Feb 2 layout 1

Daily on www.customsbulletin.com

Find us on

pAkiSTAN’S FirST iNDepTH NewSpAper oN CuSTomS

Daily

Vol 1 Issue No. 286

Karachi, Tue February 2, 2016

KARACHI

AFTAB CHANNA

www.customsbulletin.com

C

ollectorate of Customs Adjudication-I Collector Dr Wasif Memon while issuing an Order-inOriginal (ONO) has directed M/s Al-Hamza Flour Mills (Private) Limited to pay evaded taxes to the tune of Rs 4.43 million on the import of silos.

The collector has issued ONO No. 439 against the company and also imposed a fine of Rs 200,000 for availing undue benefits. As per details, the importer M/s Al-Hamza

Price Rs. 14.00

Flour Mills had imported silos from the United States of America (USA) with Goods Declaration (GD) No. KPPIHC-15368 dated September 18, 2014 and GD KPPI-HC12275 dated September 9, 2014. On the time of import, it availed concession of 8th Schedule (Sales Tax) and paid reduced rates of sales tax at 5 percent on the import of “grain storage silos with all standard accessories” under PCT Heading 9406.0030. The 8th Schedule (Sales Tax) extends benefits of reduced rate of sales tax to “machinery and equipment” for development of grain handling and storage facilities only.

Multan Addl. Director Nisar steps up efforts to curb smuggling

‘Adjudication adopting standard procedures for early disposal of cases’

Ishaq Dar says CPEC would be beneficial for entire region

Coordination among officials necessary for good performance: Zeba Hai

Pakistan keen to benefit from Turkish experience in housing sector

Customs Intelligence Addi Director Nisar Ahmad has conducted special meeting | See pAge 02 |

A function was held at Margalla Dry Port to mark the annual celebrations | See pAge 03 |

Ishaq Dar has said that the CPEC would not only prove beneficial for Pakistan | See pAge 04 |

MCC Zeba Hai has suggested the officers to develop a better coordination | See pAge 12 |

Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health of the govtof Punjab | See pAge 09 |

2

www.customsbulletin.com

Service Tribunal to hear plea for restoration of special allowance Tuesday, February 2, 2016

National

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Service Tribunal will hear only one case of service matter against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on coming Monday. A division bench of the tribunal comprising Syed Rafique Hussain Shah and Syed Muhammad Hamid would hear the case mainly carrying the subject of “special allowance”.

This case had been filed by an FBR staffer, Farman Ullah, through his counsel Advocate Matloob Hussain Malik.

The appellant had prayed the tribunal to direct the Board’s administration to grant him the special allowance equal to 100 percent of his basic pay.

multan Addl Director Nisar steps up efforts to curb smuggling

iHC to hear multiple cases against FBr ISLAMABAD

NAeem uLLAH TAriQ

MULTAN

imrAN ALi

www.customsbulletin.com

www.customsbulletin.com

T

C

ustoms Intelligence and Investigation Additional Director Nisar Ahmad has conducted special meeting with political agent of Rajanpur tribe to curb smuggling through their assistance. Talking to Customs Today exclusively, Nisar Ahmad said that the Customs Intelligence and Investigation is operating in Dera Ghazi Khan region and is trying hard to decrease the movement of smuggled goods and non-customs paid vehicles from Rajanpur area. Rajanpur region is also included in the jurisdiction of Customs Intelligence and Investigation but due to tribal traditions of this area customs authorities are facing a lot of hurdles for conducting anti-smuggling operation.

He said Customs Intelligence have monitored movement of suspicious goods from Punjab Sindh border near Shah Wali Check Post which is connecting two provinces.

But Customs have never operated in Rajanpur region due existence of traditional tribal system where even police were also not allowed to conduct any action. After complete homework Additional Director Nisar Ahmad has made meeting with political agent Imran Munir with an aim for their cooperation against smugglers in the region.

hree division benches of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear multiple cases involving the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and its field offices on Monday (today). The cases, which would be heard by different benches of the court, were carrying customs, sales and income tax references.

According to details, the division bench comprising of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani would hear a customs reference filed by collector of customs against M/s Al-Haj enterprises, and income tax references filed by Commissioner of Income Tax /wealth Tax against New Era Construction, New Era Construction, M/s Sedco Forex International Inc, and M/s KCA Deutag Drilling G.M.B.H. The division bench, comprising of Justice Noor ul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Athar Minallah will hear tax references filed by RTO commissioner Inland Revenue, Islamabad against M/s Sheladia Associates, and another tax reference filed by LTU commissioner Inland Revenue, Islamabad against M/s Fauji Foundation.

The bench would also address a customs reference, filed by customs collector against Faisal Iqbal Qureshi.

The meeting held in Jirga Hall of Rajanpur in which District Police OfPicer Mubasir Mekan were also present . Additional Director discussed in detail the current scenario of smuggling and their negative impacts on our overall economy.

Additional Director told them that they have not focused yet on this region after the formation of Customs Intelligence and Investigation ofPice and we have detected few anti-smuggling activities but smugglers are using this route for smug-

gling of goods in the region.

Customs Intelligence have categorically decided to focus Rajanpur areas to Pill the leakage through these routes to control the movement of illegal foreign origin goods to curb the menace of smuggling in the region. During meeting with political agent of Rajanpur tribe, Nisar Ahmad assured his full cooperation against non-customs paid goods and they will also informed them by sharing information smuggled goods and handover any suspicious

vehicle after capturing it with help of police. So after this Rajanpur police will also hand over smuggled goods and vehicles to Customs Intelligence and Investigation for the elimination smuggled goods. Additional Director Nisar Ahmad requested them to extend their assistance against smuggling by supporting their anti-smuggling activities which will also make this region peaceful because it will also control smuggling of weapons and explosives materials.

Dar allows amending wHT rate to 0.3%; extends filing date

F

ISLAMABAD

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

ederal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has accorded anticipatory approval to amend 0.6% withholding tax rate on banking transactions to 0.3% in respect of non-Pilers till February 29.

