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by collecting over Rs 2,601 million.

As per details, the Customs Appraisement Lahore collected Rs 1,440 million and the Customs Preventive Lahore collected Rs 460 million duty during the period under review.

On the other hand, the Collectorate of Multan collected Rs 573 million customs duty during 15 day of

LAHORE

M HAYAT

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he Customs Central Region has posted a growth of 19 percent in collection of customs duty during the Sirst 15 days of February of the Sinancial year 2017-18

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February of Sinancial year 2017-18. In the same way, the Collectorate of Customs Faisalabad collected Rs 126 million customs duty during the period. Overall the Central Region collected customs duty from all the four Collectorates worth Rs 2601 million posting a growth of 19 percent during the 15 days of FY 2o17-18.

Customs impounds truck loaded with Indian tea, imported skimmed milk

Adjudication-II performs well by taking actions against tax defaulters

FBR team raids godown in Nankana Sahib, recovers NDP cigarettes

NAB orders probe against federal health minister, PMDC chairman

Faisalabad Customs releases consignments after receiving duty & taxes

ASO took into possession a large quantity of smuggling Indian origin black tea | See pAge 02 |

Adjudication-II showed outstanding performance by taking actions against tax | See pAge 03 |

FBR anti smuggling squad raided a godown located in Nankana Sahib | See pAge 04 |

NAB has ordered a probe against Saira Afzal and the PMDC | See pAge 14 |

Customs I&I released three consignments worth Rs 5701894 | See pAge 16 |

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ATIR postpones hearing of tax matter filed by M/s Telenor Pakistan Thursday, February 22, 2018

ISLAMABAD: The Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) dated in office the hearing of M/s Telenor Pakistan Limited’s tax matter after submission of record by parties. Account Member Dr Ghulam Mujtaba Bhatti heard the case involving Federal Board of Revenue and M/s Telenor Pakistan Limited.

According to details, M/s Telenor Pakistan Limited had challenged a recovery notice issued to it under the head of outstanding income tax by the LTU, Islamabad.

Islamabad

customs impounds truck loaded with indian tea, imported skimmed milk

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed exemption from tax on undistributed profits on those corporate entities, which are under agreement with the government. The FBR issued SRO 234(I)/2018 to allow exemption by amending Second Schedule of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. According to the SRO, the provision of Section 5A of the Ordinance shall not apply to a company where a restriction has been imposed on distribution of dividend on account of an agreement with the government of Pakistan.

The Section 5A states: (1) For tax year 2017 and onwards, a tax shall be imposed at the rate of seven and a half percent of its accounting profit before tax on every public company, other than a scheduled bank or a modaraba, that derives profit for a tax year but does not distribute at least forty percent of its after tax profits within six months of the end of the tax year through cash or bonus shares: Provided that for tax year 2017, bonus shares or cash dividends may be distributed before the due date mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 118, for filing of a return.

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he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad took into possession a large quantity of smuggling Indian origin black tea, foreign origin skimmed milk, BOP Silms along with an offending vehicle from Rawalpindi territory. According to details given

by Majid Hussain Gadd, Assistant Collector, Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad, that, on a tipoff shared by the source of ASO Islamabad, it set up a picket at Carriage Factory Rawalpindi and intercepted an offending vehicle (vehicle used for carrying smuggling goods) bearing registration No: LES5115 loaded with a big quantity of smuggling goods.

The squad asked the possessors of the contraband items to show the documentary proof of the goods but he failed to do so. Upon failing to provide anything legal, the ASO squad impounded the items and brought the vehicle to the State Ware House (SWH).

The conSiscated goods include 780 kilogram of Indian origin black tea, 375 kilogram of foreign origin dried milk made in Poland, 500 kilogram of skimmed milk from Poland and 125 kilogram of BOP Silms. The ASO has lodged an FIR against the possessors of above said smuggling items and an offending vehicle un-

fBr extends tax exemption on undistributed profits

der the Customs Act-1969 whereas a case has been forwarded to the Investigation and Prosecutions (I&P) for further action. The staff who took part in the said seizure includes Sohail Qureishi and Ahmad Junaid Superintendents, Javed Masood, Inspector and class IV staff.

Meanwhile, The Customs Car Cell took into possession an NDP Toyota Land Cruiser jeep from Islamabad on February 2017-18.

According to details given by Majid Hussain Gadd, Assistant Collector

Car Cell, that, on a tip-off shared by ZulSiqar Ali Chaudhry, Collector Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad, the Customs Car Cell impounded the used Toyota Land Cruiser priced at Rs8million.

Assistant Collector told Customs Today that the Special Car Cell got secret information that a non-dutypaid used Toyota Land Cruiser, bearing registration No: BD-4397 Sindh having chassis No: UZJ1000154908, is parked on a road of Islamabad. The staff of the Special Car

Cell rushed to the spot and found the vehicle parked on the road. The driver of vehicle Sled the scene leaving the car abandoned.

The Car Cell team physically examined the vehicle and tallied with the record of import, Amnesty Scheme 2013 and auctioned vehicles but the vehicle existed nowhere in the data. As per ETO MRA Islamabad, registration No: BD-4397 Sindh was allotted to another Toyota Land Cruiser having different chassis number.

iHc relists three references involving collectorate of customs

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he Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday relisted three customs matters involving Customs Appellate Tribunal and Collectorate of Customs, Islamabad.

A division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Hassan Aurangzeb had to hear the cases. The bench had earlier relisted the cases including the

one Siled by M/s Awan CNG Re-Filling Corporation (Private) Limited.

The company had Siled cases against Model Collectorate of Customs.

The bench had also dated in ofSice hearing on matters Siled by DG Intelligence and Investigation against Malik Muhammad Ajmal Khan. M/s Comfort Sales Corporation had Siled case against ATIR and customs department. M/s Comfort Sales Corporation had Siled case against ATIR and customs department. M/s Comfort Sales Corpora-

tion had challenged the act of recovery of said amount by commissioner Inland Revenue of Large Taxpayer’s Unit, Islamabad.

ATIR was also made respondent in the case as the tribunal had sustained departmental decision regarding issuance of show cause notice and demand of recovery of outstanding tax amount in head of federal excise duty. M/s Comfort Sales Corporation had prayed the court that FBR office had issued a recovery notice to

the company which did not hold lawful grounds.

The appellant had prayed the court to declare the act as illegal and without any lawful authority and an interim stay may be granted against recovery proceedings. M/s Comfort Sales Corporation had also mentioned that departmental obligations were not met amid processing the notice of recovery demand while later the adjudication did not address grievances of the appellant.

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SHC seeks comments on petition filed by Ahmed Brothers for restoration of NTN KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed customs officials to file their respective para wise comments on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Ahmed Brothers (Private) Limited, seeking restoration of NTN blocked by customs authorities. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, was hearing the petition. During the hearing, counsel for the Customs Department sought time to file comments, therefore, the court granted him time and directed him to file comments on the next date of hearing.Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it is engaged in the lawful business in the name and style of M/s Ahmed Brothers and never involved in any illegal activity, however, officials of the customs authorities issued a show cause notice.

customs court acquits suspect booked in sales tax fraud case

Thursday February 22, 2018

Karachi

Adjudication-ii performs well by taking actions against tax defaulters

KARACHI

M B rAnA

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he Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi acquitted suspect namely Muhammad Adil Ashraf son of Muhammad Ashraf, who was booked in two separates sales tax fraud cases.

It needs to be pertained here that same suspect was awarded two year and eight months imprisonment and Rs. 15,00,000 fine in third sales tax fraud case. During the hearing, counsels for the suspect and customs department completed their arguments, counsel for the suspect argued that his counsel was falsely implicated in this case and prosecution has not provided any evidence against him, therefore, court may acquit him.

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SHc issues notice on plea filed by Sonia international KARACHI

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Customs Department and deputy attorney on a constitutional petition filed by M/S Sonia International against enhancing 100 percent values of ice cream flavors brand “Swensens”.

While hearing of the petition, a twomember bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, directed them to file their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it is engaged in the lawful business import of ice cream flavors brand “Swensens”, it is seriously aggrieved by action of the customs department which suddenly the valuation ruling 1167/2017 dated 25/05/2017 much higher unit price @ $ 4.25kg by enhancing 100% value of impugned goods Valuation Ruling 1167/2017.

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ustoms Adjudication-II showed outstanding performance by taking actions against tax defaulters and issued many notices during the month of January. Source told Customs Today that Customs Adjudication-II served a Sinal notice on a defaulter company named M/s Zia-ur-Rehman Traders and recovered Rs6million from M/s Nabeel Associates Karachi.

