persist with rising inflation, an elevated fiscal deficit and low foreign exchange reserves. Average inflation during July-October, 2018 was recorded at 5.9 percent compared to 3.5 percent in the corresponding period of last year and this trend was even more pronounced in the case of core inflation. Overall inflation during FY19 is projected by the SBP in the range of 6.5-7.5 percent as against the annual target of 6.0 percent. Economic activity is also expected to witness a notable moderation during FY19. The slowdown in commodity producing sectors is expected to limit the expansion in the services sector as well. In this backdrop, SBP expects GDP growth for 2018-19 at slightly above 4.0 percent or considerably lower than the actual growth registered during the previous year. On the external front, the situation is somewhat hazy. During the first four months of the current fiscal, import growth has decelerated, exports and workers’ remittances had increased and the C/A deficit had narrowed to dollar 4.8 billion from dollar 5.1 billion in the corresponding period a year earlier.

Despite these positive developments, forex reserves held by the State Bank had fallen to dollar 8.1 billion as of 23rd November, 2018 from dollar 9.8 billion at the end of June, 2018. However, the SBP is somewhat optimistic about the second half of FY19 because of the availability of deferred oil payment facility from January 2019 onwards, recent decline in international oil prices and the expectation of higher foreign inflows. These developments were likely to reduce pressure on SBP’s foreign exchange reserves.

out of control budget deficit T

LAHORE

cuStoMS BuLLEtIN REpoRt www.customstoday.com

he information on Fiscal Operations in the Qirst quarter of 2018-19 has been released recently by the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The consolidated Qiscal deQicit for the quarter is Rs 542 billion, equivalent to 1.4 percent of the GDP. This is higher in nominal terms by 23 percent in relation to the deQicit in the Qirst quarter of 2017-18. The expectation is actually that the process of Qinancial management by the Federal and provincial governments will lead to reduction in rupee terms in the Qiscal deQicit by 12 percent in 2018-19. This will imply a strong containment in the

consolidated budget deQicit from 6.6 percent of the GDP in 2017-18 to 5.1 percent of the GDP in 201819. Last year was the second year in which the actual deQicit substantially exceeded the target. The Qirst quarter of 2018-19 represents a continuation of the trend of out of control budget deQicits. In fact, the deQicit at 6.6 % of the GDP in 2017-18 exceeded the budgeted level by as much as 2.5% of the GDP. This was a reQlection of proQligacy in expenditure and tax breaks prior to an election year.

There is need to recognize the central importance of achieving a big reduction in the Qiscal deQicit for the process of stabilization of the economy. Otherwise, the consequential jump in aggregate de-

mand in the economy will put more pressure on the import bill and exacerbate the current account deQicit in the balance of payments. It is estimated that every Rs 100 billion increase in the deQicit over the targeted level leads to an increase in the deQicit of almost $500 million.

The budgetary outcome in the Qirst quarter of the current Qinancial year is perhaps unique in the sense that almost every target, both on the revenue and expenditure side, has been bust. This reQlects poorly on the quality of Qinancial management by the MOF. The new Government appears to be going through a gestation period as it learns to effectively use the levers of Qinancial control.

The overall revenue growth in the Revised Budget for 2018-19 has been projected at a relatively high rate of 23 percent. In particular, FBR revenues are expected to show some buoyancy and achieve an annual growth rate of 14 percent. They have, however, shown an increase of only 9 percent in the Qirst quarter. Both income tax and sales tax have had a single-digit growth rate of only 4 percent and 7 percent respectively. Revenues from customs duty, as expected, have grown rapidly by over 22 percent due mostly to the depreciation of the rupee. Similarly, excise duty revenues have increased by 18 percent due mostly to additional taxation of cigarettes.

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Customs court directs accused lawmaker to cooperate in smuggling case KARACHI: A Customs court has ordered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Muhammad Aslam Khan, elected from NA-254 Azizabad, to cooperate in the investigation process in the case pertaining to smuggling of electronic goods.

The case was heard in the Karachi Customs court in which Muhammad Aslam Khan appeared.

The court, extending Khan’s bail till January 24 ordered the MNA to cooperate in the investigation process.

According to officials, Khan has been an absconder for a long time in the misdeclaration case. Customs Intelligence and Investigation’s air flight unit director-general received a complaint regarding smuggling in 1997. The operation started on the complaint about smuggling being done under the cover of Pakistan Air Force’s exported goods as they don’t get checked.

SHc directs NAB to come with preparation in kpt corruption case KARACHI

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) warned NAB prosecutor, if he does not come with preparation, than court will summon DG NAB for arguments on bail petition filed by Muhammad Javed Hanif, Rauf Akhtar Farooq, former chairmen Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and others, who were involved in a case of corruption and abuse of authority for illegally appointing 940 employees in KPT. A two-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro heard the matter.

During the hearing, counsels for the remaining applicants completed their arguments and stated that their clients were falsely implicated in this case and prosecution has not provided any single evidence against them before trial court, therefore, court may confirm their interim bail which was granted by this court.

However, during the hearing, prosecutor for NAB sought time for preparation and arguments on these bail petitions. The court accepted NAB prosecutor’s plead and adjourned

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Friday December 07, 2018

National

customs preventive submits fIR of betel nuts smuggling case T

KARACHI

M.B RANA

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he Customs Court directed investigation ofQicer of Customs Preventive to complete investigations and submit interim charge-sheet in a case of attempting to smuggle 9425 kilograms betel nuts. Investigation OfQicer Customs Preventive submitted First Information Report (FIR) and informed that a actionable information received to the effect that a considerable quantity of smuggled non-dutypaid betel nuts has arrived from Faisalabad and at the moment dumped at open shed near M/s Arsala & Aayan Railway Goods, Transport Co, situated at City Station Shed No 13, I.I Chundrigar Road Karachi.

He submitted that a team of customs ofQicials raided the same and found 145 gunny bags containing foreign-origin betel nuts each weighing 65 kilograms worth Rs2,507,050.