It may be mentioned that the Income Tax Amendment Act 2016 empowers the Federal Government to amend the rate of 0.6% on the rec-

ommendation of the ECC. The minister also gave approval for extending the date for Piling of tax returns

by Individuals and Associations of Persons till 29th February. In addition the last date for Piling of tax returns by traders under the Income Tax (second amendment)/Act, 2016, the last date has also been speciPied as 29th February 2016.

The decisions have been taken to provide maximum facilitation to taxpayers. Meanwhile, Finance Ministry is likely hold a high level meet-

ing with stakeholders to resolve the issue of non-payment of 3 percent fee and charges by the regulatory agencies to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).

Presently, the Finance Ministry is examining this proposal through consultative process with the departments and divisions. In this regard, a thorough discussion at the highest level is underway,” sources at the Finance Ministry told Customs Today. The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) was es-

tablished in October 2007 under the Competition Ordinance, 2007.

The ordinance was enacted as the Competition Act in October 2010. CCP is mandated under the Competition Act, 2010 to ensure that competitive forces are unhindered in all spheres of commercial and economic activity to enhance economic efficiency and to protect consumers from anticompetitive behavior across Pakistan.

The source said that to meet the budgetary requirements of the

commission, section 20 was inserted in the Act and it provided establishment of CCP Fund. It denotes six sources of income including grants by the federal government, fees levied by commission, donations, return from investments of he commission and a percentage of fees ad charges levied by other regulatory agencies as prescribed by the federal government. “In December 2008, the government specified rate of 3% through a notification.

3

www.customsbulletin.com

Deputy Collector Asma Hameed hears 27 cases FAISALABAD: Deputy Collector Adjudication Asma Hameed has heard 14 cases during January. Sources told Customs Today that 14 cases were filed by anti-smuggling organization (ASO) Faisalabad, while one case was forward by anti-smuggling organization Mianwali. Two cases belonged to Sara-e-Muhajir.

The smuggled goods which were seized by anti-smuggling organization and customs authorities include perfumes, generators, cloth, cigarettes, diesel, and other miscellaneous items. Some cases were adjourned due to non-pursuance of respondents parties.

Quetta Customs recovers smgulled smartphones, laptops

Tuesday February 2, 2016

National

‘Adjudication adopting standard procedures for early disposal of cases’

KARACHI

wAQAr AHmeD ANSAri www.customsbulletin.com

he Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Quetta has seized smuggled smart phones and laptops in separate crackdowns. Sources told Customs Today that the director customs intelligence has strictly ordered his staff not to spare anyone who found involved in smuggling activities. One of the customs teams intercepted high roof pick-up on Warsak Road and recovered 30 smart phones from the secret parts of the vehicle. The Customs team arrested the driver of the vehicle and seized the mobile phones. During another operation, the customs team raided a shop which was located in computer market.

T

Faisalabad FiA arrests human trafficker FAISALABAD

iQrA SHeHZADi

www.customsbulletin.com

he Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a human trafficker identified as Haji Rayaz Hussain from Faisalabad.

According to details, FIA Assistant Director Chaudhary Mazherullah and Sub-Inspector Ajmal Hussain conducted a raid following complaint registered by a victim, Haseeb Ashiq, who paid Rs 250,000 for going to Saudi Arabia. The accused was involved in extorting money from innocent people by showing them the dreams of good future.

The FIA has sent the accused person behind the bars after registering a case No. 18/16 against him. Further investigations are underway.

The FIA has sent the accused person behind the bars after registering a case No. 18/16 against him. Further investigations are underway.

T

ISLAMABAD

m FAiZAN

www.customsbulletin.com

D

eputy Collector Headquarters Adjudication Obaidullah has said that new standard procedures are in the ofPing for early disposal of cases in customs adjudication. According to these procedures, all the ofPicials of the adjudication will be bound to submit a detailed report about disposal of cases in the Pirst week of every month. Talking to Customs Today, Ubaidullah said that adjudication is bound to issue a show case notice of the case within 24 hours and the cases will have to be decided within a month. He said, “We will also monitor the causes that why some cases are being delayed.” Answering a question, he said that all the cases will be decided on merit, while adjudication is also facing shortage of funds and is unable to perform hundred percent. He said, “We have already submitted some proposals to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and chief collectorate on security of customs collectorates.”

Responding to a query Deputy Collector Ubaidullah said that nowadays there are one collector, two additional, four deputy collectors and one superintendent who are working as adjudication ofPicial while Peshawar sector is also in our jurisdiction. He said every ofPicial of adjudication department prepared a list of pending cases and all the

cases are being heard according to real time basis. Every adjudication ofPicer will have to Pile his remarks after hearing of case. He will also highlight the reasons of any delay in hearing of case.

He said we are performing only with Pifty percent workforce, he suggested that one DSP and one inspector have to deploy with every adjudication ofPicer. Now there are only upper division clerks are working on whole collectorate. He also

Deputy Collector ubaidullah said that nowadays there are one collector, two additional, four deputy collectors and one superintendent who are working as adjudication official while peshawar sector is also in our jurisdiction

Valuation Dg to review price of cereal foods KARACHI

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

D

irectorate General of Customs Valuation has decided to review the customs values of cereal foods and a meeting of stakeholders has been convened on February 1, 2016. Sources told Customs Today that the importers and

stakeholders have been asked to bring invoices of imports during the last three months showing factual values. The Directorate General also directed the stakeholders to provide website, names and e-mail addresses of known foreign suppliers of the item in question through which the actual current value can be ascertained. Further, copies of contracts made/ letter of credit opened during the last three months showing the value of items in question.

The directorate also asked the

stakeholders to provide the copies of sales tax invoices issued during last four months showing the difference in price (excluding duty and taxes) to substantiate that the benePit of difference in price is passed on to the local buyers. In addition, the stakeholders have been asked to bring any other relevant document, test report, literature and representative sample along with them and proposed calculation in support of their contentions so that the meeting is purposeful and the issue is decided quickly.

revealed that we have already received security threats and this situation is quite alarming. If terrorists are not spraying school, colleges, universities, Nadra ofPices then why they will spare customs collectorate.

He said we proposed to FBR to create a operation room in FBR headquarters who assigns the responsibility to keep hawk eye on all situation arrangements.

He said he himself is monitoring the whole situation.