M/s Zia-ur-Rehman Traders was allegedly involved in tax evasion.

The company imported different types of plastic accessories including shining plastic Dana on November 29, 2017 and used the wrong PCT heading. After a careful investigation, the Customs AdjudicationII issued a Sinal notice to the company and cleared the outstanding amount of Rs8.25million.

Source said another company M/s Nabeel Associates got cleared a consignment of Silk Curtains on November 14 and evaded a tax amount of Rs6million. After the investigation, the Customs Adjudication-II served a show cause notice on the company on December 29 but it failed to clear the outstanding tax amount. The Collector Customs Adjudication-II issued a Sinal notice to the company on January 10, 2018.

But company took time to submit the evaded amount. After receiving the notice, the company deposited

Rs6million in favor of the Customs Department. Meanwhile, The Customs Export has recovered evaded amount of taxes and duties of Rs 10.17 million from defaulter companies which were issued with notices to pay the outstanding dues.

Sources told Customs Today that during scrutiny of the import data, it was revealed that M/s Muniba and Sons Karachi availed undue beneSits and concessions after importing different consignments by misusing the

M/s nabeel Associates got cleared a consignment of Silk curtains on november 14 and evaded a tax amount of rs6million

pcA detects tax evasion by M/s ishtiaq M Traders

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he Directorate of Customs Post Clearance Audit has detected duties and tax evasion of Rs 11.58 million by M/s Ishtiaq M Traders Karachi, it is learnt here.

Sources told Customs Today that M/s Ishtiaq M Traders Karachi imported a consignment of used LED monitors, and different types of computer parts, and got it cleared from the

PICT Karachi vide GDs on November 18, 2017 by paying customs duty at 8 percent after claiming the beneSit of the SRO 560/2007. However, the subject items were correctly classiSiable under the PCT 2409.3248 attracting customs duty at 12 percent and income tax at 10 percent, thus, by way of mis-declaration of classiSication, the company evaded/short-paid Rs 11.58 million.

The goods were cleared by Head Examiner Shamsuddin. Sources told that the importer violated the provisions of Section 39 (5) & (8-A) of the Customs

Act-1969, Section 19 read with Section 32 of the Sales Tax Act-1990 and Section 146 of Income Tax Ordinance 2001 punishable under clauses (244) and 142 of Section 441(9) of the Customs Act-1969, Section 86 of the Sales Tax Act-1990 and Section 89 & 178 of Income Tax Ordinance 2001 and Section 7-A of the Sales Tax Act-1990 read with chapter X of the Sales Tax Special Procedure Rules 2007 (Special procedures for payment of sales tax by the importers) and under relevant provisions of Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

SRO 566 through Examiner Raheel S Khan. Sources further said that the company was allegedly involved in the tax evasion of Rs 6 million. After detecting the tax evasion, the Customs Export served on it a Sinal notice on January 18, 2018 to deposit the evaded amount within fourteen days.

After receiving the notice, the management of M/s Muniba and Sons Karachi deposited the evaded amount in the ofSicial account of the Customs Export on 6th of February.

pak rupee continues to gain value he Pakistani rupee made another recovery against the US currency in open market and remained firm in interbank. As per the local money market, the greenback shed five paisas in open market for buying at 111.55 and for selling at 111.85. The dollar remained unchanged for buying at 110.30 and for selling 110.50 in interbank.

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Customs Export recovers Rs 10.17m from defaulter companies Thursday February 22, 2018

Lahore

KARACHI: The Customs Export has recovered evaded amount of taxes and duties of Rs 10.17 million from defaulter companies which were issued with notices to pay the outstanding dues.

Sources told Customs Today that during scrutiny of the import data, it was revealed that M/s Muniba and Sons Karachi availed undue benefits and concessions after importing different consignments by misusing the SRO 566 through Examiner Raheel S Khan. Sources further said that the company was allegedly involved in the tax evasion of Rs 6 million.

customs Tribunal reserves verdict in one out of seven cases LAHORE

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he Customs Appellate Tribunal’s Division Bench-II, comprising Omer Arshad Hakeem, Member Judicial and Imran Tariq, Member Technical, heard seven cases on Monday and adjourned five cases for different dates and reserved verdict in one case.

The division bench-II, comprising Omer Arshad Hakeem, Member Judicial and Imran Tariq, Member Technical, heard seven cases including Farhat Ali versus Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Multan, Noor Gas versus Customs Lahore, Pak Electronics versus Directorate Post Clearance Audit (PCA) La-

court extends remand of accused involved in diesel smuggling uty Judge Customs Court Arshad Ali has extended the physical remand of all eighteen accused persons who are involved in smuggling of Iranian diesel. According to the details, customs team arrested all the accused persons when they were trying to smuggle huge quantity of non customs paid Iranian diesel into Pakistan.

Customs team during checking of asked them to produce legal documents regarding possession and transportation of Iranian origin goods, but they failed to provide any relevant documents.

Customs team arrested them and produced them in Customs Court and prayed that they need more time to investigate the arrested persons. After hearing the arguments Customs Court extended the physical remand of accused persons till April 18. –CB Report

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hore. On Monday, the same bench heard appeals of Advance Energies versus Customs Lahore, Dawn Enterprises versus Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Lahore, Waqas Abbasi versus Customs Lahore and Arshed Sulah versus Customs Lahore. Tribunal also reserved a verdict in an appeal filed by Waqas Abbasi versus Customs Lahore. The Customs Appellate Tribunal’s Division Bench adjourned five cases until the next date and called the counsels for arguments. The parties were already informed about the cases for arguments.

The Customs Appellate Tribunal’s Division Bench adjourned five cases until the next date and called the counsels for arguments. The parties were already informed about the cases for arguments.

fBr team raids godown in nankana Sahib, recovers nDp cigarettes

LAHORE

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) anti smuggling squad raided a godown located in Nankana

Sahib and recovered huge quantity of non customs paid cigarettes. Sources told Customs Today that after receiving secret information FBR anti smuggling squad raided a godown of a trader Haji Khalil and recovered non customs paid Rangers, Metro & Country brands of cigarettes. The market value of seized cigarettes is Rs1.4 million in interna-

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tional market. The incharge of godown failed to provide any relevant documents regarding storage of the cigarettes. After his failure FBR anti smuggling squad seized all the cigarttes and registered a case of smuggling against the owner of the godown. Further investiations are still in progress till the Siling of this report.

fBr seeks proposals from chambers, fTo seeks record of tax refund case other stakeholders for coming budget ederal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) years. The petitioner approached

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he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has invited proposals from various stakeholders, including chambers of commerce across the country for the coming Budget for FY 2018-19 relating to sales tax and federal excise duty.

The FBR urged the stakeholders to follow instructions. The budgetary proposals should be pro-revenue and should focus on broadening of the tax base while amendments may be suggested in Sales Tax Act, 1990, Federal Excise Act, 2005, Sales Tax

Rules, 2006, Federal Excise Rules, 2005, Sales Tax Special Procedure Rules, 2007, Sales Tax Special Procedure (Withholding) Rules, 2007 and sales tax notiSications, circulars, general orders, clariSications, rules, federal excise notiSications, circulars, general orders, clariSications, and rules. The FBR said that amendment may be suggested with a view to achieve simpliSication, remove difSiculties and anomalies, and to abolish any outdated and obsolete provisions. –CB Report

Advisor Mian Munawar Ghafoor seeks details of the record to conclude the case. The FTO has heard a case Siled by the proprietors of M/s Haider Traders against the Regional Tax OfSice (RTO-II) Lahore and adjourned it until the next date of hearing.

During the proceedings, the counsel for the appellant argued that the RTO-II had failed to release the sales tax refund to the appellant since two years. He said the RTO-II has been collecting excessive taxes from the company for the last two

the ofSicials concerned several times for the release of refunds, but the RTO ofSicials failed to clear refunds, even after the passage of a reasonable time. Finally, the appellant decided to approach the FTO seeking intervention in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO-II to clear refund claims. The counsel further said delay in release of refunds puts the burden on the taxpayer so the RTOII should make audit of the case and release the extra amount collected from the taxpayer. –CB Report

Director i&i rubab distributes shields among officials

D LAHORE

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irectorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) arranged a ceremony in honour of those employees who showed outstanding performance during various anti smuggling operations in the region. Director Customs

Intelligence and Investigation Rubab Sikander distributed these shields among employees. Superintendent Saleem Ullah Khan, ZulSiqar Ali Dogar, Agha Sultan Haider, and Hamid Dar were awarded honorary shields. Inspectors Sohail Murtaza, Hamid Babar, Nadeem Ahsan, Ihtesham Naveed, ZulSiqar Ali, Malik Sohail, Iqbal Zaman, Ranjha Mehwish, Manzoor, Wajih Samreen, Aslam Iqbal, Ab-

dul Hameed Bhatti, Mohammad Rashid, Ghulam Mustafa, Maqsood Hussain, Aftab Ahmad, Mohammad Akram, Zafar Iqbal, Saifur Rehman, Shakir Shah, Naseer Wattoo, Mohammad Amin and Mohammad Farooq were also awarded with honorary shields. During her address Director Rubab Sikandar lauded the services rendered by Customs anti-smuggling squads during different operations.