He stated that after legal formalities, the goods were seized and a case was registered against known owner of said goods. He argued that investigations are undergone and progress report will be submitted in

next date of hearing. After hearing, the court took the FIR into record and directed investigation ofQicer to arrest the culprits and submit challan on next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, Collectorate of Customs Preventive team seized huge quantity of smuggled betel nuts weighting 2070 kilograms and In-

dian-origin gutka weighting 785 kilograms worth millions of rupees in a successful raid conducted at Super Highway. According to the details, on the tip-off, Customs Preventive Deputy Collector Muhammad Faisal constituted a team to beef up the security and surveillance at the entry and exit points of the city

against the illegal activities of the smugglers. The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) team checked several vehicles at the Northern bypass near Super Highway and followed the procedure of customs to inquire regarding the legal documents and carried out the search of all kind of luggage carrier.

court seeks challan in cigarettes, sheesha smuggling the matter for December 5, 2018. It needs to be mentioned here that Muhammad Javed Hanif, former chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT), is confined in Central Jail Karachi on judicial remand. According to the NAB officials, Javed Hanif is involved in charges of corruption and abuse of authority for illegally appointing 940 employees in KPT in connivance with (the MQM’s) Babar Ghauri, the then minister for ports and shipping. He further argued that the appointments were made in violation of KPT law, rules and regulations “without advertisement of vacancies, competitive process, age criteria medical examination of appointees and in violation of basic formalities”. A large number of those appointed had a criminal record in serious cases such as “terrorism, premeditated murder and robbery” and that the illegal appointments resulted in losses to the national exchequer to the tune of Rs2.8 billion, NAB said.

KARACHI

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he Customs court directed investigation ofQicer to complete investigations and submit charge-sheet in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty-paid cigarettes, Qlavoured sheesha tobacco etc. Investigation ofQicer of Customs Preventive appeared before the court and sought further time to complete investigations and Qiling of charge sheet. The court granted his request and directed him to submit charge-sheet on next date of hearing. On last date of hearing, investigation ofQicer submitted Qirst information report (FIR) and informed the court that on actionable information, a team of customs department raided M/s Faheem Industries Plot No 275 Sector-27, Ko-

rangi Industrial Area, Karachi.

He stated that during the raid, customs team recovered 300 dandas (long packets) Manchester (United Kingdom) cigarettes, 350

dandas Pride King size Class-A Cigarettes tradition blend of Germany, 2250 dandas Pine Light cigarettes made in Korea, 1100 dandas Violet Slim Menthol cigarettes (for duty

free sale only produced as required by the consumer in EU), 200 dandas assorted brand foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs2,115,000.

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Fazal Yazdani takes charge as Member after promotion to BS-22 Friday December 07, 2018

National pIA & SIAL celebrate completion of eleven years

ISLAMABAD: Fazal Yazdani Khan, a Pakistan Customs Service officer, has assumed charge of a vacant post of Member after actualising his promotion to BS-22. The officer, in pursuance of Establishment Division’s Notification No.1/191/2014-E-4 dated 28.11.2018, read with Board’s Notification No. 2137-CI/2018 dated 19.11.2018, took the charge and also actualized his promotion at the Federal Board of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad against the post of Member.

govt to abolish duties on imports of raw material soon: Abdul Razzaq

KARACHI

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SIALKOT

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ational flag-carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and SIAL jointly celebrated the completion of the eleven years of launch of PIA national and international flight from Sialkot international airport here.

Senior officials of both PIA and SIAL cut the cake during a prestigious celebration ceremony held at Sialkot international airport here today. Chairman SIAL’s Business Development Committee Mian Naeem Javaid presided over this ceremony. Senior officials of PIA , SIAL, Sialkot exporters and leading people from travel trade attended. Addressing the participants, CEO of SIAL Maj-Gen (r) Muhammad Abid Nazir announced to make all out sincere to make national flag-carrier PIA again a successful airline, besides, ensuring active role SIAL even the of the Sialkot exporters to play their pivotal role in booming up the PIA again and making it world’s best airline as well.

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customs blocks NtNs of six importers akistan Customs has blocked national tax numbers (NTNs) of at least six importers who allegedly pretended themselves as manufacturers to illegally avail sales tax concessions.

The customs authorities initially blocked NTNs of the importers and initiated legal action against them.

Blocking the NTNs of more importers is in the pipeline, a customs official said. The official said the NTNs were blocked upon verification of addresses of those importers and the manufacturing units were found non-existing.

Interestingly, all the identified importers/manufacturers were shown as active in the system of Inland Revenue offices, which are responsible for granting sales tax registration for concessionary regime. –CB Report

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dvisor to Prime Minister for Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Abdul Razzaq Daud has urged the Sialkot exporters to make strategic thinking to boost the national exports. He said that the government was making proper planning , evolving effective and positive policies to boost industrial sector, besides, taking business community into confidence for ensuring complete implementation on business and investmentfriendly policies in country.

He stated this while addressing an important meeting of the Sialkot exporters held at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here

despite the holiday. SCCI President Khawaja Masud Akhtar presided over the meeting. SCCI SVP Waqas

Akram Awan , Sialkot exporter’s leader Riazud Din Sheikh, local senior TDAP and FBR ofQicials and SCCI’s

former presidents, SVPs and VPs also attended. PM’s Advisor Abdul Razzaq Daud asked the business community of Pakistan to adopt the unique export culture of Sialkot to boom up national exports. He said that government was making all out sincere efforts to ensure doing business easy in Pakistan. He assured that the government would son abolish all the duties and taxes on the import of the raw materials here. He said that the DTRE facilities should be made easier. He assured to look into the matter of DLTL cases pendency to facilitate Sialkot exporters as well. He announced his full support for Sialkot for the early establishment of Special Economic Zone at Sialkot. He said that Pakistan should also work on reverse engineering on the module of reverse engineering

by China and Japan.

fBR collects Rs274b in Nov against assigned target of Rs313 billion F

ISLAMABAD

SHAHID MINHAS

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs274 billion taxes during the month of November 2018 against the assigned target of Rs313 billion, recording revenue shortfall of Rs39 billion, it is learnt here.