Transporters hail LHC decision againt prA ll Pakistan Goods Transport Association lauded the verdict of the Lahore High Court (LHC) whereby the court had declared the establishment of the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) as illegal. Secretary General Nabeel Mehmood Tariq said that this measures will decrease inflation rate in the country. He said that the government should now avoid to impose new taxes in the current fiscal year.

A

4

www.customsbulletin.com

3G, 4G users increasing with 1.6m monthly average ISLAMABAD: The number mobile internet users, especially 3G-4G subscribers in the country is increasing and would soon cross the 25 million mark.

During past 5 months, 3G-4G subscribers in the country have been surging by a monthly average of 1.6 million. The figures revealed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) till November last year confirmed that there are around 21.65 million 3G-4G subscribers with Mobilink leading the sector by scoring 6.8 million total 3G subscribers followed by Telenor, Zong and Ufone who have so far grabbed 6 million, 4.3 million and 4 million 3G subscribers respectively.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Business

pSX adds mammoth 580pts to close at 31878 KARACHI

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Monday surged by 1.85 per cent and gained mammoth 579.55 points to take the tally to 31878.15 points level till midday. The stocks recorded the highest trading level of 31890.59 points and lowest level of 31285.18 points, with the volume of 134.35 million shares, having over Rs8.12 billion value. As many as 320 companies were active; of which 192 advanced, 104 declined and 24 remained unchanged.

Commercial banks were the top

olive to be planted on 50,000-acre land by 2019 ISLAMABAD

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he government is giving special attention to increase the production of olive oil to meet its demand in the country.

That is why the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has launched a mega olive plantation project in the country. According to Radio Pakistan quoting acting chairman PARC, Dr M Azeem Khan said olive plants would be planted on 50,000 acres by 2019.

T

traded sector with 41,684,800 volume, while cement remained second with 16,575,000 volume.

The three top traded companies were BO Punjab with a volume of

21,793,500 and price per share of 8.97 (0.57), Pak Elektron XR with a volume 9,487,000 of price per share of 63.27 (1.65), and Fauji Cement with a volume 6,486,000 of price

per share of 38.92 (0.03).

The top three gainers were Highnoon (Lab) with price per share 525.86 (23.45), Abbott Lab with price per share of 632.46 (22.46) and The Searle Comprice per share of 434.41 (20.24).

The top three losers were Unilever Foods with price per share of 5800 (-290), Bata (Pak) with price per share of 3301.11 (98.89) and Pak Tobacco per share of 1279.77 (-67.11).

Earlier, the PSX opened positive on first day of new trading week as KSE-100 index added 207.32 points to reach 31505.92 points level. The stocks continued upward rally till midday and added massive 455.67 points or 1.45 per cent to take the tally to 31754.27 points level.

govt urged to pass on actual relief of int’l oil price cut to industry LAHORE

T

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he business community has demanded the government to transfer the actual and whole benePit of reduction in oil prices in the international market to the industry. All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) President Ibrahim Qureshi, in a statement, explained that in the world market, the light crude has dropped by 52.77 per cent to $26 per barrel from $55 in January

2015, but the government reduced petrol and diesel prices by a meagre 3 to 6 percent during last one year.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has recommended reduction of up to 21 per cent in prices of petroleum products for the month of February but govt passed on partial benePit of just Rs5.

“The slight cut in petroleum prices is not a rePlection of the huge drop of more than 50 percent oil price in the international market,” he said, adding that the Ogra recommended reduction of up to 21 per cent in prices of petroleum

products for the month of February, based on existing tax rates but the government has declared very slight cut. Quoting the energy experts, Ibrahim Qureshi said that the prices could be brought down by up to 50pc if the general sales tax rate was reverted to the normal 17 percent but the government is maintaining GST rates of up to 47 percent on some products to loot the public. He said the crude and product prices in the international market had declined by around 30 percent or about $10 per barrel in the month of January.

ADB team visits kp micro hydropower units, offers financial aid PESHAWAR

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) has visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and offered the provincial government technical and financial assistance for investment in power sector. The KP government has initiated work on 356 mini micro hydropower projects, which would be based on Pakistan’s first Result-Based Landing (RBL) technology. Foreign mission comprised of Korean, Australian, Vietnamese, Philippines and Pakistani investors led by program manager Adnan Tareen who visited Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO). Secretary Energy & Power, Engineer Naeem Khan was also present on the occasion.

PEDO Chief Executive Officer Akbar Ayub Khan briefed the ADB mission about the ongoing and upcoming planned hydropower projects in KP and informed that provincial government is engaged in implementation of energy action in order to utilize maximum power potential existing in the province. He stated that 356 mini micro hydropower projects are being developed in those areas where people are deprived of blessing of electricity.

A

protests against piA privatisation cost rs 600m KARACHI

T

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has to bear the losses of over Rs 600 million due to the Pive-day protests by its employees against the national-Plag carrier’s proposed privatisation.

Meanwhile, a senior ofPicial of PIA said that the airlines is taking innovative and radical steps to im-

prove efPiciency of the national Plag carrier. “Strengthening the PIA Pleet, achieving greater operational efPiciencies and extending maximum facilities to passengers are the foremost priority of the management,” The ofPicial said to APP. Elaborating, he said, Enterprise Resources planning would be implemented by end of the current year under which Finance, Human Resources and Administration, Procurement and Inventory would be

targeted initially. He said 175 cabin crew were being hired and new uniform for them was introduced to give PIA a new vibrant look. He said Central Reservation Control (CRC), roster for pilots and cabin crew were being automated to increase revenue and achieve better crew productivity. Besides, “new Plat bed seats and inPlight entertainment (IFE) are being introduced for 777 aircraft.” The ofPicial said seven new aviation centres had been opened for training of

engineers and technicians in different cities, adding that cabin crew were got trained as master trainers from Qatar Airway, who were now imparting training to rest of the crew.

Commenting on existing strength of aircraft, he said two more planes would join the Pleet of national Plag carrier in next two months. “The aircraft were scheduled to be inducted in the Pleet by December last, but now one each will be arriving in February and March, bringing the num-

ber of planes to 40,” Presently, he said, PIA had 38 aircraft, out of which 22 were operating at domestic routes and 27 at international destinations.