She said that these employees always come upto the expectations of the department. She hoped that these employees will continue to perform their duties with same zeal and spirit in future also. Prominent among those who attended the function includes Additional Director Dr. Mumtaz Ali, Raza Mohota, Mehreen Naseem and Deputy Director Ali Zeb Khan, Usman Tariq and Ali Waheed.

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PESHAWAR

irfAn BAHADur

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he Collector Customs Collectorate Peshawar has said that Chairman Federal Board of Revenue has shown commitment to solve the issues faced by importers at Torkham Boarder.

The Collector Customs said this while talking with Customs Today on Customs House Peshawar. The Collector Customs Mohammad Saeed Jadoon said that Chairman FBR Tariq Mahmood Pasha have promised to main stream the trade and transit situation at Torkham Boarder and soon and new frame work will be framed to enhance the trade with Afghanistan.

The collector customs added that Customs House has been one of high proSile customs station which not only collect handsome part of revenue but also help to curb smuggling and facilitate genuine trade activities via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Collector Customs informed that Anti – Smuggling Units have seized containers of dry fruits in last week and have issued show case notice to the importers in order to provide details of the consignments.

The collector customs further expressed that he has been meeting on regular basis with the importers and exporters of Peshawar and Torkham in order to provide Sirst hand importance to the issues which frustrate the importers at Customs Stations.

The Collector Customs while meeting Additional Collector Trade and Transit route inquired about the situation of bounded train carriages systems which was initiated nine months ago when Sirst batch was received at Dry Port Peshawar while departed from Karachi.

The cargo after

t Anti ed tha m r o f n ri seized llecto s have t i The co n u ast ggling its in l u r f –Smu y r fd w case iners o ed sho u conta s s i e der av s in or and h r e k t e r e o w imp to the of the notice etails d e d i v ts to pro nmen consig

reaching Dry Port Peshawar have been dispatched to Afghanistan but still the containers remain stranded at Torkham Border for receiving further customs clearance documents.

The Collector Customs Mohammad Saeed Khan Jadoon after taking charge at Customs House Peshawar has taken strict action against irregularities and have framed new policy to run the affairs of Customs Collectorate Peshawar. The Collector Customs have earlier directed the Assistant Collector Zia Ullah Shams to completely operate WebOC roll out service at Customs Station Torkham and Khyber Border Terminal under headed by ICCP in order to provide technical facilitation to importers and the Customs Station to earn more revenue for the customs exchequer. The collector customs expressed full conSidence in the Customs force of Peshawar and said that they are trained enough to bare burden of extra work.

The collector customs further said that soon after anti-smuggling squad seize any consignment of smuggling the importers make approaches to clear their consignment which has become a curse for progression of genuine trade activities.

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eDiToriAL

Missing major macroeconomic targets

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ccording to newspaper reports, the government has missed all the major macroeconomic targets in its 11th five-year development plan, including the target it had set to achieve growth rate of 5.4 percent to the gross domestic product. However, the government has managed to make progress in all the sectors of the economy and achieved a secure growth rate of 4.4 percent during the first four years in the office.

Reports suggest the average growth in the agriculture sector remained 2.1 percent against a target of 3.5 percent, the average industrial output remained 5.1 percent against 6.3 percent target, the large-scale manufacturing recorded an average growth of 4.3 percent against a target of 6 percent and the services sector posted an average growth of 5 percent against a target of 5.8 percent during the first four years of the plan.

Besides, the target of Investment-to-GDP ratio was set at 22.8 percent, the target of national savings was set at 21.3 percent but the government could achieve only 13.1 percent by the end of the last fiscal year which was even worse than the ratio of 13.9 percent four years ago. The exports target was set at $29.5 billion for the fiscal year 2017-18 under the plan, but reached only $20.4 billion in four years. According to the Planning Commission, the country is facing various challenges to sustainable economic development, including stagnant exports, widening current account deficit, low savings and investments. Despite all efforts and requirements, the government could not improve its position at the ease of doing business index and it failed to deliver on various accounts. The challenges are exceedingly difficult, but resources are limited.

The experts believe mismanagement is the key factors responsible for the failure of the government to settle the affairs. There is a need to take proactive approach to recover the damages and correct the trade imbalances. The mandate of this government is approaching fast to its end all the corrupt elements and mafias are working overtime to exploit the situation. The new elections are round the corner and now it is up to the people to decide the future course of action. As a matter of fact, the government has failed to manage any sector of the economy and only put additional burden of loans on the national exchequer.

external pressures on economy T

LAHORE

Dr AfTAB AfZAL

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he external debts of the country have crossed $85 billion mark in five years, but the government is still in process to get more assistance from the international donor agencies. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had accepted a three year extended facility programme of over $6 billion from the International Monetary Fund in 2013. Unfortunately, the economy has been experiencing the same situation for the last two years. The incharge of finance and economy has left the country and the new entrants will take time to under-

stand troubling facts. The mandate of the current government is also going to end this year. The bleak performance of the economy only points out one fact, the government is facing financial crunch and may be resort to IMF once again at a time the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are reluctant to extend any considerable assistance to the government. The economy has gone back to square and the policymakers are unwittingly groping in the dark to find a clue to resolve the deepening economic crisis. The bubble of macroeconomic stability, which was the pet word of the former finance minister, has already burst. The donor agencies never approve

loans without attaching strings of their conditionalities. Some economists fear the pressure of the United States and India are costing heavily on the economy.

The current IMF conditions are economic, which could turn into political any time under the pressure of US state department.

Despite vast resources and political leverage, Pakistan is not like Iran to shrug off the pressure from all sides. Political instability is not a blessing, but curse on this nation. At a time the world powers are exerting all their pressure on Pakistan, the politicians are busy in catching each other by collars. The poor performance of the economy will soon bring the total

loan volume of the country to $100 billion. The current year is the election year and an interim government is expected to be set up in a few months. In this situation, it is difficult for the Abbasi government to restructure and reshape the economy. The country is facing economic and political uncertainties, including fiscal deficit, low exports and depleting foreign exchange reserves. The government has already performed poorly despite receiving $6.67 billion from the IMF and no one has been held responsible for the situation. Until an able leadership takes hold of the financial and administrative matters, there is a little hope the economy will bounce back.

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Customs appellate tribunal reserves judgment in solar batteries import case KARACHI: A special customs appellate tribunal (SCAT) has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by solarpowered batteries importer. The petitioner company, Nizam Energy, imported system for electrification of villages of Sindh in partnership with provincial government. The systems also included batteries for storing electricity obtained from solar rays. The importer claimed exemption from customs duty under Schedule V of the Customs Act 1969 while exemption was also claimed under section VI of the Sales Tax Act for the financial year 2014-15. The import was made under “Poverty Alleviation” programme and at that time the concession/exemption was allowed but later the Post Clearance Audit reopened the case and a demand was created for Rs52.7 million.

iHc relisted customs cases filed

by Lakson Tobacco cos against fBr

Thursday February 22, 2018

National

customs Tribunal postpones hearing of cases filed by nabeel, waqas enterprises

ISLAMABAD

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he Islamabad High Court (IHC) relisted customs cases filed by M/s Lakson Tobacco Company Limited against field office of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). A division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the case and relisted for hearing along with other cases. The Company had named additional collector customs in its petition against FBR. Meanwhile another bench dated in office hearing of M/s Hasas Engineering and Construction Company Private Limited’s case. The appellant had challenged the act of recovery of said amount by Commissioner Inland Revenue of Large Taxpayer’s Unit, Islamabad. ATIR was also made respondent in the case as the tribunal had sustained departmental decision regarding issuance of show cause notice and demand of recovery of outstanding tax

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ISLAMABAD

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ustoms Appellate Tribunal’s Member Technical, Ziaddin Wazir dated in office the hearing of customs cases of Raja Nabeel, Waqas Enterprises, Arshad Khan and Musawir Shah.

