Feb 3 layout 1

Daily on www.customsbulletin.com

Find us on

pAkiSTAn’S firST inDepTH newSpAper on cuSToMS

Daily

Vol 1 Issue No. 287

Karachi, Wed February 3, 2016

LAHORE

M HAYAT

www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has transferred Mukarram Jah Ansari, formerly working as collector of Customs ( Preventive) Lahore, to Collector of Model Customs Collectorate of Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Karachi.

According to details,

Price Rs. 14.00

ZulTiqar Younus (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-20), who was serving as Director, Directorate of Training & Research (Customs), will replace Mukarram Jah at Model Customs Collectorate (Preventive), Lahore. Mukarram Jah Ansari, who is currently on a week long tour to India to attend Customs Liaison Boarder Committee (CLBC) meeting in Amritsar India, has been transferred to Karachi.

Mukarram Jah Ansari has been considered very vibrant ofTicer throughout his period as collector of Customs (Preventive) Lahore.

Customs Valuation determines values of maximum density fiberboard

Govt should simplify tax collection procedure, decrease tax rate: Zahir Shah

NAB recovered Rs265.977 billion so far

Faisalabad ASO seizes cloth, plastic beads worth Rs 832,195

FCCI head says business community fully supports CPEC project

DG of the CustomsValuation has determined the value of MDF and its value | See pAge 02 |

Instead of introducing tax amnesty schemes to attract the non-taxpayers | See pAge 03 |

The NAB has recovered Rs 265.977b looted public money since its inception | See pAge 04 |

The ASO has seized smuggled foreign origin cloth and 375 kilogram | See pAge 12 |

Ahsan Iqbal will visit Faisalabad during the month of March to have detailed of CPEC | See pAge 09 |

2

www.customsbulletin.com

LHC bars Punjab govt from collecting agricultural tax Wednesday, February 3, 2016

National

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has stopped the Punjab government from collecting tax on agricultural income, besides summoning the Punjab government on February 3.

A citizen, Zulfiqar Ali, has adopted the stance that double tax collection is violation of the law. The petitioner has requested the court that agriculture income tax collection should be declared null and void.

There are more than 70 applications against the agriculture tax in the LHC.

customs Valuation determines values of maximum density fiberboard

fBr collects rs 4b more than rs 205b target for Jan ISLAMABAD

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT

KARACHI

AfTAB cHAnnA

www.customsbulletin.com

www.customsbulletin.com

F

T

he Directorate General of the Customs Valuation has determined the value of Maximum Density Fiberboard (MDF) and its value added products vide Valuation Ruling No 815/2016.

According to details, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry demanded downward revision of the customs value in view of the decreasing prices at international level. The importers of MDF from Sri Lanka also joined the chorus, saying that they were not given a level playing Tield. On the other hand, local manufacturers including Al-Noor Sugar Mills (Private) Limited and Peshawar Particle Board opposed the plea on the ground that the MDF, despite a high value item is being cleared on the value of raw MDF, through gross mis-declaration as no value is Tixed for the value added products.

According to Valuation Ruling, MDF and various value added products from different origins, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia Thailand, China, Vietnam, New Zealand and Turkey, are as under: MDF Fiber Board — 2.2 mm to 3 mm $0.306/kg or 255 CBM, MDF 3.01 mm to 6 mm $0.333/Kg or 279 CBM, MDF 6.01 mm to 9 mm $0.300/kg or 239 CBM, MDF10 mm

ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected around Rs 209 billion in January 2016 against the target of Rs 205 billion set for the corresponding month.

According to the official statement, FBR collected Rs 209 billion in January 2016 against Rs 171 billion it collected during the same month last year, showing an increase of 22 per cent. The net collection for the current seven months stood at Rs 1,594 billion showing an increase of over 19% from the corresponding period of the previous year.

The revenue collection trend during the first seven months of the financial year augurs well for the efforts of FBR towards achievement of the annual assigned revenue targets.

From July to December, 2015, FBR made a net collection of Rs 1,385 billion as against target of more than Rs 1,390 billion thus falling short by Rs 5 billion.

During the month, not only the assigned target of Rs 205 billion was achieved, Rs 4 billion was also recouped in respect of the shortfall of the previous six months and thus the target for the first seven months has almost been achieved.

to 14.9 mm $0.300/kg or 235 CBM. Moreover, the value of MDF (UV) 2.2 mm to 3 mm was determined at $1.597/kg or 1430 CBM, Acrylic (2.2 mm to 3 mm) $3.141 or 2814 CBM, Embossed (2.2 mm to 3 mm) $4.376/kg or 3920 CBM , Aluminum (2.2 mm to 3 mm) US $ 2.606/kg or 2334 CBM and Melamine (2.2 mm to 3 mm) $0.367/kg or 306 CBM so on and so forth depending on the thickness of the board up to 14.9 mm.