Giving break-up of the Pleet, the ofPicial said, PIA had 11 A320 and Pive A310 Airbuses, 11 Boeing 777, six ATR 42 and Pive ATR 72. In 2015, he said, PIA airlifted 2.9 domestic and 1.4 international passengers, adding that PIA had 14,847 employees excluding daily wagers and per aircraft employees ratio was 390.

www.customsbulletin.com

ADVERTISEMENT

5

6

www.customsbulletin.com

www.customsbulletin.com

Tuesday, February 2, 2015

ISLAMABAD m ArSHAD www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs 179.4 billion customs duty in the Pirst half of the current Piscal year, (July-December).

The customs duty collected during the previous Piscal year was Rs 135.3 billion. “In this way, the FBR has performed well in the Pirst half the current Pinancial year as there is at least 32.6 percent increase in the revenue collected from customs duty,” ofPicial sources told Customs Today.

The source said that the FBR performed well despite the fact that total imports in term of value have declined by 5.2 percent as compared to the same period in the last Pinancial year.

“This growth is attributed to the improved performance of Pakistan Customs, outclass administrative measures as well as appointment of ofPicers of high prestige and integrity at most high ofPices” the source added. The source observed that FBR had been alive towards involvement of own ofPicials in pilferage of customs duty therefore as an administrative measure, new administration made an astounding decision to appoint ofPicials of good repute at higher ofPices.

“Moreover another major factor that contributed to this growth in custom duty collection is elimination of tax exemptions because the number of exempted items had been reduced signiPicantly” the source said In December last year, the source added that FBR issued SRO to impose additional one percent customs duty on import of goods speciPied in the First Schedule to Customs Act, 1969.

The rate increase was announced a day earlier by the Pinance minister as part of mini budget to raise additional revenue for current Piscal year. SRO 1178(I)/2015 imposed customs duty at the rate of one per cent of the customs value of almost all goods as determined under section 25 or 25A of the said Act. Meanwhile, The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, proposed uniformed custom duty on import of vegetables and fruits from all four neighboring countries; Iran, Afghanistan, China and India.

However, the committee left the authority of Pixation of rate of customs duty on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Senate Finance Panel met here with a huge agenda for discussion. Main agenda items included import of various vegetables and fruits from Iran affecting the local farmers in Balochistan living near Iranian border. A proposed agreement will be signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the conclusion of 10th review of the extended funds facility program with particular reference to prior-action and commitments of the government as well as Tax Amnesty Scheme and tax exemption announced by the government and its impacts on economy.

On request of the FBR, committee decided to defer discussion on agenda items related to proposed agreement with IMF as well as Tax Amnesty Scheme due to ongoing talks with IMF and passage of the Tax Amnesty Scheme by the National Assembly.

BriePing on the issue, Chairman FBR Nisar Muhammad Khan said that 20 percent customs duty had been levied on the import of fruits to safeguard the interests of local farmers, however, no customs duty had been imposed on vegetables. However, import of vegetables from Iran has reduced by 91 percent in the six months of the current Piscal year as compared to corresponding era of the previous Piscal year. However, there was a slight increase in the volume of import of fruit from Iran.

e despit l l e w med imports in r o f r e FBr p that total declined ct e the fa f value hav mpared o term o ercent as c in the p d by 5.2 same perio ar. to the financial ye last

7

8

www.customsbulletin.com

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

Steel mills aairs

p

akistan Steel Mills, the largest industrial complex of the country, has not been functioning for the last seven months due to suspension of gas supply. The Mills owesover Rs 39 billion to the Sui Southern Gas Company in terms of outstanding bills, out of which Rs 19.1 billion was the principal amount and Rs 20.8 billion wasthe late payment surcharge. According to the Ministry of Industries and Production, the production capacity was increased by a package of Rs18.50 billion and in July last year it was decided that the supply should be restored and the Mills would pay the bills later on. However, Sui Southern Gas Company did not agree with the decision and the plant is still in nonoperation mode.

Meanwhile, the total liabilities of the industrial concern have crossed Rs 365 billion, clearly indicating a fact that the giant complex is no more an asset, but a burden on the national exchequer. The government ministers blame the management of the Mills for the whole state of affairs and only Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar are in position to dig out the whole truth and resolve the issue. On another note, the management has informed the prime minister about the current situation in the mills. The plant was not in operation due to unavailability of gas and lack of government support whereas the Mills had attained 65 percent capacity utilisation until March 2015 from less than 10 percent a few months ago.

According to the management, there is a need to restore gas pressure and ensure Rs8.5billion funds to operate the Mills until June 2016. Otherwise, the closure of the plant will cost an additional sum of Rs400 million to the national exchequer along with Rs380million per month salaries of the Mills employees. As a matter of fact, pressure is mounting on the government to sell the loss-making government organizations and the Steel Mills has become a white elephant. Sooner the government rids itself of it, the better. The Mills is closed, but the federal government has to release funds to disburse salaries among its employees.

Journey towards emerging market A

LAHORE

Dr AFTAB AFZAL

www.customstoday.com

ccording to newspaper reports, Pakistan is likely to receive foreign portfolio investment of $500 million if the MSCI, which is All-Country World Index, reclassiPies it as an emerging market in its upcoming annual review in May. Experts believe that Pakistan would attract a signiPicantsize of foreign investment after MSCI upgrades its status from frontier market to emerging market. Foreign investors are always ready to invest anytime anywhere in the world, provided they are offered attractive benePits and security of their capital and their lives. Pakistan is weighing options

to ofPload its loss-making enterprises which are causing billions of rupees losses to the national exchequer, but it needs structural reforms and national consensus to offer privatisation of loss-making enterprises to the foreign investors. If the government wants to work as a facilitator of business activities and not as a business enterprise, it will have to introduce economic and Pinancial policies to attract foreign direct investment.

The foreign donor agencies are also pressing the government to rid the country of loss-making organizations, including Pakistan International Airline and Pakistan Steel Mills. However, according to an IMF ofPicial, the government is reluctant to privatize the power

distribution companies whereas the country is incurring millions of rupees line losses every year.