Official sources told Customs Today that the board is facing tough time while achieving the assigned targets where the board has recorded at least Rs99 billion of revenue shortfall during current five months of Fiscal Year 2018-19. The board has collected Rs1380 billions of taxes revenue (provisionally) within five months of the current fiscal years while the assigned target from July to November 2018 was Rs1479 billion. Sources further said that during the month of Oc-

tober 2018, the board collected Rs270 billion against the assigned target of Rs315 billion posting

revenue shortfall of Rs45 billion.

While during July to October 2018, the board had collected

Rs1106 billion against the assigned target of Rs1166 billion, sources confirmed.

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Faisalabad I&I recovers Chinese origin non duty paid tyres FAISALABAD: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) foiled an attempt to smuggle of non-customs paid tyres near Kashmir Pull.

Sources told Customs Today that during routine patrolling Customs I&I team reached at Kashmir and found a truck loaded with foreign origin tyres which was parked on road side. During initial investigations Saqib son of Muhammad Jameel failed to provide any legal documents regarding import and transportation of tyres. Upon their failure customs team seized the tyres. They told that they were going to deliver these tyres to Sheikhupura. The market value of seized tyres is Rs 2,50,000 involving duty and taxes Rs1,50,000.

customs preventive foils bid to smuggle huge quantity of betel nuts KARACHI

MuBEEN HuSSAIN

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ollectorate of Customs Preventive busts huge quantity of smuggled betel nuts weighing 7500 kilograms and arrests three culprits from the spot. According to the details, on the tip-off of higher authorities, the Deputy Collector Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Headquarters Muhammad Faisal constituted a team to beef up the security and surveillance at the entry and exit points of the city against the illegal activities of the smugglers.

The team of ASO checked several vehicles and followed the procedure of customs to inquire regarding the legal documents and carried out the search for all kinds of luggage carriers.

During the search, a trailer was in-

National

govt making efforts to bring reforms in tax system: Hammad Azhar

Aleema didn’t take amnesty on Dubai properties, fBR tells Sc LAHORE

SAJID NAWAZ

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he Supreme Court (SC) ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to include its investigations against the Prime Minister Imran Khan’ sister Aleema Khanum in the record.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar headed a two-member bench hearing a case in relation to Aleema’s properties in Dubai at the SC’s Lahore registry. The court also asked when summons had been sent to Aleema and what investigations the FBR had conducted. FBR Commissioner Dr Ishtiaq informed the court that Aleema had not taken amnesty on her Dubai properties and the media was incorrectly reporting that she had. She had not declared her apartment and the FBI issued a notification on February 8, 2018 which she did not receive. Aleena had purchased the property using a loan and later sold it. The Supreme Court had ordered the FBR to submit Aleema’s tax details. Chief Justice Saqib Nisar asked the chairman FBR if the premier’s sister owns any property in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and further inquired if she had benefited from an amnesty scheme.

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ISLAMABAD

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tercepted by the team of the ASO and forced it to stop. A complete search of the container no CBHU-9816039 loaded on the trailer bearing registration no TLG-369 was carried out.

During the search, it surfaced that a huge quantity of betel nuts was being smuggled in the city. The trailer bearing registration no TLG-369 was on the route to Karachi from Lahore. Total 175 gunny bags of smuggled betel nuts weighing 7500 kilograms worth Rs4,812,500/in the market was recovered from the container.

The value of both trailer and container is Rs5,500,000. Vehicle and container are taken into the custody as well as three smugglers arrested from the spot. Cases against the apprehended persons are filed whereas further investigation is underway. As per the details shared by the Customs authority, the total value of seized goods is Rs10,312,500/and the arrested culprits are drivers and cleaner.

Friday December 07, 2018

tate Minister for Revenue Muhammad Hammad Azhar has said that government is making efforts to bring reforms in tax system to improve and simplify taxation system. Talking to a private news channel, he said efforts are underway to separate policy making and tax collection functions to facilitate the tax

payers. He said due to the untiring efforts of the government the future economic outlook of the country was quite promising. The minister also rejected the notion that the country was facing any economic crisis. Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) notiQied establishment of a separate Directorate General Immovable Properties-IR in order to check valuation and tax evasion in property transactions. The FBR said that in pur-

suance of section 230-F of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (inserted through Finance Act 2018) a new IR Qield formation namely DG IMP has been raised. The said section also provides deQinitions for all implied terms and expressions, the scope, operational mechanics and procedural parameters of this newly created tax authority and above all contains clearly spelled grievance redressal mechanism for the aggrieved taxpayers.

Multan customs reshuffles superintendent & inspectors

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MULTAN

IMRAN ALI kHAN

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ollectorate of Customs Collectorate transferred 25 employees including one superintendent, and 24 inspectors.

Deputy Collector Multan Customs (Headquarter) Saqib-urRehman Warraich, reshufQled large number of employees to get better result in assigned tasks. Superintendent Habibur Rehman has been transferred from Multan International Airport and export terminal Muzaffargarh along with Duty Free Shop. Inspector Muhammad Iqbal has been transferred from Multan

International Airport to DTRE Branch Customs House Multan. Inspector Arshad Hussain Qureshi reshufQled from Multan International Airport to Accounts Branch Customs House Multan.

Inspector Imtiaz Ahmad Sheikh has been directed to perform his duty at Export terminal of Sadiqabad after transfer from Audit Cell Customs House Multan. Inspector Muhammad Tahir Mahmood has been posted to Customs Dry Port from Audit Cell Customs House.

Inspector Syed Ghulam Raza Shah reshufQled from International Airport Multan to Audit Cell Customs House Multan. Inspector Shahid Mahmood

has been transferred from Audit Cell to Recovery Cell Customs Dry Port Multan. Inspector Maqbool Ahmad relocated from International Airport Multan to Customs Dry Port. Inspector Umar Din has been transferred from DTRE branch and Audit Cell Customs House to International Airport Multan. Inspector Zia-urRehman Bhatti has has been transferred from export terminal Sadiqabad to Security Duty Customs House. Inspector Muhammad Azam Sargana posted to Customs Dry Port from Multan International Airport.