Meanwhile, Directorate 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 beneTit of difference in price is passed on to the local buyers.

‘Local production capacity be enhanced to motivate investors’

P

LAHORE

M HAYAT

www.customsbulletin.com

rovincial Minister for Finance Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha presided over a second meeting of the committee with regard to enhancing local production at Civil Secretariat.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that after the international seminar regarding investment opportunities in Punjab, local and foreign investors, includ-

ing Turkey and China, are showing interest in investment in agriculture, energy, infrastructure and skills development sector in Pakistan. She said that agriculture sector is of great importance in this regard. The provincial minister said it is essential that local production capacity should be enhanced for motivating investors for investment. She directed all departments to inform the committee about those sectors where performance can be improved through investment. She

asked the departments to evolve concrete projects in view of the expected Pak-China Economic Corridor and prepare formal framework for this purpose. Secretary Industry while giving brieTing to the meeting told that it was decided in the previous meeting that the committee will consider the hurdles in investment in Punjab in view of the MoUs signed with other countries and concerned departments will submit their proposals for resolving these problems. he said that Livestock De-

partment and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry have submitted their suggestions in this regard. He directed ofTicers of other departments to submit their reports to the committee at the earliest. Besides Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development, concerned ofTicers of Planning and Development, Skills Development, Labour, IT Board and Urban Unit also attended the meeting. Meanwhile, Provincial Finance Minister Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that changes are being brought

at administrative level for improving tax recovery system. She expressed these views while presiding over a meeting regarding tax reforms policy. OfTicials of Excise and Taxation Department, Board of Revenue and Punjab Revenue Authority besides representatives of World Bank and DFID were present during the occasion. Punjab government is introducing Public Financial Management Reforms for harmonizing provincial Tinance policy with the demands of 21st century.

3

www.customsbulletin.com

BMP, police to hand over five smuggled cars to Customs Intelligence MULTAN: The Border Military Police (BMP) and Dera Ghazi Khan police will hand over five smuggled and non-duty paid vehicles to Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan region as per directions of the court on Monday (today). Sources told Customs Today that BMP and Punjab Police of DG Khan area have five smuggled and non- duty paid vehicles, including Toyota Corolla and Suzuki cars in their possession which have been seized in different activities by the departments. But, now in the light of court orders the five cars worth Rs 10 million will be transferred to Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan region in DG Khan on Feb. 01, 2016.

customs court issues warrants for directors of nimra Textiles Mills

Wednesday February 3, 2016

National

govt should simplify tax collection procedure, decrease tax rate: Zahir Shah

LAHORE

M iMrAn MeHAr

www.customsbulletin.com

he Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for two suspects in a tax evasion case. As per details, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Inland Revenue (IR) Faisalabad, while scrutinising the record, found that the directors of Nimra Textile Mills were allegedly involved in tax evasion and registered a case against them. The officials summoned the directors to cooperate in the investigation but they did not appear before the officials. Later, the officials approached the court seeking arrest warrant against the accused directors where the court after hearing the arguments issued non-bailable warrants.

T

Sialkot, gujranwala rTos receives 63,000 tax returns until Jan 31 SIALKOT

ZAfAr MALik

www.customsbulletin.com

s many as 63,000 taxpayers deposited their annual tax return at both Sialkot and Gujranwala Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) till the deadline ended on January 31, 2016. As per details, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had given special targets of collection of 73,000 tax returns (40,000 for Gujranwala RTO and 33000 for Sialkot RTO). Now, both of these RTOs could receive 63,000. According to the senior officials of, 29,000 taxpayers have submitted their annual tax returns at Sialkot RTO comprising Sialkot, Narowal and Gujrat district against its fixed official target of 33,000 tax returns, while 33000 taxpayers have submitted their tax returns at Gujranwala RTO comprising Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin districts against its fixed official target of 40,000 tax returns.

A

ISLAMABAD

M fAiZAn

www.customsbulletin.com

I

nstead of introducing tax amnesty schemes to attract the non-taxpayers, the government should have simpliTied the existing tax systems and maintain tax-rate at minimum level so that people could voluntarily get themselves registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zahir Shah suggested this while giving an interview to Customs Today. He said that the current amnesty scheme was only for unregistered people but there was a need to attract the people who were keeping themselves away from the FBR due to misconceptions.