The government is preparing to negotiate the 10th review of the economy for the period OctoberDecember 2015 with the IMF. In the words of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the country has met Pive conditions of the $6.2 billion loan programme. The mediumterm outlook of the Pakistani economy is positive as the difPicult portion of reforms has already been implemented. However, a political consensus is also important to give legal cover to the government measures. It is important to note that many foreign investors have shown interest in the purchase of the state owned enterprises, including the

PIA. The fund has set June as the deadline for the privatization of the national carrier.

Whether the privatization of the state owned enterprises brings windfall or not, the government must ensure transparency and norms of justice in the sell-off process. The government should also encourage the local investors to buy the state owned entities rather than offering the national assets to foreign investors. The government agencies should also prefer the national interest over everything and avoid witch-hunting of the business community. The IMF, the World Bank or any other donor agency should have no right to dictate its conditions or impose its decision on this country.

9

www.customsbulletin.com

Etihad Airway seals $700m finance deal LAHORE: Etihad Airways Partners (EAP) has sealed a $700m landmark five-year finance deal to fund expansion. The deal was recognised by the prestigious market intelligence organisation International Financing Review (IFR) with the award for Emerging Europe Middle East and Africa Bond of the Year.

The award, presented at a Gala Dinner in London, acknowledged the first joint financing deal of its kind in the airline industry in which lead advisor Goldman Sachs successfully raised equity from the markets for Etihad Airways, its subsidiary Etihad Airport Services and five of its strategic partners – airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia and Jet Airways – within Etihad Airways Partners.

The transaction was for a mixture of capital expenditure and investment in fleet, and refinancing depending on each business unit’s individual needs.

LCCi calls for aggressive strategy to win Bulgarian market he Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has decided to explore Bulgarian Market with the help of Pakistani embassy over there. “Market Research would be done to increase the volume of bilateral trade.”

The decision was taken at a meeting between LCCI senior vice president Almas Hyder, vice president Nasir Saeed and Pakistan ambassadordesignate to Bulgaria Babar Hashmi here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

T

The LCCI office-bearers said that Bulgaria is a non-traditional market for Pakistani merchandises therefore all resources should be utilized to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries. Pakistani embassy in Bulgaria should play a significant role in this regard and bring the private sectors of the two countries closer.

The LCCI senior vice president Almas Hyder said that we should consider all ways and means to secure proper place in the Bulgarian market. He said that Bulgaria is located at South-East of Europe and shares borders with important countries like Romania, Turkey and Greece etc and could help Pakistani products to find their way in these countries as well. He said that Bulgaria is one of the few countries which have least interaction with us.

There is a dire need develop good trade and economic relations with Bulgarian businessmen that will be possible if Pakistani mission in Bulgaria play a helping role in this regard.

“Although, the balance of trade is in favour of Pakistan but its volume has to be increased. From 2013 to 2014, the total trade inched up from dollar 23.2m to dollar 33m.—CB Report

Tuesday February 2, 2016

Chambers

pakistan keen to benefit from Turkish experience in housing sector T

ABKARA

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health of the government of Punjab, Tanveer Aslam Malik, leading a high-level delegation of ofPicials and private sector executives, met with the President of Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) Mehmet Ergün Turan. The meeting was attended by senior ofPicials of TOKI as well as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Sohail Mahmood.

In his remarks after detailed presentations by TOKI, Minister Tanveer Malik described Turkey as a good example to emulate in terms of provision of low-cost housing in Pakistan. He appreciated the progress made by TOKI over the past several years in provision of housing to deserving households. He particularly mentioned urban regeneration and transformation projects under which shanty houses and slums were transformed into model housing projects, which ensured better living conditions and also eliminated the risks posed by natural disasters.

Minister Malik noted the shortage of housing units in Pakistan and highlighted vast opportunities for the private construction sector of Pakistan as well as foreign investors to tap into this market. He hoped that the shortage would be overcome to a good extent through the completion of 50,000 housing units with the technical help of TOKI. BriePing the Pakistan delegation, TOKI President explained the Pinan-

cial, technical, managerial and business models that his organization followed under which nearly 700,000 housing units were provided to deserving families over the last 12 years. He informed that TOKI and partner private sector companies had the capacity to add 60,000 housing units annually. Turan suggested that the use of tunnel-formwork technology was the best response to construct houses at a fast

kCCi buys land for its ‘grand building’

T

KARACHI

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has achieved a historic milestone by purchasing a 2596 square yard land situated near Do Talwar for the construction of KCCI’s grand building. In this regard, an agreement signing ceremony was held at KCCI for purchase of land which has been purchased by utilizing Chamber’s own resources.

The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Chairman Businessmen Group and former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Vice Chairmen BMG and former Presidents KCCI Haroon Farooki, President KCCI Younus Muhammad Bashir, Senior Vice President KCCI Zia Ahmed Khan, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Naeem Sharif,

Former Presidents KCCI Abdullah Zaki, AQ Khalil, and Haroon Agar and KCCI Managing Committee members. The Karachi Chamber plans to construct a multi-story state-of-the-art building, providing all facilities and services under one roof to facilitate the business and industrial community of Karachi.

The Karachi Chamber, under the supervision of its Chairman Siraj Kassam Teli who introduced the policy of ‘Public Service’, has transformed from a bankrupt organization in 1998 to a self-sustainable and stronger organization which has become an effective platform for raising voice for the entire business and industrial community of Karachi. Thanks to BMG’s clear policy of Public Service, the Group has been winning KCCI’s election since past 18 years, of which KCCI Managing Committee had been elected unopposed during the last nine con-

secutive years which clearly indicates the trust and conPidence of the entire business and industrial community of Karachi.

On various occasions, BMG Chairman Siraj Kassam Teli has expressed his resolve to gift a state-of-the-art building of Karachi Chamber on behalf of Businessmen Group to the business and industrial community so that the era of Businessmen Group could always be remembered in golden words.

“With purchase of this land in the vicinity of Clifton, the dream of having a grand Headquarters of Karachi Chamber will soon become a reality”, BMG Chairman said, adding that this building will surely be an invaluable gift not only for the business and industrial community of Karachi but also for all the citizens who will be fully assisted in a much more friendlier and professional environment.

pace and at a low cost.

The Punjab delegation’s visit is aimed at learning from Turkish experience in provision of low-cost housing. It is in follow-up of the recent agreement reached between the Government of Punjab and TOKI under which TOKI will provide technical consultancy support to the Punjab Government in its endeavours to provide 50,000 housing units.