Inspector Atta-ur-Rehman Khakwani posted to Customs Dry Port Multan from Air Freight Unit (AFU) Export

and International Airport. Inspector Ghulam Abbas has been transferred from DTRE Branch to DRRA MCC Multan.Inspector Aziz-ur-Rehman has been reshufQled from Audit Cell to Customs General Post OfQice Multan.

Inspector Shabana Bibi , Inspector Omay Kalsoom has been transferred from International Airport Multan to DTRE Branch and Audit Cell respectively. Inspector Zahid Mahmood transferred from export terminal Muzaffargarh to International Airport Multan. Inspector Muhammad Farooq has been relocated from Refund and Rebate branch to International Airport Mulan in addition to his existing charge.

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World Customs

China eases customs for Korean chemical drugs

Shanghai : China will carry out customs inspection on Korean chemical medicines only once at the initial stage and exempt them from inspections thereafter, the Korean government said.

As it took about two to four weeks for Korean chemical drugs to go through Chinese customs, the new measure will significantly reduce the customs time. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy attended the regular meeting of the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade in Geneva, Switzerland.

Friday December 07, 2018

Brexit customs system will take Iran foreign trade surplus hits $2b in 8 months two years to set up if no deal I

TEHRAN

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Ps were told that “functioning but clearly suboptimal” arrangements could be in place on March 29, 2019 when the UK leaves but there would be a risk of failing to collect tariffs owed on imports. OfQicials also said the prospect of trafQic chaos at ports was a “known unknown” and could not be ruled out.

HM Revenue and Customs chief executive Jon Thompson told MPs: “The date for putting in an optimal customs system for the UK in the event of no deal was passed months ago.” Appearing before the Treasury Select Committee he was asked about the prospect of queues at ports. “It is plausible that there would be delays at the border,” he said. “It’s very difQicult to answer your question because we have a known unknown. “If you

turkey sees surprisingly strong fall in inflation urkey’s annual consumer price inflation rate has fallen for the first time since March and sharply. November saw it fall 3.62 percentage points from October’s 15-year high of 25.24% to 21.62%, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) announced. Respondents to a Bloomberg poll and a Capital Economics forecast had anticipated that the rate would turn out to be 23%. Turkey’s volatile monthly inflation was in November negative for the first time since June 2017, at 1.44%. That marked the biggest monthly decrease since 1991, Fercan Yalinkilic of Bloomberg noted on Twitter, adding: “Again the y/y decrease in M1, M3 growth, showed that inflation would be around 20%.” The Turkish lira (TRY) was trading at 5.2477 against the USD, weaker by 0.69% d/d, as of around 18:10 local time after a 3.43% d/d rise in the Brent oil price to $61.5 per barrel, taking the price to more than $60 once more and representing a blow to Turkey, a big energy importer. –CB Report

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are going to go from Dover to Calais, you cannot know exactly how the French authorities would react when your lorry arrives there.” Senior HMRC ofQicial Jim Harra told the committee: “We have in place plans that in the event of us leaving on March 29 with no deal, we will be able to operate a functioning customs border with the EU.” He added: “We would

start off with a functioning but clearly sub-optimal customs border. There would likely be some Qiscal risk attached to that depending on what tariff decisions are.” “Over time there would be improvements but I think we are looking at a minimum of two years from the no-deal to get to a point where you can say we have a steady-state system.

oil surges on Saudi-Russia agreement, Alberta production curb

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il rebounded from the biggest monthly loss in a decade after Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to extend their deal to manage the oil market into 2019 and Canada’s largest oil producing province ordered an unprecedented output cut.

Brent rose as much as 5.3 per cent in London, after prices collapsed more than 20 per cent last month. Russian President Vladimir

Putin announced the extension after a meeting Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, though Moscow and Riyadh have yet to conQirm any fresh output cuts. Oil also gained after Alberta ordered curbs of 325,000 barrels a day in an effort to ease a crisis in the nation’s energy industry and after the US and China agreed to pause new tariffs. –CB Report

ran Customs Administration (IRICA) has announced that Iran’s foreign trade surplus hit $ 2 billion during the Qirst eight months of Iranian year 1397 (beginning on March 21, 2018 and ending. According to the statistics available on the website of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), “the country’s non-oil exports exceeded $ 31 billion during the Qirst eight months of this Iranian year and stood at $ 31.491 billion.”

During this eight-month period, the volume of Iran’s non-oil exports reached 75.27 million tons valued at $ 31.491 billion, indicating that Iran’s exports increased by 12. 96% until the end of Iranian month of Aban (November 21, 2018) compared to the same period last year.

Also during the same period, the volume of goods imported to Iran was 21.549 million tons worth $ 29.549 billion, which sug-

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gests that the volume of imported goods decreased by 12.58%. The most important export items during this period were gas condensate valued at $ 2.776., liquefied propane worth $ 1.339, and light oils as well as other products except for gasoline worth $ 1 billion.

Moreover, 1.67 billion worth of methanol and $ 986 million worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) were also exported during the period. The statistics show that petrochemicals accounted for 32.93% of the total value of Iran’s exports, while gas condensate share was 8.81%.

Meanwhile, Russia’s State Duma has endorsed an agreement for the establishment of a free trade zone between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union. In Thursday’s open session, a majority of State Duma members approved the agreement on the establishment of a free trade zone, which was signed in the Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana.

china’s exports to uS increase rowth in Chinese exports to the United States ticked up in October as traders rushed to beat a new tariff increase in a battle over Beijing’s technology policy.

Shipments to the United States, China’s biggest market, have been unexpectedly resilient since President Donald Trump started imposing punitive tariffs on goods in July in a Qight over Beijing’s technology policy. Exports rose 13.3 percent in October over a year earlier to $42.7 billion, up from September’s 13 percent growth, customs data showed Thursday. China’s trade surplus with the United States narrowed to $31.8

billion from September’s record $34.1 billion as imports of American goods rose 8.5 percent to $10.9 billion. Traders are rushing to beat a U.S. tariff increase planned for January, ING economist Iris Pang said in a report. Pang said they are pessimistic this month’s planned meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Argentina will yield positive results. “We expect this front-loading behavior to continue for the rest of 2018,” Pang said.