Responding to a query about the policies of the FBR, he said that some complexities in the policies creating problems for the business community, as they were not familiar with revenue methods completely. “I want to inform the high ups of the FBR about the wrong-doing of the Tield formations’ staff, which make cases against the businessmen just for their vested interest,” he said, adding that most of the registered cases were won by the traders. Business community paid taxes that were used to run state affairs so it should not be discourage by trapping them into different cases but be supported to get ex-

ceptional growth; he said and hoped that next Tiscal year would prove helpful for businesses, he said.

Zahir Shah said that some chambers of commerce have announced to arrange pre-budget seminars to present their suggestions for budget of next Tiscal year 2016-17, adding that the demands of businessmen have not been entrained fully.

He further said that a friendly atmosphere could bridge gap between taxpayers and FBR, he said, adding

Zahir Shah said that some chambers of commerce have announced to arrange pre-budget seminars to present their suggestions for budget of next fiscal year 2016-17, adding that the demands of businessmen have not been entrained fully

Tyres smuggling: suspect’s remand extended LAHORE

M iMrAn MeHAr

www.customsbulletin.com

S

pecial Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Judge Chaudhary Ameer Muhammad Khan has approved another 14-day judicial remand of suspect Shahnawaz, who is allegedly involved in tyres smuggling case.

According to the details, Shahnawaz was arrested by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation from Bund Road area of Lahore on the charges of tyres smuggling, involving millions of rupees taxes and duties.

The Customs Intelligence team after initial investigation presented him before the Customs Court where Judge Ameer Muhammad Khan sent him on physical remand for three days. After the interrogation, the accused was sent on judicial remand that has been extended for further 14 days.

that such atmosphere could be developed by not harassing the taxpayers. He also appreciated the current leading team of the FBR, adding that complaints against the rude behaviour of ofTicials are reduced to some extent, but there are some black sheep at lower level those are damaging the reputation of FBR. “I ask the department to strengthen the accountability system in order to make it more prestigious,” he said.

fiA nabs two money changers in faisalabad he FIA has arrested two illegal money changers during a crackdown. The suspects were identified as Muhammad Imran and Khuwaja Nasir. According to details, Assistant Director FIA Ch Mazhar Ullah, Sub Inspector Malik Sohail, Muhammad Akhtar, Muhammad Javed and Noman Shahid conducted a raid and arrested the alleged persons who were involved in illegal business of money exchange.

T

4

www.customsbulletin.com

Govt clips PIA union’s wings thru invoking services act ISLAMABAD: The federal government has banned all labour union activities in public institutions through invoking services act with aim to restrict the PIA workers’ union that has called a strike on Tuesday (today) against the proposed privatisation of the national-flag carrier. According to a statement issued by the PM Office, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the extension of the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA) 1952 to PIA on the recommendation of the Aviation Division for. Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said PIA’s losses had touched Rs30 billion in 2013 and the government had been working hard to improve the organisation.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Business

pSX gains 82pts as bullish trend continues KARACHI

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Tuesday lost most of the early gains at the last session, but remained in green zone.

The KSE-100 index added 82.46 points to reach 31960.61 points level at closing. The stocks recorded the highest trading level of 32174.16 points and lowest level of 31866.77 points, with the volume of 144.36 million shares, having over Rs8.58 billion value. As many as 327 companies were active; of which 155 advanced, 155 declined and 17 remained unchanged.

nAB recovered rs 265.977b so far ISLAMABAD

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered Rs 265.977b looted public money since its inception through prosecution of corrupts. This was revealed by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, while chairing a meeting held here to review overall performance of the Bureau at its headquarters on Monday.

“This is a great achievement. The allocation to NAB for its working since creation is Rs 10.111b which is only 3.7 % of recoveries made by NAB,” he said.

T

Cement was the top traded sector with 18,665,800 volume, while commercial banks remained second with 17,375,400 volume.

The three top traded companies

were Fauji Cement with a volume of 12,274,500 and price per share of 39.76 (0.84), BO Punjab with a volume 10,132,000 of price per share of 8.83 (-0.14), and Jah.Sidd. Co with

punjab govt to give 2m free saplings to olive growers

a volume 8,087,000 of price per share of 17.60 (0.69).