SeCp issues 48 orders for non-compliance ecurities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) Corporate Supervision Department has concluded adjudication of 48 proceedings against the listed and non-listed companies in December 2015. Subsequently, Orders were issued against their chief executives, directors and auditors for violating certain provisions of the Companies Ordinance 1984 and to impose penalties. The majority of these proceedings pertain to the failure of companies to hold annual general meetings, non-holding of directors meetings, failure in filing quarterly accounts by the listed companies, disclosing the Directors’interests to the members, complying with legal requirement relating to security deposits and provident fund, non-maintenance of functional websites and non-disclosure of statement of material facts.—CB Report

S

10

www.customsbulletin.com

Philippines police seize illegal drugs worth P1m Tuesday February 2, 2016

World

CEBU: More than P1 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate buy-bust operations in Metro Cebu last weekend.

Cebu provincial police officers conducted a buy-bust operation against a certain “Junior,” which led to the arrest of Quintino Monteras Tagpuno Jr. inside his home in Hillside Village, barangay Bulacao, Talisay City, southern Cebu shortly after midnight yesterday.

A police officer, posing as a buyer, purchased a small pack of illegal drugs worth P500 from Tagpuno.

Seized from Tagpuno’s possession were two large packs, three medium sizes and 905 small sachets of suspected illegal drugs weighing a total of 85 grams.

uS Customs seizes 80 pounds of cocaine, meth TUCSON

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

C

ustoms and Border Protection ofPicers arrested one U.S. citizen and two Mexican nationals for alleged attempts to smuggle almost 80 pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine through the Port of Nogales during the weekend.CBP ofPicers discovered more than 36 pounds of meth within the gas tank of a smuggling vehicle OfPicers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing Friday referred Yesika Guadalupe Ayala-Valenzuela, 32, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of her Buick sedan and found more than 36 pounds of meth worth approximately $109,000.

OfPicers working at the DeConcini crossing Saturday referred Olga Arisdelsy Felix, 24, of Phoenix, for a secondary inspection of her Mercury sedan. After a CBP canine

indian onion exports rise nion exports have rose substantially in last one month after the central government removed export restrictions on the bulb. The country has exported 1.50 lakh tonne onions during last one month after the minimum export price (MEP) was removed on December 24. Removal of MEP has made Indian onion most competitive in the export market, beating traditional rivals like Pakistan and Egypt and even China. Indian onion is being exported to the Far East, the Middle East, Sri Lanka.

India had banned export of onion as the retail prices had touched Rs 90/kg in 2015 due to fall in production in the 2014-15 crop on account of drought in the main growing state of Maharashtra.

Increased exports have given support to the domestic prices, which have been under pressure due to heavy arrivals of the kharif and late kharif crop. Traders and the government is expecting 201516 onion production to increase by about 5% to 10%. —CB Report

O

alerted to the presence of drugs, ofPicers found nearly 25 pounds of meth worth in excess of $74,000.

Sunday, ofPicers at the Mariposa Crossing referred Ricardo MontijoSalazar, 58, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for an inspection of his Dodge truck. A canine team then led ofPicers to discover nearly 18 pounds of meth, worth more than $53,000, and slightly more than half a pound of cocaine worth almost $7,000. CBP ofPicers seized all drugs and turned the suspects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) OfPice of Field Operations (OFO) ofPicers at the Fort Street Cargo Facility in Detroit seized more than 76 pounds of marijuana Wednesday, and arrested a truck driver who was a member of CBP’s Free and Secure Trade (FAST) trusted trader program.

A 56-year-old male citizen of the United States arrived at the Fort Street Cargo Facility hauling a shipment of auto parts.

Saudi customs arrests man in alcohol smuggling case

RIYADH

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

A

Saudi man was arrested for attempting to smuggle 14 bottles of liquor in his un-

Two drivers jailed for smuggling contraband goods

T

WO drivers have been jailed after they were caught with half a million contraband cigarettes, almost exactly a year after they were caught on the same stretch of road with a tonne of smuggled tobacco. Between them, haulage Pirm owner Stephen Shaun McDonough, 58, and accomplice David Collinson, 28, helped cheat the Government out of £306,841 in customs duty, said Angus MacDonald, prosecuting. They are now both starting two-and-a-half years behind bars after each admitted two charges

of being concerned in evading customs duty. Mr MacDonald said McDonough, of Benwell Village Mews, Newcastleupon-Tyne, was stopped on the A1, near Ferrybridge at 4.40pm on November 26, 2014. In his Mercedes van was 400 kg of Turner handrolling tobacco on which £72,184 duty had not been paid. He had been travelling north in convoy with Collinson, of Moorvale Lane, Newcastle–upon-Tyne, who was stopped 20 minutes later near the A19 /A1 junction near Thirsk.—CB Report

derwear into the Kingdom, according to the ofPicial Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The man was stopped at customs on his way back from Bahrain on the 16-mile-long King Fahd Causeway linking the two Gulf countries, according to the head of customs Fahad Dhufallah al-Otaibi.

Meanwhile, Saudi Customs has

U

uS crude oil output drops in Nov nited States crude oil production fell for a second month in November because of a drop offshore, but higher output from the biggest shale states highlighted the industry’s surprising resilience.

Production nationwide in November dropped 52,000 barrels a day to 9.32 million, the lowest Pigure since June, according to data from the Energy Information Administration’s petroleum supply monthly report. In absolute terms, the number reported on Friday was much higher than the 9.05 million in agency forecasts. The data, though two months in arrears, is considered a critical

iran drives opeC oil output to new high

O LONDON

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

PEC oil production has jumped to its highest in recent history in January as Iran increased sales following the lifting of sanctions and its rivals Saudi Arabia and Iraq also boosted supply, a Reuters survey showed Friday.

Rising output in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries further aggravates the market share battle between top global producers. In the past year this has Plooded the market with new barrels, creating one of the worst oil gluts in history and helping send prices to a 12-year low.

The January supply Pigures contrast with statements from multiple

achieved a remarkable increase in its customs revenues for 2015 totaled 29.85 billion riyals, of which actual revenues amounting to 26.79 billion riyals, while the state bore nearly three billion riyals.