“Continued strong export growth in October reQlected accelerated deliveries of export orders ahead of the US tariff hike. –CB Report

china’s import, export figures running ahead of last year

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BEIJING

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hina’s trade volume from January through mid-November surpassed the full-year value for 2017, setting the stage for another record year in spite of rising challenges, customs Qigures showed.

The General Administration of

Customs (GAC) said the value was nearly 15 percent higher than the same period of 2017, without providing detailed Qigures. Foreign trade stood at 27.79 trillion yuan ($4 trillion) in 2017, up 14.2 percent year-on-year. Analysts said the statistics showed that China’s trade performance was still better than last year, even as SinoU.S. trade friction intensiQied. “The

Qigures show the improvement of China’s opening-up level,” Chen Fengying, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. She said that advance orders for the holidays and strong consumption in China help explain the statistics. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that China’s imports stood at 1.26 tril-

lion yuan in October this year, up 26.3 percent from the same period last year. Imports reached 11.7 trillion yuan in the Qirst 10 months of this year, an increase of 15.5 percent from the same period last year. “The Qigures show the outbound markets were in a recovery, and the Chinese economy’s performance was better than before,” Wang Jun, deputy director of the Department.

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Dubai port set to welcome 25,000 tourists as cruise ships arrive Dubai : Five cruise ships packed with 25,000 sea-faring tourists from across the globe will be plotting a course for Dubai Creek this weekend.

Vessels from the UK, USA, Germany, Italy and Spain will be docking in Dubai for one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Dubai Cruise Terminal will welcome the ships into port morning, but it could be one of the last arrivals of its kind, as cruise ships will soon be diverted to a bigger port in Dubai Marina. As a cruise ship terminal, the area will be transformed on completion of the 30,000 square metre Dubai Cruise Terminal project in October 2020.

trade turnover up between Iran, oman rade balance between Iran and Oman increased in favor of Iran during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (started March 21), Iranian Students’ News Agency reported referring to Abbas Badalkhani, Iran’s commercial attache in Oman. Citing Iran Customs Administration (ICA) statistics, Badalkhani noted that the trade turnover between Iran and Oman reached $870 million in the first seven months of the current Iranian year.

For comparison, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $577 million in the same period of the previous year, he added. The trade turnover between the two countries is expected to double compared to the previous Iranian year, he said. Meanwhile, Iran exported 176 million US dollars worth of handwoven carpets during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Oct. 22), which shows a 20 percent fall compared with the corresponding period of last year, Eghtesadonline news website reported. “Some 32 percent of our hand-

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Ports & Shipping

uS ports express reluctance to pay for new customs facilities T

WASHINGTON

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he American Association of Port Authorities has criticised US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policies requesting port authorities to build and incur the costs of BCP staffing facilities at ports. The AAPA said that the CBP should not be seeking ways to build new facilities while there continues to be a shortage of CBP officers for maritime activities.

In a letter to the CBP, the AAPA said: “CBP is requesting consolidated and custom-built facilities (according to CBP design specifications) for CBP personnel. From a port perspective, generally CBP staff already have adequate facilities and in most cases these facilities are occupied on non-revenue lease terms.

“Additionally, many ports are concerned about the continued shortage of CBP maritime staffing and would like to first better understand how staffing decisions are made and secondly, if the

staffing decisions are dictating the request for new CBP facilities.”

“CBP does not allow ports to employ common practices ports use to control costs when building facilities for themselves and other tenants. CBP’s requests often result in expensive, overbuilt facilities. What is the statutory authority for requesting a new CBP

facility to be funded by an entity other than the federal government?” AAPA also weighed in with Congress on CBP’s facilities requests, staffing shortages and what the AAPA said was an increasing trend of CBP relying on the Reimbursable Services Program to address staffing shortages.

Friday December 07, 2018

EpIk LNg terminal to be built at Newcastle port outh Korea-based Energy Projects and Infrastructure Korea (EPIK) has signed an agreement with Port of Newcastle to develop an LNG floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) import terminal.

The potential investment for the Newcastle LNG project is estimated to be between $US400 million ($547 million) and $US430 million.

Newcastle LNG is proposed to include a 170,000 cubic metres new-build FSRU and associated on-shore infrastructure, and potentially a shipyard, which is pending regulatory approvals.

The project is strategically placed within the Port of Newcastle to serve the New South Wales gas market where natural gas prices are higher than Asia.

“Based on our assessment of the New South Wales gas market, particularly along coastal demand regions such as Newcastle and Sydney, we are confident that by importing LNG via a new, lowcost FSRU terminal, we will be able to provide an infrastructure solution that is capable of delivering a cost-efficient source of alternative gas supplies to the region on a long-term basis,” EPIK managing director Jee Yoon said. –CB Report

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Remarkable growth of cruise Ships at port of colombo made carpets used to go to the United States. We have now lost that market due to the re-imposition of the U.S. sanctions against our country,” Chairwoman of Iran National Carpet Center, Fereshteh Dastpak, was quoted as saying. Iran has to replace new markets to compensate for the decline in exports to the United States, Dastpak said. Handmade carpets have always been among Iran’s top non-oil exports even through the hardest years experienced by the country’s economy, she said, adding that “handmade carpets are deemed Iran’s second flag and a symbol of Iranian identity and culture.”“Some 2.5 million people in Iran are engaged in the carpet industry,” she said. About 80 percent of hand-woven carpets produced in Iran are exported annually, according to Dastpak. The United States, Germany, Lebanon, Britain and China are the biggest customers of Iran. –CB Report

COLOMBO

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ri Lanka Guardian) A remarkable growth of the cruise ships calling at the Port of Colombo has been reported in this year. According to the records of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, 45 cruise ships have been called at Port of Colombo in last 10 months of this year which is 28.8 % increase against the corresponding period in 2017.