The top three gainers were Shield Corp with price per share 586.84 (27.94), JDW Sugar XD with price per share of 325.21 (15.48) and ICI Pakistan price per share of 459.75 (14.75).

The top three losers were Bata (Pak) with price per share of 3165.11 (-136.00), Pak Tobacco with price per share of 1216.15 (63.62) and Bhanero Tex per share of 488.71 (-25.72).

Earlier, the bullish trend helped the stocks crossing 32,000 mark by gaining 285.92 points to reach 32164.07 level at opening. The PSX maintained upward rally till midday and added 286.22 points or 0.90 per cent to take the tally to 32164.37 points level.

RAWALPINDI

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he Punjab government, under its five-year (2015-2020) plan, has announced to give two million free of cost olive saplings to the farmers of Pothohar region. Barani Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Director Dr Muhammad Tariq, while talking to the state-owned news agency, said that the first phase of the plantation campaign would formally be launched on Feb 15. He said that the applications were invited in December, 2015 for provision of olive saplings from the eligible farmers of Pothohar region, which includes Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jehlum, Attock and Khushab Districts. The programme is being launched on the direction of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, which is aimed at promoting local production of olive oil and curtailing import bill of edible oil. The applicant would be required to pay the expenditure incurred on transportation and pit digging for planting saplings in the orchard. The growers would be offered subsidy in accordance with the set rules and procedure and they would fully comply with the recommendations of the Provincial Agriculture Department.

T

punjab govt spending over rs 630m to establish fish hatcheries LAHORE

T

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he Punjab government is spending over Rs 630 million on the establishment of new Tish hatcheries and nursery units besides using of barren lands for Tisheries purpose.

This was stated by Punjab Fisheries Department Director General Dr Muhammad Ayub, while presiding over a review meeting regarding ongoing development projects. He

said that main objective of the project is to provide quality Tish seed to farmers. The DG said that a large hatchery is being established in Lahore at Bhaseen on 60 acres of land, whereas Tive nursery units of over six acres land each are being set up in Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Chiniot and Nankana Sahib. He pointed out that through establishment of a large Tish seed hatchery and nursery units in Tive districts, production of additional three million quality Tish could be possible as well as problems of Tish farmers would also be addressed as

these districts were lacking this facility. Dr Ayub said in order to fulTil Tish seed requirements of the public and private sectors, barren lands would be utilised for the promotion of Tisheries and in this regard a comprehensive plan has been devised with a cost of over Rs 160 million. He said under this project, a Tish seed hatchery would be established in Rajanpur district with an annual production capacity of up to Tive million which would be supplied for natural waters in Dera Ghazi Khan division and Tish farms set up in private sector.

kp used only 18% of development budget in H1 PESHAWAR

T

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he Khyber Pakthunkhwa government utilised only 18 per cent budget of the annual development programme in the Tirst six months of current the Tiscal year 2015-16. The Centre of Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) in a press release on Monday said that the development spending of in-

cumbent the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is once again sluggish.

The expenditure details of spending available on KP government Tinance website depicts Rs31.14 billion spent as on January 5, 2016 against the total Rs175.02 billion Annual Development Programme (ADP) for Tiscal year 2015-16. As on January 5, 2016, the KP government has released Rs 67.8 billion for development projects.

“CGPA has Tiled two information

requests to KP Tinance and Planning and Development (P&D) departments under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013 to triangulate the information available on the Tinance department website, but despite lapse of more than 20 days, no expenditure details were provided,” the report said.

The CGPA has urged the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to expedite utilization of development budgets, which has been a regular

concern for the province.

CGPA analysis of utilization of development budget for the Tiscal year 2015-16 depicts that nearly 18% of its allocated development budget has been utilized in the Tirst half of FY 2015-16. In terms of actual expenditures, road sector utilized Rs 6.41 billion out of Rs 19 billion allocated under KP ADP 2015-16 which is 33.7% of total ADP for roads. District ADP which has been allocated Rs 30.2 billion has utilized 6.08 bil-

lion (20.12%).

On the other hand the local government department, which has been allocated Rs18.3 billion, could utilize Rs 2.7 billion only. Elementary and secondary education could utilize only Rs 1.8 billion (11.5%) of the total allocated Rs 15.9 billion to the sector.

Similarly health sector, which has been in dismal condition, could utilize only Rs1.5 billion out of 12.4 billion (12.5%).

www.customsbulletin.com

ADVERTISEMENT

5

6

www.customsbulletin.com

ISLAMABAD M fAiZAn www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Pakistan Customs is working on signing electronic data interchange accords with the customs departments of neighbouring countries to connect them through online system which will end the mis-declaration and tax evasion.