In a statement today, the advisor and spokesman for Saudi Customs, Esa Al-Esa said that in 2014, the total customs revenues amounted to 27.9 billion riyals, of which 24.5 billion riyals were actual revenues and 3.4 billion riyals compared to what the state bore in favor of the customs. He pointed out that analyzing this shows that what has been achieved of customs revenues in 2015 increased by 12.5% compared to 2014, and for the actual revenues, they increased by almost 9.2% despite the fact that the value of imports increased by less than half a percentage, where the value of imports for 2015 amounted to 654 billion riyals compared to 651 billion riyals in 2014.

OPEC ofPicials and recent comments from non-OPEC Russia about the need to cooperate and possibly restrain supply to help oil prices to recover. “Genuine production cuts are still a very long way off,” said Barbara Lambrecht, an analyst at Commerzbank. “Although we are convinced that prices will rise in the long term, we nonetheless warn against short-term price falls. After all, Iran

indicator for traders and analysts who are trying to understand when a long-running shale boom will lose momentum.

A global oil glut has sent prices to nearly 13-year lows; though on Friday, Brent crude, the global benchmark, gained 2.5 percent.

Meanwhile, According to Moroccan media, the decision came after the US Food Safety and Inspection services (USDA) discovered a shipment of clementine infested with Ply larvae, an insect that exists in the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and can infest more than 300 species.—CB Report

and Iraq will soon be opening up new sources of supply which will pump additional oil onto the market.” Iran provided the biggest increase in supply among the OPEC members, the survey found. Sources familiar with the matter say Iran is reluctant to restrain supply as it wants to recover market share and feels that the economic benePits of lifting sanctions offset the drop in oil prices.

11

www.customsbulletin.com

China’s coal-producing province to curb production TAIYUAN: North China’s Shanxi province, one of the country’s major coal-producing provinces, plans to maintain its coal production within 1 billion tons in next five years, the provincial government said on Thursday. Speaking at the annual meeting of the provincial legislature which opened Wednesday, the government proposed a five-year development plan to curb overall production, adjust structures for coal products and boost the transformation of coal to more efficient forms like electricity or chemicals. In addition, the province will continue to boost the integration of coal resources and mergers of mining enterprises, and reduce the number of coal mines so as to improve the efficiency of the industry, it said.

Tablet shipments see double digit drop in 2015

Ports & Shipping

Fortescue iron ore shipments gain 3.8%

he demise of the tablet seems inevitable, as shipments percentage dropped in double digits for the first time ever. Market intelligence provider TrendForce reported that in 2015 a total of 168.5 million units were shipped, representing a 12.2 percent drop year-over-year.

Notebook analyst for TrendForce, Anita Wang, confirmed what we all already knew smartphones, phablets and two-in-one devices were interfering too much with the tablet market, and with the devices having a somewhat longer lifespan, the results are a decrease in new shipments.

“The saturation of the tablet market, the long life cycles of tablets themselves and the abundance of substitute devices were major factors that contributed to the large shipment

T

CANBERRA

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

decline”, said Anita Wang. “Tablets were challenged by many large and small devices during 2015, from smartphones sized 5-inches and above to two-in-one PCs. Their demand diminished as a result”. Looking at the top players in the tablet industry, not much has changed Apple is still the number one brand, with its iPad series. But those who fly high are the ones to hit the ground hardest, and Apple has felt it with a drop in shipments of 22 percent, from 63.4 million units in 2014 to 49.6 million in 2015. Samsung’s tablet shipments fell 18 percent annually to 33.5 million units, and its market share fell by just 1.5 percent over the year to 19.9 percent. Even though it failed to make the top five, Microsoft is an honorable mention its tablet shipments grew 50 percent annually, thanks to its Surface Pro 4 tablet.—CB Report

F

ortescue Metals Group, the world’s fourth-biggest iron ore exporter, said secondquarter shipments rose 3.8%, beating analyst estimates, as costs fell to a record and net debt declined.

Shipments were 41.4 million metric tons in the three months ended December 31, compared with 39.9

million tons a year ago, the Perthbased producer said in a statement on Thursday. This beat the median estimate of 40 million tons among three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Total shipments, including third-party material, were 42.1 million tons from 41.1 million tons. Producers are racing to cut costs as iron ore is trading at less than a quarter of its 2011 peak and last month plunged to the lowest level in more than six years as the economic slowdown in China slows demand growth in the biggest user.

Fortescue’s output costs were lowered for the eighth consecutive quarter, chief executive ofPicer Nev Power said in the statement, dropping to $15.80 a wet metric ton.

Fortescue “continues to make good progress on costs,” David Coates, a Sydney-based analyst at Bell Potter Securities, said by phone. “I’d certainly expect them to make progress to get their” costs to, or below, $15 a ton by the end of the Piscal year, he said. The stock closed 4.1% higher at A$1.52, paring losses this year to 19%.

Tuesday February 2, 2016

iran crude exports hit 2-year high ran’s oil exports are on set to rise more than a fifth in January and February from last year’s daily average, data from a source with knowledge of its loading schedules shows, revealing how Tehran is ramping up sales after the lifting of sanctions.

The data is the first sign of a resurgence in crude shipments as the OPEC producer begins to raise output and clears out oil that has built up in offshore storage over the past four years of curtailed participation in world markets.

The market is closely watching the pace of Iran’s return to the market after sanctions were removed earlier this month, given a global glut in supplies that has pulled prices down 70 percent since mid-2014. Hopes that other top producers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia could cooperate with OPEC to contain production have lifted prices this week.