Raja Nabeel had filed the cases against Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Islamabad. Other three appellants had filed their cases against Collectorate of Customs, Islamabad.

Earlier, another bench had tribunal had directed parties to ensure presence before the bench on the next date of hearing with directives to prepare for Sinal arguments. The bench was hearing the customs references involving by M/s Klaguardia Logistics and M/s Trade Master and Collectroate of Customs, Islamabad. Customs Appellate Tribunal’s bench comprising of Members Tribunal, Syed Muhammad Anwar and Muhammad Nasir Khan had heard the matters submitted by M/S Klaguardia Logistics and M/s Trade Master against Model Collec-

troate of Customs, Islamabad. Customs Appellate Tribunal would hear recently Siled customs reference

Siled by M/s Kohinoor Trader on Tuesday. Counsels from M/s Five Star Trading had appeared before

the bench and demanded time from the bench for Sinalizing preparations for the case.

Duty, tax exemption to chinese company rejected KARACHI

amount in head of federal excise duty.

M/s Hasas Engineering and Construction Company Private Limited had prayed the court that FBR office had issued a recovery notice to the company which did not hold lawful grounds. The appellant had prayed the court to declare the act as illegal and without any lawful authority and an interim stay may be granted against recovery proceedings.

M/s Hasas Engineering and Construction Company Private Limited had also mentioned that departmental obligations were not met amid processing the notice of recovery demand while later the adjudication did not address grievances of the appellant.

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akistan Steel Melters Association (PSMA) has rejected the recently issued SRO 47(I)2018, that allows controversial duty and tax exemptions to China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited. “This exemption of taxes and duty to Chinese company will cost national exchequer approximately Rs11 billion,” said a statement.

Under this controversial SRO, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which is working on Motorway Sukkar to Multan section, has been allowed duty free import of construction materials and machinery in Pakistan.

To record it reservations at the highest level, PSMA has drawn at-

tention of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi towards this issue through a letter requesting the PM to withdraw the disputed exemptions allowed to a foreign company on the expenses of local steel sector.

In 2017, Pakistan Steel Melting Industry was coined as the fastest growing steel industry in the world, as per

LSM (Large-Scale-Manufacturing) data published by SBP (State Bank of Pakistan) notes that Billet/Ingot production has grown by 62 percent in Sirst four month of Siscal year 2017/2018 on year-on year basis.

Hussain Agha, Senior Vice Chairman PSMA, said that the steel industry of Pakistan is gearing up for a massive $300 million capacity expansion within the next 24 months, which would yield multifold growth in revenue collection to our National Kitty.

The Chinese are our brothers in progress and we warmly welcome CPEC, however, we must ensure that it is done on a fair and mutually beneSitting basis.” Tremendous jobs are at stake if the government gives anti-localization incentives to special companies. Steel Industry of Pakistan generates the largest revenue amongst the growing Industrial sector of Pakistan and also aims

to fulSil the upcoming demand of CPEC through providing high grade manufactured steel.

Hussain Agha, Executive Director of Agha Steel Industries said that the “first phase of Agha Steels project is expected to come online in 2018, which will directly save the government at least $180 million per annum in direct import substitution and will further generate additional taxes for our government.”

New steel projects expected to come online within the next 12 months will save our National Exchequer billions of dollars by import substitution. PSMA strongly objects any policies that could hamper growth in Pakistan and SRO 47(I)2018 will dampen future investments alongside with already gifting Rs11 billion loss to government in revenue collection.

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Suspect fire at Customs House building turns important record to ashes Thursday February 22, 2018

National uS embassy hands over 30 Honda bikes 125cc to pakistan customs

KARACHI: Customs House building catches suspect fire due to which important records turned into ashes within minutes.

According to the source, the suspect fire that engulf at the second floor of the Customs House building has caused a huge loss as several import and files are said to be turned in to ashes here on Monday after noon. The source has further stated that the Cheif Collector Customs has taken the notice of the suspect fire and has asked the concern authority to constitute a committee of three members to probe how the important record has been gutted.

customs seizes anti-jamming equipment, mobiles worth rs1.55b

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he United States Embassy has handed over 30 Honda motorbikes 125CC to Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad. According to details, a ceremony to handover motorcycles was held at Islamabad Dry Port. Additional Collector Headquarters Muhammad Ishfaque received the bikes on behalf of the Pakistan Customs. US Navy Commander Holman (ODRP) US Embassy handed over the motorbikes to the Customs Department. Sources told that these motor bikes would be given to field formations of the customs collectorates throughout the country for vigilance. Sources said that prominent among those who was attended the ceremony Additional Collector Muhammad Ishafaque, Deputy Collector Dry Port Wajid Zaman, and US Navy Commander Holam. The sources told that the motor bikes will be distributed to the Customs offices located in Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala.

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13 customs officers relieved from duties to join new posting hirteen Pakistan Customs Service officers of BS 17-19 have been relieved from their current postings with immediate effect. These officers, transferred/posted vide Board’s notification No 0213-C-II/2018 dated 02.02.2018, stand relieved to join their new place of posing. The officers, include Yousaf Haider Orakzai (BS-19), Muteen Alam (BS-19), Syed Fazal Samad (BS-19), Ali Raza Turabi (BS-18), Shakir Muhammad (BS-18), Naveed Abbas Memon (BS-18), Zakir Muhammad (BS-18), Muhammad Rizwan (BS18), Muhammad Akbar Jan Gandapur (BS-18), Dr Imran Rasool Khan (BS-17), Muhammad Arslan Majeed Rana (BS17), Muhammad Zohaib (BS-17) and Quratulain (BS-17).

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he Customs ofSicials have recovered a large number of mobile phones and anti-jamming equipment worth Rs1.55 billion after unearthing a misdeclaration case. The seized items include 31,112 smart phones and around 5,000 sets of long-distance special mobile phone sets that could be used for cross-border communication and anti-jamming equipment.

According to official sources, the accused was trying to get the items cleared by showing them as refrigeration parts, dyes and garments.

They said that the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of seized phone sets could not be traced out and could be used in ter-

rorism activities. The consignment arrived from Dubai in the first week of January at Karachi Inter-

national Container Terminal and was later shifted to the off-dock station – Al-Hamad International

Container Terminal (AICT).

The customs authorities were informed that the importers were planning to change the consignment contents with the connivance of the AICT and the customs staff deputed at the terminal.

The collector directed his deputy to raid the AICT where he saw that the cargo contents were already being changed. The staff had illegally opened 13 pallets without the collectorate appraisement’s permission. The customs ofSicial found that the consignment had been misdeclared and sensitive electronic equipment, including special longdistance mobile phones and antijammers, were being cleared under the garb of refrigerator parts, dyes and garments. An FIR was lodged, but no arrest was reported till late into the night.

Quetta customs i&i foils bid to smuggle auto parts worth rs7.25 million T

KARACHI

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he Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation has foiled a bid to smuggle luxury vehicles tyres, radiators, chassis, and hard wire worth Rs 7.25 million during special checking. Sources told Customs Today that Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Quetta Muhammad Akram Chaudhary received a tip-off that some smugglers are trying to smuggle luxury vehicles tires, radiators, chassis, and hard wires from Quetta to Karachi.

He constituted a raiding team under the supervision of Superintendent Majid Siddique and others. The team enhanced the surveillance in highway road and started searching of vehicles. During the search operation, the team intercepted loaded truck registration no: QK-7197 which

was going from Quetta to Karachi.

During the checking, the customs team recovered 50 luxury vehicles tires, 50 radiators, 2 luxury jeep chas-

sis and 10 thousand yards hard wire worth Rs 7.25 million. The customs team seized all the items and arrested three smugglers including a

driver. The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Quetta registered an FIR against the smugglers and started investigations.

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M/s Vital Marketing moves SHC against Order-in-Revision No 264/2016 KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Customs Department and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Vital Marketing (Private) Limited against the impugned Order-in-Revision No 264/2016 dated 11/11/2016, enhancing the values of baby diapers. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, heard the petition. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it is engaged in the lawful business and commercial import of raw materials for manufacture of baby diapers. The petitioner discharges his liabilities under the law and has contributed a huge amount to the national exchequer by the way of paying duties and taxes.