This record-breaking growth is a signiQicant achievement after declaring the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 as tourism and investment years of Sri Lanka by His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena with the objective of creating a prosperous country. These years have been declared to ease the planning for the next three years to overcome all challenges in the Qields of hotel

and tourism in Sri Lanka by 2020.

Meanwhile, the Port of Colombo has witnessed the highest growth of 19.5% in transshipment container throughput for the Qirst ten months in 2018 as against the corresponding period in 2017. During the Qirst ten months of 2018, the Port of Colombo handled 4,717,746 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of transshipment containers as against 3,948,163 TEUs handled in the corresponding period in 2017.

Under the leadership of Honourable Minister of Ports and shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe, and advice by the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr Parakrama Dissanayake the positive increase at SLPA controlled terminal, Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), and Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), and South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) collectively resulted in this increase.

Following Hon Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe assuming ofQice as the Minister of Ports and Shipping, an exclusive 3-year plan was introduced to develop the entire port sector to establish Sri Lanka as the most preferred maritime gateway to South Asia.

The Port of Colombo is ranked as world’s No.01 container growth port among the top 30 container ports for the 1st half of 2018. In container handling, Port of Colombo has recorded a 15.6% growth for the 1st half of 2018 over the same period last year according to Alphaliner Monthly 2018. It is also a signiQicant achievement as it is the Qirst time in history the Port of Colombo reaches the top of a global maritime ranking.

With this growth, Port of Colombo has leapt ahead many other Asian Ports, Major European Ports and Dubai as well.

The Port of Colombo expects to

handle 7.0 million containers in 2018, up 12.9% from the 6.2 million TEUs handled in 2017 with joint marketing by three terminals, JCT, SAGT and CICT. Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) was awarded the Ports Authority of the Year 2018 Award by the Global Ports Forum (GPF). The fourth GPF awards ceremony, followed by the conference forum, was held in February this year at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena said the main reason to dissolve Parliament last Friday night was claims of parliamentarians being bought over. In an address to the nation late Sunday night President Sirisena said, all of you will acknowledge what a tragical situation in politics when the value of the Members of Parliament, who were elected to represent the people.

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Excise dept issues property tax notices to 88,000 citizens RAWALPINDI: The excise department here issued notices to 88,000 citizens to pay property tax.

According to a media report, five per cent rebate will be given to the citizens who pay their property tax till December 31 and an operation will be carried out to seal the properties of those who fail to pay the tax within the stipulated period.

According to excise department sources, the software has been updated and notices for payment of property tax with a 10 per cent increase have been issued to 88,000 citizens.

Friday December 07, 2018

Business

Sheikh Rasheed vows Rs10b profit in fY19 RAWALPINDI

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ailways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the department has set a target of receiving Rs10 billion in proQit margins for the Financial Year 2018-19. Talking to media at the Rawalpindi Railway Hospital, Rasheed vowed that the task given to him by Prime Minister Imran Khan as focal person for Leh Expressway Project would be completed soon.

He announced that a new train would commence its operations from Karachi to Peshawar, covering the distance of 1,760km in eight hours at the

BISp ink Mou to mitigate food in tharparkar KARACHI

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speed of 160km per hour. Rasheed linked the beneQits of the construction of China Pakistan Economic Corridor with the development of the railways’ department. “CPEC is the backbone of the economy and revolutionary changes would be carried out

‘NAB will continue to take actions against those involved in corruption’

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enazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with World Food Programme (WFP) to mitigate food insecurity in drought-affected parts of district Tharparker in Sindh. The MoU was signed by Secretary BISP Omar Hamid Khan and Country Director WFP Finbarr Curran. The project titled “Shock-Responsive Social Protection” is specially designed to alleviate the sufferings of drought-affected population in Southern Sindh.

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in the rehabilitation of railways with the support of China,” he added. Criticising the previous governments for spending exorbitantly on the construction of roads, he said there was a dire need to improve the condition of tracks, which are currently in dilapi-

dated conditions. Rasheed informed the media that there were 2,000 railway crossings without gates, adding that the construction of gates has become difQicult given the limited resources of his ministry. He urged the people not to play cricket on railway tracks, as it could lead to fatal accidents. Rasheed said that the number of freight trains would be increased as it was imperative for the proQit of Pakistan Railways. He announced that a new train would be added to the green line service while work was in progress with regard to the commencement of two new trains from Quetta to Karachi. “I had earlier asked the residents residing along with the Leh nullah not to sell their properties as now they are going to become millionaires with the construction of the expressway,” he mentioned.

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ISLAMABAD

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hairman National Accountability Bureau Justice ® Javed Iqbal has said that corruption is ruining our economy and NAB is committed to end corruption from society. He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “Our Faith Corruption Free Pakistan”. The seminar was jointly organized by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and International Islamic University. Justice ® Javaid

Iqbal said that NAB is using all available resources to curb corruption and taking actions across the board against people who are involved in corruption. He told the audience that currently NAB is taking action against those people who are thinking that they are above the law and no body dare to proceed against them. He said that now our country will run according to rule of law. Chairman NAB said that that NAB filed 440 corruption references in courts in one year against corrupt persons while every citizen of Pakistan wants

corruption free society “we blame others but not started accountability from ourselves.

Chairman NAB said that we are taking steps to curb money laundering and all the money which are deposited in foreign banks will brought back. Currently our country owns debts of $94 billion and we also observed that this amount is not spent on any development project. Some people purchased luxury property in Dubai. He said that we are also investigating against those people who are involved in corruption.

fM directs SEcp, SBp to complete fAtf Action plan work ISLAMABAD

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inance Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday chaired meetings with SECP and SBP to review progress made by the regulators on FATF Action Plan.

The meeting was attended by executive directors from SBP and SECP, DG-FMU, Legal Adviser-FMU and other senior officials.