The Islamic republic’s overall exports will total around 1.44 million barrels a day (bpd) in February and about 1.5 million bpd in January, according to the data on Iran’s preliminary tanker loading schedules. Those shipping levels would be more than 20 percent higher than Iran’s average daily exports last year, with the loadings this month at the highest since February 2014.—CB Report

I

Lenovo smartphone shipments fall 18% in Q4

L

WASHINGTON

CuSTomS BuLLeTiN reporT www.customsbulletin.com

enovo maintained its No. 4 ranking in smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter even though its worldwide shipments plunged 18.1 percent, according to new market data. Overall, worldwide smartphone shipments rose 5.7 percent from a year earlier to a new record – 399.5 million units shipped, market research Pirm IDC reported. Lenovo shipped 20.2 mil-

lion smartphones in the fourth quarter, down from 24.7 million a year earlier. Even so, that 18.1 percent decline marked an improvement compared to the third quarter, when its shipments fell 26.8 percent. Lenovo, the No. 1 PC maker, sells smartphones under the Lenovo and Motorola brands. It ranked behind Samsung, Apple and Huawei with a 5.1 percent worldwide market share. Top-ranked Samsung enjoyed a 21.4 percent market share after boosting its shipments by 14 percent. Apple’s shipments rose

four-tenths of a percent, giving it a 18.7 percent market share. Huawei led the major smartphone makers with a 37 percent jump in shipments. That boosted its market share to 8.1 percent.

Lenovo, which is based in China but has a headquarters in Morrisville, acquired the Motorola brand from Google in the fall of 2014. The Motorola acquisition initially vaulted Lenovo to No. 3 in smartphone shipments. Lenovo is “still trying to find its feet amidst organizational changes while fac-

ing greater competition in its domestic market from smaller, local competitors at the low end,” IDC reported as part of its analysis of the results.

“The Motorola brand, strong in 2014 in the Americas with the Moto G and Moto X, saw fewer groundbreaking new models in 2015,” IDC also noted. Lenovo recently announced that the Motorola brand will be shortened to Moto. For the full year 2015, Lenovo ranked fourth in smartphone shipments with a 5.2 percent market share.

12

www.customsbulletin.com

Gwadar Customs seizes smuggled juice, cigarettes KARACHI: The Customs Gwadar has recovered 112 cartons of foreign origin juices and cigarettes during a crackdown.

Sources told Customs Today that customs authorities received secret information about smuggling attempts. After receiving tip-of they constituted a team. The customs team intercepted a vehicle on Warsak Road and recovered 112 cartons of foreign origin juices and cigarettes which were brought into the country without payment of customs duty.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

Coordination among officials necessary for good performance: Zeba Hai ISLAMABAD m FAiZAN

www.customsbulletin.com

M

odel Customs Collectorate Collector Zeba Hai has suggested the ofPicers to develop a better coordination with their staff to get better performance from them.

She was addressing on a farewell party arranged in her honour, as she is going for 104th national training.

She said that ofPicials should not scandalise the internal issues and problems of the department, as all appointments and decisions are made on merit. Equal opportunities should be given to juniors so they could prove themselves by making the custom department prestigious.

She said that the employees of the Islamabad Collectorate were like her family, adding that they were all hard workers.

The ceremony was attended by Customs-North Chief Collector Sarwat Tahira Habib, Additional Collector Headquarters Abdul Waheed Marwat, Additional Collector Ayesha Wani, Sharila Khan, Deputy Collector Shahid Jan, Deputy Collector Naveed Bagvi, Deputy Collector Ansar Anees, Deputy Collector Mian

Masood, Investigation and Prosecution Superintendent Zargam Dil, deputy superintendents, inspectors and other staff members.

Collector Zeba Hai said that his staff remained always supportive to her and she also appreciated the of-

Picers, especially Sharila Khan, Ayesha Wani, Ansar Anees, Mian Masood, Shahid Jan, Khurram, Appraiser Ishtiaq, Superintendent Zargam Dil and Deputy Superintendent Saeed Ahmad for their well performance. Chief Collector Sarwat

Tahira said that luck worked for achieving higher post but the main thing what we have to face was managing the responsibilities according to the post. As a chief collector, concentration was put on meeting revenue target, improving management

and on the welfare of the employees.

Praising the performance of Collector Zeba Hai, Additional Collector Abdula Waheed Marwat said that it was the Pirst time that he worked under the supervision of a female and it remained quite pleasant.

Faisalabad Customs seizes non-duty paid Toyota Surf FAISALABAD

NAeem SHeikH

www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Customs authorities have seized a Toyota Hilux Surf model 2002 bearing registration no. ILD-3150. The market value of the seized vehicle is Rs 1.5 million.

Sources told Customs Today that Deputy Director Riaz Hussain received information that some non-duty paid vehicles are plying

on the roads. He formed different teams to check these vehicles. Cusoms team comprising Choudhry Saeed Hayat, Muhammad Saleem and Muhammad Ilyas (IO) and Masood Iqbal, Muhammad Shehbaz, Musadiq Ahmad, Muhammad Ashraf, Muzamil Hussain and Muhammad Anwar inercepted a Toyota Hilux Surf near Mallo More Jhang and asked the driver of above said vehicle to produce legal documents regarding possession of vehicle. The driver of the vehicle failed to provide any documents.

Customs team seized the vehicle and forwarded the case to cus-

toms adjudication for further proceedings. Meanwhile, Customs Adjudication Deputy Collector Asma Hameed issued Order-in -Original (ONO) for outright conPiscations of a vehicle by deciding the case in favour of the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Mianwali.

As per details, the Mianwali ASO intercepted a Toyota Vitz bearing Registration No. AKT-713 within its jurisdiction. The vehicle was impounded under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 and for the violation of section 2(s) read with SRO section 16, 18 of the Customs Act, as documents regarding

its legal import could not be produced. The case was forwarded to the Customs Adjudication.

Inspector Munir Ahmad appeared on the behalf of seizing agency and asserted that the seized vehicle fell under the ambit of section 2(s) of the Customs Act, 1969, adding that it could not be redeemed on payment of duty and taxes. However, no one appeared from the respondent side to defend the allegations. Therefore, Deputy Collector Asma Hameed issued ONO for outright conPiscation of the seized vehicle in favour of Mianwali ASO under Section 156(I) 89 (i) of

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

the customs act. Meanwhile, Customs Adjudication Additional Collector Beelam Ramazan ordered the release of conPiscated diesel and oil tanker, and refused the allegation of Faisalabad Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) against the respondent. As per details, the ASO had intercepted an oil tanker bearing Registration No. TLJ-165 near Qasuria Police Check Post, Bhakkar and recovered 40,000 litres of diesel. When asked, the driver, named Sher Abbas and helper, Abid Hayat revealed that he was transporting the diesel from Dera Ismail Khan to Kotla Jam.