31 pakistanis own rs60 billion worth properties in Dubai ISLAMABAD

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s many as 31 Pakistanis own more than 55 properties worth around Rs60 billion in Dubai, revealed an official document of Federal Board of Revenue. According to the document, the UAE tax authorities have exchanged detailed information in respect of 53 Pakistanis having a number of investments in real estate along with copies of passports in 31 cases vide letters dated January 22, 2018 and January 28, 2018, respectively. The Economic Crimes Wing of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had requested Ministry of Finance of UAE for exchange of information about filthy rich Pakistanis on November 16, 2017.

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Some 7,000 Pakistanis have bought properties worth an estimated Rs1.1 trillion in the heart of Dubai in the past one-and-a half decades. “A list of 100 Pakistani individuals, who have allegedly purchased properties in Dubai/UAE, was received in FBR office from the Director, Economic Crimes Wing, FIA HQ which was forwarded to the head of EOI Unit, Ministry of Finance. The UAE tax authorities through two letters on January 22, 2018 and January 28, 2018, provided the details of 55 transactions of properties made by Pakistani individuals and the copies of 32 passports. Out of these 32 cases, CNIC in 31 cases are available. 29 out of these 31 individuals are registered with the FBR. Only five individuals declared their UAE properties in available FBR record,” read the documents.

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reforms in tax administration are govt priority: rana Afzal

Suspect in QMobile smuggling scam gets interim bail KARACHI

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ustoms Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted pre-arrest bail to another suspect namely Rashid Haroon, officer of the M/s Digicom (Q Mobile), who was booked for attempting to smuggle assorted (Q-Mobile) mobile phones and other goods in the garb of LED lights.

During the hearing, the suspect filed a petition for bail and argued that he was falsely implicated in this case and was ready to face trail. However, he had the apprehensions of arrest, therefore, the court might grant him pre-arrest bail till final order in this case. After hearing the arguments, the court granted him pre-arrest bail against the surety bonds of Rs 500,000 and directed him to appear before the court on the next date of hearing for conformation of bail. According to the interim charge sheet, on a credible information, anti-smuggling organization (HQ) MCC (P) Karachi raided at Sadder Central Plaza, Karachi and found that one container noKKFU-72555703 loaded on a trawler noTLT-374 was parked there, search was carried out accordingly in presence two musheers which revealed the presence of huge quantity of mobile phones stuffed in the aforesaid container.

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inister of state for Finance and Revenue Rana Mujammad Afzal Khan has said that reforms in tax administration are government priority. A three member delegation of Association of CertiSied Chartered Accountants (ACCA) Pakistan, led by Sajjeed Aslam, called on the Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan. He was accompanied by Assad Hameed Khan and Haroon A. Jan accompanied.

The delegation discussed with the minister the potential of the services sector in economic development with special focus on the accountancy services. The delegation apprised the Minister that there was great demand for Pakistan’s professionals in the Middle East countries and support from the government will ultimately beneSit the country in many ways. The group presented different proposals that could be considered for inclusion in the next budget and the same could help generate resources for the country.

The minister appreciated the initiative of ACCA and said that he was

Thursday February 22, 2018

highly supportive of promoting professional talent in different Sields at home and abroad. The minister said that “Pakistan has a lot to offer to the world and we believe in paving the way for the youth of the country to prosper”. The delegation also presented a study on CPEC, “The Belt and Road Initiative: Reshaping the Global Value Chain”, for perusal of

the minister. The minister said that in the remaining part of the tenure, the government would try to consolidate the economic gains made in the last four years and the reform process would continue during this period. He also made special mention of growth in revenue collection and said that further reforms in tax administration are a priority.

Dg Valuation revises values of scent & toilet sprays

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he Directorate General of Customs Valuation has revised the customs values of Sscent and similar toilet sprays and Mount Head thereof (empty sprayers/atomizer made of plastic) through Valuation Ruling No: 1253/2017 under Section 25A of the Customs Act-1969. Earlier, the Customs values of scent and similar toilet sprays and mount Head were determined vide Valuation Ruling No. 1139/2017, dated 21.04.2017, followed by corrigendum dated 2.5.2017. The Director General of

Customs Valuation vide Order in Revision No. 405/2017 dated 07.11.2107 directed to conduct the valuation exercise thoroughly, and to re-determine the Custom Values of the subject goods under Sec 25-A of the Customs Act, 1969.

This office, therefore, initiated exercise for re-determination of customs values of the subject goods. Meetings with stakeholders were held on 26.09.2017, 05.12.2017 and 31.01.2018. The stakeholders were requested to furnish the following documents before or during the course of above said meeting: A. Invoices of imports during last three months

showing factual value. Websites, names and e-mail addresses of known foreign manufacturers of the item in question through which the actual current value can be ascertained. Copies of contracts made / LCs opened during, the last three months showing the value of item in question. Copies of sales tax invoices issued during last four months showing the difference in price (excluding duty and taxes) to substantiate their stance.

The commercial importers participated in the scheduled meetings and presented their view point. They contended that the impugned Valuation Ruling prices are

high and therefore require fair revision in line with the prevailing prices in the international market.

The representatives of Collectorates stated that this item is also being declared in Chapter 84 and 39 in order to get benefit of reduced rate of custom duties and taxes. The view point of the participants was heard in detail and considered to arrive at custom values of subject goods. Valuation methods given in Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1969 were followed to arrive at customs value of scent and similar toilet sprays and mount head thereof (empty sprayers/atomizer made of plastic).

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Budget is watershed moment for South Africa’s economy

World Customs

CAPE TOWN: While there are early signs of a recovery in the local economy, with expected business conditions improving, government now needs to show – through its Budget later this month – that it has the credibility to take the country forward and build business and consumer confidence. Schoeman quipped that this was the first Budget that was almost “unforecastable”, and that economists were unsure about the steps that government would take to boost fiscal growth and narrow the current account deficit.

Thursday February 22, 2018

Swiss lender ZkB says progress on uS tax case stalled

customs, Trade minister calls for chinese investors SHANGHAI

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Swiss lender Zuercher Kantonalbank’s tax case with U.S. authorities is stalled without a resolution in sight, its chief executive told journalists, virtually mirroring comments he made a year ago. “We couldn’t make progress in 2017,” CEO Martin Scholl said at a news conference where he detailed last year’s earnings. “We’re ready at any time, but we don’t know when that will be.” The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating government-owned ZKB on suspicion of helping wealthy Americans evade taxes. Two ZKB employees pleaded not guilty in 2016 to helping people hide hundreds of millions in offshore accounts.

Meanwhile, Swiss Federal Council has agreed on the outline of the new tax reform package that will be pre-

iran slaughters 40 percent of its poultry, imports eggs from Turkey ranian officials culled 25 million heads of poultry following a recent outbreak of bird flu, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) reported Monday. Speaking to ILNA, head of the Tehran Chicken and Egg Association Nasir Nebipur said a collosal 40 percent of the nation’s poultry had been slaughtered due to bird flu fears. Nebipur went on to point out that the massive cull had led to a dramatic decrease in egg production, leading in turn to skyrocketing egg prices. In order to meet public demand for eggs, Iran is now importing 50 trucks of eggs from Turkey each week, the news agency reported.

Also known as H5N1, the bird flu – which has caused 454 deaths worldwide since 2003. –CB Report

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sented to Parliament next month. The Council said that it agreed on the parameters for the dispatch on tax proposal 17 (TP17) The Federal Department of Finance has been instructed to prepare the dispatch by the end of March. Together with the dispatch, the FDF will also prepare an estimate of the Sinancial implications of TP17 for the confederation

and the cantons. The Council explained that the agreed parameters are closely aligned with the proposals it presented for public consultation last September. The Council will continue to pursue the introduction of a mandatory patent box for all cantons, and the introduction of optional additional deductions for research and development expenditure.

netherlands latest eu member to voice disagreement on palm oil ban

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etherlands has become the latest European Union (EU) member after the UK and Sweden to voice out disagreement on the ban of palm oil by the economic bloc. We do not support discriminatory measures or differentiation between products.

We understand the anxiety this may has caused. It is a very sensitive issue,” Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation minister Sigrid Kaag told reporters on the sidelines of the Dutch

Approach to Innovation and High Tech Development seminar here today. Kaag said Dutch government also commended Malaysia for all the efforts taken in the gradual phasing out and in the transitioning of palm oil. These also include the livelihood of smallholders and sustainability issues. Nobody should be penalised, and alternatives should need to be created and we need to be discussing this in a proper format. –CB Report

ustoms and Trade Minister Bülent Tüfenkci called for Chinese investors to invest in Turkey, underlining that both countries have potential advantages and opportunities to offer each other. Paying a visit to China as part of the First Global Cross-Border ECommerce Conference, Tüfenkci underlined that China is one of the most important economic powers of the region and the world, staterun Anadolu Agency.