This was stated by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) International Customs Chief Dr Muhammad Zubair in an interview with Customs Today. He said that an agreement of data interchange has been Tinalised with Afghanistan and with China while negotiations are underway with United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop automated system.

This year, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) has Tloated a theme of digital customs through which customs’ systems will be automated and cross-border countries will be connected online to expedite the clearance process, he said. Dr Zubair further said that all governmental institutions that have connection with imports and exports of the country will also be connected online to develop a better coordination among them.

Saying that the electronic data interchange

will bring revolutionary development in the system, he said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were updating their systems that will be introduced at Torkham border soon, as negotiations in this regard have been completed. The agreement with China and UAE would be inked in current year, while with Iran and other countries accords will also be signed for data interchange system, he said. He highlighted that the electronic data interchange systems will help to find out the irregularities in transit trade and to track the items those exported under transit trade but not crossed the borders, besides curbing the tax evasion.

Any Afghani importer, who imports items in wake of transit trade, will have to file bill of entry that could be checked by the customs officials of both sides through online system.

This system will also update the Pakistan customs officials whether the containers bound to Afghanistan have crossed the border or not.

The importer who will not file the bill of entry against their shipments will be added in blacklist because it will indicate that the said containers have not crossed the border and the goods have

been smuggled into Pakistan.

The online system will also eliminate the cu rent difference in the weight and quantity of t items those imported from China as there w be data interchange system to weed out t mis-declaration and tax evasion, he said, addi that such measures will ultimately pose positi impact on revenue collection.

All over the world, technology is being adopt and Pakistan was bound to follow the sam lines under international agreements. H said that US was supporting the Pakist Customs as it is providing resourc to make the operational matte of the department better.

t emen e r g a an s d that rchange ha i a s e H ith a inte of dat finalised w china been and with e nistan tiations ar ab a h g f A d Ar nego while with unite elop dev way under tes (uAe) to tem emira omated sys aut

urthe will the ing ive

ted me He tan ces ers

www.customsbulletin.com

Wednesday, February 3, 2015

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 affairs

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.

corruption – the mother of all evils A

LAHORE

Dr AfTAB AfZAL

www.customstoday.com

ccording to the latest report of the Transparency International, Pakistan is the only country in the South Asian region that has improved its rank by three points on the Corruption Perceptions Index. At least four countries in the region scored the same or less points as compared to their scores in 2014. There is not point to be proud of the improvement in the ranking as corruption is still rife and Pakistan is still in the red zone of the most corrupt countries in the world. In its report on CPI 2015, the Transparency Internationalhas increased Pakistan’s score by one point to 30 in the list

of the most corruption countries.

However, it upgraded its rank by three and called for further steps to improve its performanceby adopting zero tolerance policy against corruption. The Pakistani chapter of the transparency has already recommended various measures to control corruption and improve the country’s rank on the world corruption index. The index covers corruption perceptions in public sector organizations in 168 countries.

The CPI 2015 makes it clear that corruption can be defeated if the government has the will and commitment to rid the nation of this menace. Corruption prevails in government departments of the country, but many countries have improved their scores in the

2015. According to the latest edition of the CPI issued by the Transparency International, twothirds of the 168 countries on the 2015 index have scored below 50 on a scale that begins from zero — perceived to be highly corrupt to 100 — that perceived to be very clean. The anti-corruption activists in Guatemala, Sri Lanka and Ghana have stepped up their efforts to stamp out corruption from their countries. Brazil has shown bigger improvement in the index, shedding Tive points and dropping seven positions to a rank of 76. Denmark has emerged as the corruption-free country for the second year running, but North Korea and Somalia performed the worst scoring eight points each. Corruption and mis-

management are the two basic root causes of the economic woes facing the nation. Corruption has been gradually institutionalized and mismanagement is perceived to be widespread. Tough laws are a colonial legacy and a tool in the hands of the ofTicial machinery to use against whosoever comes across its way. In a society devoid of independent judicial system, misuse of ofTicial powers become order of the day and those who are supposed to check wrongs are also riding in the wrong boat. The institutions which were set up to curb corruption are also involved in corruption. It is good omen that Pakistan has gained some success in its Tight against corruption and the journey towards fairness should have to be continued.