During the meeting, SBP and SECP gave a detailed presentation on the progress on actions taken by them for implementation of FATF Action Plan. The finance minister directed that the internal action plans with specific timelines on implementation of FATF Action Plan should be put in place immediately and shared with FMU so that all FATF Action Plan items are completed within the agreed time lines. The minister also asked them to not only complete actions due in January 2019 but also focus on actions due in May and September 2019 as they would be required to update FATF on work being done to meet those timelines. Asad Umar over the last three days held series of meetings with different stakeholders reviewing progress in regard to work undertaken by them on FATF action plan.

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LHc bars NAB from arresting khawaja brothers till 11th LAHORE

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he Lahore High Court (LHC) has extended the bails granted to Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leaders Khawaja Saad RaQique and his brother Salman RaQique in the Paragon Housing scam and directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to not make any arrests.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Tariq Abbasi heard the petition Qiled by the Khawaja brothers for pre-arrest bail.

As the hearing went underway, the bench asked the brothers, “Did you submit a petition for the DG NAB to be changed?”

At this, the NAB prosecutor informed the court, “The NAB chairman has heard both the petitioners and a decision will be taken in this regard within the next one to two

days.” The bench asked the NAB prosecutor to make their arrest warrants a part of the record and further extended Saad and Salman’s bail till December 11. The court further ordered NAB to not arrest the two until the next hearing.

NAB ofQicials say there are three inquiries ongoing against Saad RaQique pertaining to the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme, Paragon Housing scam and corruption in Pakistan Railways.

Earlier, the LHC extended the bail granted to the Khawaja brothers and had directed NAB to decide immediately on the basis of law whether a team probing them is to be changed. The petition had stated, “We fully cooperated with NAB in the investigation and our pre-arrest bail should be approved.” The brothers also claimed that they were not involved in corruption.

The bench had asked the NAB lawyer whether documents per-

taining to the arrest had been given to the brothers to which he replied, “The documents will be given when they are arrested.”

The bench then questioned whether the Khawaja brothers were present in court and was told that they are. The brothers then told the court, “We fear that NAB will arrest us.” After hearing arguments of the respondents’ counsel, the bench extended the bail granted to the brothers till December 5.

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ICCI for realizing $37b Pak-India bilateral trade potential ISLAMABAD: Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry has lauded the keen interest of Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan for developing peace with India in order to promote bilateral trade that he showed while addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. He termed it a healthy gesture by the Pakistani leadership that should be reciprocated with equal determination and resolve from the other side of that border in order to start a new era of growing trade between the two immediate neighbors. Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that according to a latest report of World Bank, without trade barriers, Pak-India bilateral trade has the potential to increase up to $37 billion per annum while the existing volume of two-way trade was mrely $2 billion.

president kccI slams political parties for karachi’s encroachment issue

Friday December 07, 2018

Chambers

‘ptI stands shoulder to shoulder with affectees of anti-encroachment drive’

KARACHI

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resident Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Junaid Esmail Makda, while referring to the ongoing massive anti-encroachment drive in the city, strongly slammed political parties and bureaucrats, who remained in Sindh government from time to time during the past 25 to 30 years and also all the relevant departments as they are also equally responsible for the encroachment issue.

“Concerned departments of the government are responsible for the encroachments in Karachi and now they want to wipe out all of them so that they could save themselves and hide their wrongdoings”, he added. In a statement issued, President KCCI categorically stated that Karachi Chamber was not against the anti-en-

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croachment drive but this campaign was totally one-sided in which all the rubble was being passed on to the public, shopkeepers and the business community whereas those elements, who actually paved way for such illegal activities under their nose, were not being taken to task.

“These elements are taking advantage of the current situation by deliberately misinterpreting the Honorable Supreme Court’s Order to hide behind the curtain as they fear that if the situation continues to move on like this, the day will not be far when it will be their turn as well and they will also be held accountable for all their wrongdoings”, he added. Junaid Makda said that all the major departments including SBCA, Site Limited, KMC, Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB), Board of Revenue have probably made this plan in connivance with each other to carry out the massive destruction campaign all over the city regardless of considering whether these activities being carried out under the anti-encroachment drive actually fall under the ambit of Supreme Court’s order or not.

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resident Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Karachi Chapter and Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Khurram Sher Zaman has said that PTI stands shoulderto-shoulder with the distressed affectees and victims of the anti-encroachment operation in Karachi and they will make all out efforts at every forum to stop wrong activities taking place under this operation. “Under the Honorable Supreme Court’s order, something else has begun in the city. I am waiting for the next bench of the Honorable Supreme Court on this particular issue as we have decided to approach the Court to raise voice on behalf of affectees as soon as the Honorable Chief Justice holds the hearing at Karachi Registry”, he added while speaking at a meeting during his visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Vice Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President KCCI Anjum Nisar, President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda, Senior Vice President

Khurram Shahzad, Vice President Asif Sheikh Javaid, Chairman KCCI’s Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon, Managing Committee members and a large number of affectees of the anti-encroachment drive attended the meeting.

MPA Khurram Sher Zaman categorically stated that PTI has got nothing to do with the anti-encroachment operation but it has been observed that KMC Staff and Drivers, who are part of the operation, were misguiding the public and

sending a wrong message by using the phrase “Tabdeeli Agaee Hai” (Change is here) during the operation which has always been PTI’s slogan. He, while totally rejecting Mayor Karachi’s false claim of being praised by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the anti-encroachment operation, reiterated that PTI and PM Imran Khan have got nothing to do with the anti-encroachment operation in which Karachiites and the business community were being victimized and harassed. Giving a clear

turkish trade delegation visits RccI RAWALPINDI

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Turkish delegation headed by Behram Karajaan visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). The purpose of their visit was to explore opportunities for business collaborations and match making in different sectors mainly in Construction, Pharmaceutical, Tourism and gem stones.

Turkish delegation during their meeting with Acting President RCCI Muhammad Badar Haroon expressed desire for joint ventures and said Turkey offered huge trade opportunities to Pakistani business community and they should visit Turkey to tap all untapped areas of promoting trade and exports. He lauded RCCI’s efforts in promoting

trade activities in the region through exchange of delegations and exhibitions. He further added that Turkey and Pakistan both enjoyed cordial relationships and purpose of their visit was to promote these friendly ties between the two countries.