Tüfenkci also highlighted the fast growth of e-commerce around the world recently and the considerable progress that both Turkey and China have made in this Sield.

“The share of e-commerce in our economy has reached 3.6 percent, which is growing thanks to our regulations,” Tüfenkci said. Meanwhile,

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e-commerce practices in Turkey, which aim at increasing trust in ecommerce and preventing misleading acts of businesses, such as the security stamp and ETBİS (Electronic Commerce Information System), attracted great attention at the conference, Tüfenkci said. He added that more regulations and practices will be implemented in this direction. Tüfenkci also said they had a fruitful meeting with the General Administration of Customs Minister Yu Guangzhou and decided to cooperate in different Sields, such as the data exchange, as well as the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements, which was previously signed between the two countries. “China stands as one of the most important economic powers of the world and Turkey should be economically active in China, too,” Tüfenkci said. Reminding that China is the largest exporter to Turkey, Tüfenkci said the imbalance between Turkey’s imports from China and its exports to China should be eliminated.

Saudi oil exports to Japan jump up

audi oil daily last year, which was a 9.5-percent annual increase and the highest import rate since 1982, Japanese government data showed. A local reSiner told S&P Platts the increase was a result of Saudi Arabia’s “operational Slexibility, as well as they were basically Slexible to accommodate our request for tolerance.” The increase came amid falling allocations for large Asian clients because of the production cut deal, but it also reSlected Saudi Arabia’s particularly sharp cut in the production of heavier grades: only imports of Arab Extra Light to Japan jumped last year,

by a hefty 39 percent, while imports of its other grades, including Arab Heavy, Arab Medium, and Arab Light all dropped by between 4 percent and 11 percent. One Japanese energy industry insider, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp’s chief economist Takayuki Nogami, told S&P Platts that higher U.S. shale production and Libyan crude shipments to Europe were responsible for lower demand for Saudi crude in these two key markets. This probably contributed substantially to that “operational Slexibility” as did falling exports to China, India, and South Korea. –CB Report

private equity invests in acquisitive South African fishing

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he fundamentals driving the aquaculture industry globally as well as in Sub-Sahara Africa support the strategic rationale for the transaction. In addition, this partnership introduces the potential for expansion and value addition across the

TerraSan business to a level not possible before,” said Sinclair, a partner at EXEO, in a press release on the deal.

Terrasan is pleased to welcome AgriVie to its fraternity of shareholders.

We look forward to their contributions to our company as we strive to expand our investments,” said Mohammad Karaan, executive chairman at Terrasan. TerraSan exhibits exceptional growth prospects which are, in

most cases, already in the process of being implemented, said Sinclair.

“TerraSan’s strategic intent is to grow organically by expanding its abalone and mussel production facilities, improving the quality of the bulk Sishmeal produced in order to command a higher price for exports and becoming the processing home for the smaller quota holders in the small pelagic Sishing industry,” he said. Fish-

meal is a major expenditure component for Sish producers engaged in aquaculture based predominantly in the northern hemisphere and abalone is a highly sought-after delicacy in Asia, Sinclair said. TerraSan Pelagic Fishery, the group’s 100% owned pelagic arm, is situated in Velddrif on the west coast and owns commercial Sishing rights, as well as a Sleet of Sishing vessels.

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Iran doubles exports of dates over current year TEHRAN: The volume of exports of dates form Iran over the current fiscal year (starting March 20) has significantly increased.

Mohammdali Tahmasbi, a deputy agriculture minister, has said that country exported 171,000 tons of dates over the current fiscal year, Fars news agency reported.

According to the official the figure has surged by 22 percent.Mohammdali Tahmasbi further added that the output of the dates in the country in the mentioned period stood at one million tons.

five ships take berth at port Qasim ive ships, Maersk Pittsburg, Mehun, APL Miami, Sea Charming and Johanna Olderdroff carrying Containers, Chemicals and Coal were allotted berths at Qasim International Container Terminal, Engro Vopak Terminal and Multi Purpose Terminal respectively during last 24 hours, said a report issued by Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Meanwhile five more ships Cerulean, Al-Gattara, Chemroad Hope, Navicosmos and Brizo carrying General Cargo, LNG, Plam Oil and Furnace oil also arrive at outer anchorage of Port Qasim during last 24 hours. Berth occupancy was managed at the port at forty seven percent on Tuesday where a total of eight ships namely, Maersk Pittsburg, Mehun, APL Miami, Beks Cenk, Johanna Oldendroff, BW Hazel, YM Miranda and Sea Charming are currently occupying berths to load/offload Containers, Cement, Canola Seeds, Coal and Chemicals. A

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Surge in cargo traffic in January at all Qatar ports

Scottish exports to netherlands at risk due to Brexit cottish exports to the Netherlands worth more than £2 billion are at risk because of Brexit, the External Affairs Secretary has said. Fiona Hyslop highlighted the trading relationship between the two countries during a series of engagements in The Hague on Thursday. She was due to hold meetings with the Netherlands Vice-Minister for European Affairs, Thijs van der Plas, and Marjan Hammersma, Secretary General of the Ministry for Education, Culture and Science. The Scottish Government said the latest data shows that in 2015 the Netherlands was Scotland’s second main export destination, worth £2.3 billion and representing 8% of the export total. Ministers argue the UK Government’s plan to leave the European single market and customs union threatens such trade. The UK Government says it wants to negotiate a bespoke and comprehensive trade agreement. –CB Report

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tarting the new year on a positive note, the ports in the country have witnessed a strong increase in trafSic as Hamad Port, Doha Port and Ruwais Port hosted 381 vessels in January, according to Mwani Qatar.

The ports handled 135,956 cattle heads in the Sirst month of the current year compared to 64,026 cattle in December last year, showing a whopping rise of 112 percent. Similarly, 22,641 tonnes of aggregates were handled in January against 15,629 tonnes in December, reSlecting an increase of 45%. Likewise, ro-ro cargo (wheeled cargo) witnessed 58% rise as 6,584 units were handled in January against 4,169 units in December.

These ports handled 103,996 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) containers and 136,511 tonnes of general cargo in January, tweeted Mwani Qatar. In terms of

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total trafSic, 2017 was a recordbreaking year for Mwani Qatar with regard to meeting challenges and expanding global marine connectivity. In 2017, these ports handled 1.26m tonnes of general cargo, 772,835 TEUs containers, 857,429 cattle heads and 578,654 tonnes of aggregates and 3,869 vessels. The positive momentum in the country’s maritime trade will get stronger in the ongoing year as Qatar has

opened new trade routes and has diversiSied its source of supply. After the unjust siege, the authorities took several initiatives to strengthen maritime trade and ensure smooth supply of goods for residents.

Mwani Qatar in cooperation with partners had, in the second half of 2017, inaugurated a number of new direct shipping lines between Hamad Port and other ports in the region and beyond.

uS lags behind in export promotion investments cargo volume of 115,393 tonnes, comprising 83,433 tonnes import cargo and 31,960 tonnes export cargo inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 3,523 containers (TEUs), (2,701 TEUs imports and 822 TEUs exports) was handled at the port.

Two Chemicals carriers, Sea Charming and YM Miranda sailed out to sea on Wednesday morning, while two Container ships Maersk Pittsburg and Mehun are expected to sail on at night hours. Three ships, Cerulean, Chemroad Hope and Al-Gattara carrying General Cargo, Palm Oil and LNG are expected to take berths at MW-1, ICT and EETL respectively on Wenesday. While two more Container ships, CMA CGM Indus and Prosper and a Gas carrier Maran Gas Sparta are due to arrive at PQ. –CB Report

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he latest analysis of foreign export promotion program investment shows that several competing countries and the European Union spent close to $1 billion in public funds on agricultural export promotion in 2016, outspending the U.S. four to one. That is an increase of 70% in real competitive public spending since 2011.

U.S. public funding for the two largest agricultural export promotion programs is about $235 million per year, and its real value has declined 12% since 2011. The conclusions echo results of three similar competitive studies since 2013.

Selected Foreign Export Promotion Programs,” was commissioned by the Wine Institute and other agricultural associations and conducted

by Informa Economics IEG with Market Access Program (MAP) funding. With a focus on EU export development investment, IEG also reviewed agricultural export promotion investment by major competitors from Australia, Chile, China, New Zealand and others.

“The total public investment alone from just the EU and four European countries are expected to exceed $550 million in 2019, which is more than twice what the U.S. government authorizes for agricultural export development under the farm bill,” said Mark Powers, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council and chairman of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports.

Other governments are investing more in global food and agricultural markets while inSlation, sequestration and administrative costs are chipping away at U.S. funding,” said Tom Sleight, chief executive ofSicer

of the U.S. Grains Council, which is a member of the Agribusiness Coalition for Foreign Market Development. “That also cuts into the ability of American family farmers, livestock and dairy producers, Sishermen and small agri-food businesses to compete in growing export markets.” Sleight said increasing competition is one of the reasons why organizations that participate in cost-share export programs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, as well as a number of members of Congress, are calling for more funding for U.S. programs.

He said by 2016, private funding from industry members provided 70% of the total annual investment in MAP and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, both administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The remaining 30% from annual government funding

has been stagnant — at $200 million for MAP since 2006 and at $34.5 million for FMD since 2002.

Coalition members are asking that MAP and FMD funding be doubled by the last year of the new farm bill. That is also the goal called for in S.1839 and H.R. 2321, the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade & Exports (CREAATE) Act, introduced in 2017. “All the members of our coalition are grateful for federal export promotion support over the years,” Powers said. “The investment has been very successful in boosting U.S. agricultural export volume and revenue at a rate that far exceeds its public expense. Because these programs also protect and create American jobs and increase farm income, there is no doubt they are highly successful public/private partnerships worth the increased investment.”

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IHC rejects NAB’s plea, maintains bail of Capt (r) Safdar ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s plea seeking the dismissal of bail granted to MNA Capt (r) Safdar in the Avenfield reference.

Earlier on December 14, IHC reserved its decision on NAB petition seeking the dismissal of bail granted to MNA Capt (r) Safdar in a corruption case.

Safdar is the son-in-law of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and faces a corruption reference in the accountability court alongside Nawaz.

Thursday February 22, 2018

Business

nAB orders probe against Saira Afzal ISLAMABAD

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he National Accountability Bureau has ordered a probe against State Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar and the Pakistan Medical Dental Council chairman on charges of corruption in afSiliating 12 medical colleges to the council. The anti-graft body executive board meeting, held under the chair of NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, also approved two corruption reference, two investigations and three inquiries. The board authorized to Sile a corruption reference against former state minister for railways and communications

nAB recovers rs3601.965 million ISLAMABAD

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Javed Ashraf Qazi, former railway secretary Saeed ul Zafar, former general manager Hamid Hassan Butt, former general manager operations Iqbal Samad Khan, former member Sinance Khurshid Ahmad Khan, former director Akhtar Ali

ADB delegation calls on Secretary BiSp, discuss various initiatives

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ational Accountability Bureau (NAB), Rawalpindi has recovered Rs. 3601.965 million in Rental Power Projects (RPPs) and distributed among concerned contractors, sponsors and government department. The Bureau had filed 11 references in RPP scandal including Karkey Ship, Piranghaib Multan, Sahuwal Sialkot, Guddu Sindh, Naudero II Sindh, Samundri Road, Naudero-I Sindh, M/S Reshma Power Generation Raiwind, M/S Young Gen Power Ltd, Bhikki Sheikhupura.

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Baig, former superintendent Abdul Ghafar and Director Hasnain Construction Company Muhammad Ramzan Sheikh, Chief Executive Unicon Consulting Services Pervez Latif, Director Max Corporation Development Malaysia Muhammad Kasa in a

case of misusing authority and causing Rs2 billion loss to the national exchequer. The second corruption reference was approved against former WAPADA chairman Tariq Hamid and former members, Muhammad Khalid, Muhammad Mushtaq and Imtiaz Anjum for misusing authority and allotting 150 megawatts power project to a private company in breach of NEPRA, PEPRA and ECC rules and causing millions of rupees loss to the national exchequer. The NAB also authorized an investigation against Capital Development Authority former chairman Farkhand Iqbal, former member state Khalid Mirza and other CDA ofSicials in a case of misuse of authority and selling commercial plots on low rates, causing a loss of Rs494.33 million to the national kitty.

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delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) lead by Director General Central and West Asia Department (CWRD) Werner E. Liepach called on Secretary Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Omar Hamid Khan.

DG ADB appreciated different initiatives of BISP and acknowledged its efforts for graduating vulnerable women out of poverty. He especially praised the new projects being launched by BISP

including the Graduation Model and assured ADB’s full support in this regard.

ADB has an agreement with BISP under which nearly $396 million are being provided to ensure the social safety of most vulnerable women of Pakistan.

Secretary BISP appreciated the long standing institutional collaboration between ADB and BISP, and added that the collaboration has now matured into a structured and meaningful engagement. He said that ADB project enabled BISP to expand its cash transfer program by registering additional eligible families. The secretary congratulated Werner E. Liepach on his promotion

and assumption of charge as the Director General ADB Central and West Asia Department. He further added that he looks forward to support from ADB in the up scaling efforts of graduation model. The BISP Board recently approved two graduation components i.e. Business Incubation for Self – Employment (BISE) and Direct Cash. Their key features include proSiling of targeted households for selfemployment, provision of technical skill trainings to selected beneSiciaries, Micro Investment Plan (MIP) and income generating grants for business start-ups.

punjab industry gets gas at high cost LAHORE

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he All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has said that the industry in Punjab was presently being charged Rs1250/MMBTU for gas as compared to gas supply to the industry in other provinces at Rs 600/MMBTU. Similarly, electricity in Punjab was being provided to the textile exporting industry along with surcharges of Rs.3.60/KWH [Tariff Rationalization (TR) and Financial Cost (FC)]. The textile industry in Punjab is saddled with the burden of non-recovery of bills and electricity theft of others, a factor of inefficiency that cannot be passed on to the international buyer. This disparity is unjust and unfair for Punjab-based textile industry to sustain. Textile industry associations have repeatedly represented this issue to the governments both at the federal and provincial levels but to no avail.

Faced with this sorry state of the affairs textile industry associations in Punjab have decided to hold a joint session on Saturday, out of desperation, participants and stakeholders will consider all options be it closure, protest, observance of black-day to secure the viability of the Punjab industry.

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punjab industry gets gas at high cost LAHORE

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he All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has said that the industry in Punjab was presently being charged Rs1250/MMBTU for gas as compared to gas supply to the industry in other provinces at Rs 600/MMBTU. Similarly, electricity in Punjab

was being provided to the textile exporting industry along with surcharges of Rs.3.60/KWH [Tariff Rationalization (TR) and Financial Cost (FC)]. The textile industry in Punjab is saddled with the burden of non-recovery of bills and electricity theft of others, a factor of inefficiency that cannot be passed on to the international buyer.

This disparity is unjust and unfair for Punjab-based textile in-

dustry to sustain. Textile industry associations have repeatedly represented this issue to the governments both at the federal and provincial levels but to no avail.

Faced with this sorry state of the affairs textile industry associations in Punjab have decided to hold a joint session on Saturday, out of desperation, participants and stakeholders will consider all options be it closure, protest, observance of black-day

to secure the viability of the Punjab industry. The spokesman for the APTMA urged the government to announce and lay down the implementation mechanism for the agreed long-term policy for the revival and growth of the textile industry. “An early announcement of the policy will help reverse trade account deficit and thereby contribute to the country’s progress and prosperity,” he stressed.

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LCCI members urged to settle disputes at mediation centre LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) urged the members to avail the facility of LCCI Mediation Centre to settle their disputes. LCCI Acting President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President Zeshan Khalil said in a media statement that even Lahore High Court was referring disputes for mediation to the Lahore chamber, which resolved a number of cases successfully. The Lahore Chamber had established the Mediation Centre for out-of-court settlements of the business disputes in collaboration with World Bank and IFC, asserting that support of Judiciary was making this Centre more effective.

contract for kcci’s new building construction awarded

Thursday February 22, 2018

Chambers

Businessmen appeals nA to pass rent control act in its 52nd session

KARACHI

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hairman Businessmen Group (BMG) & Former President Karachi Chamber Siraj Kassam Teli has announced that the contract for construction of Karachi Chamber’s new building in Clifton has finally been awarded to Times Group Pvt. Limited and the construction work will begin from next week which will be completed within the next one-and-a-half year. “Each and every single aspect was thoroughly reviewed prior to finalizing the contract in which the contractor has quoted a sum of Rs480 million for the construction of KCCI’s new building”, Siraj Teli added while speaking at an internal meeting held at a reception hosted by him in

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honor of all BMGIANs who continued to extend nonstop support during the last 20 years of BMG at KCCI. Vice Chairmen BMG & Former Presidents Zubair Motiwala, Haroon Farooki and Anjum Nisar, President KCCI Muffasar Atta Malik, Senior Vice President Abdul Basit Abdul Razzak, Vice President Rehan Hanif, all Former Presidents, Managing Committee members and around 300 BMGIANs attended the reception. Congratulating BMGIANs on this milestone achievement, Siraj Teli said that keeping in view the expertise of Contractor, who has also constructed Bakht Tower in Clifton, and also the enormous experience of Architect Asad IA Khan, who architected Prime Minister House and many other projects, the construction work for KCCI Building will be completed within the given time period and it will certainly be an ideal building as everything in the building plan has been finalized after detailed analysis.