Muhammad Badar Haroon assured delegation for full support and assistance for joint ventures and investment. He informed Pakistan has rising population which offered great potential for investment in construction sector. He urged that Turkish investors should explore Pakistan for investment and joint ventures in Gems and Jewelry, Pharmaceutical, Marble and health sector. He informed Rawalpindi is a major city that falls in the northern part of CPEC project that is why there exists a huge potential to boost trade and other business activities in the city. He invited Turkish

investors for joint ventures in different sectors under CPEC Special Economic Zones.

He also gave a short summary of RCCI current activities and future programs. Vice President Fayaz Qureshi, former presidents and member of the executive committee were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) Chairman Osamu Suzuki paid a visit to a local dealership center at Rawalpindi here. In his address to staff, vendors and dealers, Osamu, said that the company is interested to invest $450 million in setting up another production plant in Karachi. Chairman Osamu Suzuki on the occasion expressed gratitude to the Pak Suzuki staff, vendors, dealers and the government, without which 2 million vehicle production could not have been possible.

message to Mayor, he said, “PTI would never accept their activities and will not own them.” He informed that he along with all other PTI MPAs in Sindh will be having a meeting with PM Imran Khan next week so that the Prime Minister could be acquainted about the issues of Karachi, particularly the wrong message being spread that all the anti-encroachment activities were being carried out under speciQic instructions from Prime Minister which was not factual at all.

govt assures smooth gas supply to industries inance Minister Asad Umar held a meeting with a delegation of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI).

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Minister of state for Revenue Hammad Azhar were also present on the occasion. The delegation shared with the minister their concern that supply of gas to different industries in the metropolis might suffer interruption as they had been served notices regarding gas load management for next three months. They also had discussion with the finance minister on their tax related issues. Minister for Petroleum assured that the delegation’s concern on disruption of gas will be duly addressed.

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Faisalabad I&I impounds container of imported auto parts FAISALABAD: Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation team impounded a container of auto parts near Allied Mor Sargodha Road Faisalabad in an operation.

Sources told Customs Today that Customs I&I impounded a 20 feet container on a tip-off by an informer. The container was loaded with imported auto parts and the importer cleared the auto parts consignments from Karachi Port Qasim.

Friday, December 07, 2018

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peshawar customs impounds goods worth Rs45.67 million PESHAWAR IRfAN BAHADuR

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ollectorate of Customs initiated anti-smuggling drive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to curb smuggling of non-duty paid goods.

Sources informed Customs Today on Thursday that Collector Mohammad Saeed Jadoon on directives from Chairman FBR ordered the staff to speed up the operation against smuggling of non-duty paid goods throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.

Customs anti-smuggling units thwarted several attempts of smuggling of NDP goods including tyres, cosmetics, foreign origin cloth and spare parts of cars in the past two days. The smuggle goods which arrive from Afghanistan through different routes at Kharkhano Market stores and then delivered to local markets, sources informed Customs Today. Peshawar Customs is striving hard to destroy the link between importers and distributors of foreign origin NDP goods.

Recently the Collectorate also impounded 12 trucks of foreign origin cloth in a raid on a local market at Kharkhano. The MCC earned more

than Rs 45.67 million revenue through auction of NDP goods in the past two months, sources informed.

Apart from anti-smuggling drive, the customs department is also working to enlarge the net revenue collec-

tion by applying digital tools for the collection of taxes.

Collectorate of Customs under the leadership of Collector Mohammad Saeed Jadoon has achieved the milestone by achieving revenue collec-

tion target during the months of October & November of current FY 2018-19.The Collector Customs directed the customs ofQicers to curb smuggling and increase the net revenue collection by applying positive

methods and good behavior.

The Collector customs asked for better coordination between law enforcement agencies and importers in order to provide secure border for economic growth of Pakistan.

‘Missing persons commission settles 3492 cases’ FAISALABAD

NAEEM SHEIkH

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he missing persons commission, out of 5608 cases disposed-off 3492 cases up to November 30, 2018 due to personal efforts of Justice ® Javed Iqbal, President missing person commission which is a great achievement as per the monthly progress report of cases of alleged enforced

disappearances till November 30, 2018 released on Tuesday by Secretary of the Commission Farid Ahmed Khan. According to the report, a total of 5507 cases received up to October 31, 2018 to missing persons commission.

During November 2018, 111 more cases were received to the Commission and now the total numbers of the cases are 5608.

It is important to note here that the Commission of Inquiry of Enforced Disappearances, Islamabad during the month of November 2018 disposed of 57 cases and now total balance number of cases

are 2116 up to November 30, 2018. The Commission has conducted 548 hearing, 319 hearings in Islamabad, 35 in Lahore and 194 in Karachi during November 2018. The efforts of Justice Javed Iqbal, President of the National Commission for Enforced Disappearances and other members have been appreciated as the commission has recovered 3492 missing persons upto November 30, 2018 besides ensuring their safe return to their homes.

As president of Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, Justice (r) Javed Iqbal and

other members of the commission not only give personal hearing to each family of family of missing persons but also try their utmost for earliest recovery of missing persons. The relatives of missing persons have also acknowledged the remarkable efforts of Justice ® Javed Iqbal, President missing person Commission. Justice Javed Iqbal President National Commission for Enforced Disappearances has not been using government resources and does not receive any salary while working as President of Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances. Meanwhile, The spe-

Published by M S Raza Off# 42, 3rd Flr Gull Plaza M.A Road Karachi, Printed by (Ibne Hassan Offset Printing Press, Shop No. 33 to 36 , Hockey Stadium, Karachi).

cial prosecutor for National Accountability Bureau in the ZulQi Bukhari case, Imran ShaQique, tendered his resignation. The prosecutor resigned citing his wish to join the Islamabad Bar Association as an “independent professional lawyer”. In addition to representing the bureau which challenged the removal of Bukhari’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL), ShaQique was the NAB’s special prosecutor in many high proQile cases such as in the corruption reference against former Qinance minister Ishaq Dar, which subsequently led to Dar’s assets being conQiscated.