ISLAMABAD

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uhammad Naveed, Senior Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Prime Minister in a recent meeting with local business leaders had promised for early promulgation of rent control act in Islamabad, but so far no concrete measures were taken for this purpose. He stressed that National Assembly should pass amended bill of rent control act in its 52nd session to resolve this longstanding issues of local traders once for all. He was talking to a delegation of local trade leaders that called on him at Chamber House.

Sheikh Jamshed President PML-N Traders Wing Islamabad, Yousaf Rajput President Traders Welfare Association Blue Area Islamabad, Muhammad Hussain General Secretary, Traders Welfare Association, Super Market, Islamabad, Raja Abdul Majeed and Amin Pirzada were in the delegation.

Muhammad Naveed appealed to the Prime Minister to honor his promise for promulgation of new

rent law in Islamabad as without the said law, traders were being evicted from shops forcefully and this situation has created lot of concerns in the trading community of the federal capital as they were feeling insecure about their future. He said government should pay urgent attention to this serious issue and arrange the early passage of rent restriction law from the parliament so that traders could fully focus on the growth of business activities.

Yousaf Rajput President Traders

Welfare Association Blue Area Islamabad, Muhammad Hussain General Secretary, Traders Welfare Association, Super Market, Islamabad, Raja Abdul Majeed and Amin Pirzada said that with the consensus of all stakeholders an amended bill of rent restriction law for Islamabad was prepared that was presented in the National Assembly by MNAs Mian Abdul Manan and Asad Umar a long time ago. They said the local administration has also cleared the said bill after its thorough scrutiny, but it was still ly-

Lcci for maximum jobs to stop brain drain LAHORE

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ahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday stressed need for creating maximum job opportunities to overcome the issues of brain drain and unemployment. LCCI Acting President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President Zeshan Khalil stated here that Pakistan could achieve this target through industrial expansion, improvement in ranking of ease in doing business and public-private partnership. Ease of Doing Business in Pakistan averaged 112.78 from 2008 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 148 in 2015 and a record low of 85 in 2009, they mentioned. LCCI ofSice-bearers said that cost of doing business was hindering the growth of all sectors of econ-

omy whether it was manufacturing or agriculture. They said that Pakistani merchandise were best of the best in the world but fast losing their due place in the international market because of high input cost.

They said that country faced various economic challenges in last year including decline in exports and foreign direct investment, lowest tax-to-GDP ratio and low performance of public sector entities but these challenges could be coped through meaningful partnership and dialogues between the government and the private sector.

They said the government would also have to focus on agriculture, manufacturing sector, education, water, human resources, minerals, public health, tax collection system and end of corruption should be focused to get rid of economic worries. Lahore Chamber’s ofSice-bearers said

that agriculture was the largest sector of Pakistan as around 43 percent labour was dependent upon agriculture, and this largest sector needed revolutionary reforms on war footing, as growth of agriculture sector would not only ensure food security and provision of raw material to the larges export-oriented industry textile but also generate huge revenue for the government and vast employment opportunities. They said that country’s population was growing at the rate of 2.10 percent every year and if this growth continued for next two decades, population would cross the mark of 240 million. Pakistan needed to increase the yield per acre on steady pace therefore government should plan to bring about nine million hectors of fertile land under cultivation which was remained useless just because of shortage of water.

ing pending in the National Assembly.

They said if the said bill was not passed into law, traders of Islamabad would have no other option except to observe complete shutter down for the acceptance of their genuine demand. Sheikh Jamshed, President, PML-N Traders Wing Islamabad said that his wing was fully supportive of the genuine demand of traders for a balanced rent control act in Islamabad as it was badly needed so that they could promote business activities in a secure and peaceful environment.

icci calls for urgent construction of ring road for twin cities heikh Amir Waheed President, Muhammad Naveed Senior Vice President and Nisar Ahmed Mirza Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry have called upon the government to arrange urgent construction of a ring road or bypass for the twin cities as due to absence of a ring road, all heavy duty vehicles were passing through the twin cities due to which traffic jams have become almost daily phenomenon in the cities and business activities were also suffering. They said during the morning and evening hours, large number of heavy duty vehicle ply on the main highway of twin cities due to which businessmen, employees and students have to face great problems in reaching their destinations.

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Customs Quetta reimburses Rs104m refund claims during seven months QUETTA: The Model Customs Collectorate Quetta paid off Rs104million as refund claims under the head of CD during the first seven months FY17-18. According to details given by Ashraf Ali, Collector, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Quetta, that, during above said period, the collectorate accommodated the business community well as it compensated exporters with an amount of Rs5029.831million during first seven months FY17-18.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

faisalabad customs releases consignments after receiving duty & taxes FAISALABAD nAeeM SHeikH

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he Customs Intelligence and Investigation released three consignments worth Rs 5701894 after receiving the evaded amount of duty and taxes. The said consignments were intercepted during the month of January 2018.

Sources told Customs Today, the consignments released by the Customs Intelligence consist of foreign origin cloth worth Rs694898, cycle parts worth Rs494898, zeera and red chillies worth Rs 161438, fresh apple valued at Rs3,075,814 during the above said period.

The above mentioned consignments were seized by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation due to evasion of customs duty worth Rs 2056761, sales tax Rs 1616468, income tax Rs 779960, and redemption Sine duty Rs 1248,705 during January 2018. The tax evasion was detected by a team comprising Superintendent Muhammad Tahir Intelligence OfSicer Mansoor Nasir, Sepoys Ajmal Hussain and Muhammad Musaddiq Ahmad.

Meanwhile, The Customs AntiSmuggling Organization (ASO) has seized smuggled ground peanut

11055 kilograms worth Rs1,43,7317 involving customs duty and taxes worth Rs663467 loaded on a Hino truck. The ASO

team also impounded Hino truck during action. Sources told Customs Today, that Customs Collectorate Collector Asif Mehmood Jah re-

ceived credible information regarding smuggling attempts. He formed an ASO team comprising Superintendent Chaudhary Muhammad

Sardar and Inspector Azhar Hussain Jafari, driver Riasat Hussain, sepoys Faiz Ahmad, Sher Ahmad and Muhammad Abdullah.

pasha to prepare guidelines to bring back money stashed in Swiss banks ISLAMABAD

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he Supreme Court has constituted a committee comprising the Federal Board of Revenue chairman, the State Bank of Pakistan governor and the Ministry of Finance secretary to prepare guidelines to bring back money illegally stashed in foreign countries by Pakistanis.

A three-judge bench headed by

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing the suo motu case about the bank accounts and properties held by the Pakistani citizens in foreign countries.

The committee, headed by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Tariq Bajwa, comprises Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha and Federal Finance Secretary Arif Ahmad Khan. The chief justice made it clear that if required, the court could ask the government to legislate on the matter of sharing information and bringing the money back from abroad.

The committee was formed after the FBR informed the court that there were no legal guidelines or frameworks available to retrieve the money stored in the banks abroad. The chief justice noted that there were also citizens who used legal means to transfer their money abroad. However a majority of the people smuggled their money to the foreign countries. The SBP governor informed the court that treaties were being signed to share the information and bring back the money of Pakistani citizens from abroad. He said a treaty had been signed with the

Swiss government to share information of Pakistani citizens who opened bank accounts there and the Swiss authorities would share the information in December 2018. He said the treaty had to be validated by the parliament.

He said the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also started sharing the information about Pakistanis who owned properties and bank accounts there. The chief justice noted that it was being said that if Pakistani citizens brought back their money from abroad, the loans of Pakistan could be paid back. He noted that

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the departments concerned could use multiple ways to bring the money back without creating any panic. He said that it also had to be seen that if Pakistanis brought back their money, what beneSits or incentives they would be given by the government. He said the money being kept or transferred in foreign bank accounts illegally should be brought back Sirst. During the hearing, the court was also informed by the FBR counsel that out of the 444 people whose names had surfaced in the Panama Leaks, 78 people had yet to be traced.