9

www.customsbulletin.com

HSBC to freeze salaries and hiring in 2016 to cut costs LONDON: Europe’s largest lender, HSBC, is imposing a hiring and pay freeze across the bank globally in 2016, two sources told Reuters. An email was sent to staff on Friday detailing the latest cost-saving measures, according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. Like numerous other global banks, HSBC is in the midst of a cost-cutting drive to boost profitability and returns to shareholders, and is pushing through with plans for annual cost savings of up to $5bn (£3.5bn) by 2017. Europe’s biggest bank said in June that it planned to slash nearly one in five jobs and shrink its investment bank by a third in response to sluggish economic growth and tighter global regulation of bank balance sheet risk.

“As flagged in our investor update we have targeted significant cost reductions by the end of 2017,” a spokeswoman for HSBC told Reuters, confirming the content of the staff email.

Swiss firms seeking business opportunities in pakistan: roger kull any big Swiss companies were doing successful business in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy and more were interested to explore Pakistan as they considered it a promising country for business and investment. Pakistan was making good economic progress and entrepreneurs of both countries have to work together to take bilateral trade to higher levels. This was said by Mr. Roger M. Kull, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Switzerland during an interaction with busi-

M

ness community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said that Pakistan with a population of over 190 million people held great opportunities and Swiss investors would like to exploit its untapped potential. He said 70 percent of Swiss economy was comprised of SMEs and there was good scope for both countries to strengthen cooperation between their SMEs for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes. He said Pakistani businessmen should visit Switzerland to establish business linkages and explore business collaborations. He said Swiss Business Council and Switzerland Embassy in Pakistan could facilitate Pakistani businessmen in making direct contacts with Swiss counterparts.

Speaking at the occasion, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that though Pak-Swiss bilateral trade has improved from US$ 89.24 million in 2002-03 to US$ 301.37 million in 2014-15, however, it was far less than the available potential of both countries. —CB Report

Wednesday February 3, 2016

Chambers

fcci head says business community fully supports cpec project F

FAISALABAD

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

ederal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal will visit Faisalabad during the month of March to have detailed discussion on disseminating the fruits of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) to Faisalabad by declaring Shenzen Industrial Zone (Guangdong) China and M-3 Industrial Estate Faisalabad as sister industrial Estates.

He was talking to a delegation of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) that had a meeting with him in his office and discussed the role of Faisalabad in achieving the objectives of Vision2025. The delegation was lead by Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz, President FCCI. It was also participated by senior vice president Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain, former president Engineer Suhail Bin Rashid, Rana Akhlaq Ahmad, Sanaullah Khan Niazi and Mian Muhammad Adrees.

The Federal Minister termed the CPEC as game changer for the entire region and said that Government of

Pakistan has focused to link it with the under developed areas of Pakistan so that the residents of these areas could also harvest its beneTits. He further said that this project will be completed in many years and in according to the demand industrial zones along it would also be created in a phased manner. These industrial zones will not only catalyst the industrial progress but also create new job opportunities for the skilled as well as unskilled worker force of Pakistan, he added.

He also appreciated the proposal

of declaring M-3 Industrial Estate as Special Economic Zone and said that it would also help us in achieving the objective of Vision 2025. ‘I shall also have detailed discussion during my upcoming visit to Faisalabad”, he said and added he has issued clear directive to his Ministry to regularly arrange his meetings with the business community and in this context he was having weekly meetings with one selected Chamber of Pakistan.

Earlier Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz President FCCI appreciated

High time to review agricultural policies: Lcci

T

LAHORE

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

he Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called to review agriculture policies saying that serious food security could take place in near future because of rising graph of population. If steps are not taken on war footing, food security would shatter the economic structure as country would be compelled to spend billions dollars on imports to feed its huge population.

“If we stayed where we are today in terms of cropped area and yield per hectare, we will have 30% less food available per capita in next two decades.” In a statement issued here, the LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad, Senior Vice President Almas Hyder and Vice President Nasir Saeed said that though Pak-

istan’s almost 43% labor force is dependent upon agriculture, the yield gap in the four major crops of Pakistan is three times from the best producers in the world such as China and Egypt. They said that low yield has contributed to the poverty in rural areas besides forcing country to import agriculture produces to feed its population.

They said that the fact should be an eye opener that China produces two times more cotton and wheat per hectare and Egypt produces around three times more rice and sugarcane per hectare as compared to Pakistan.

“Factors that are recommended to improve the yield are through large scale introduction of hybrid seeds and mechanized farming, high efTiciently irrigation systems such as drip irrigation and reduction in wastage of crop through introduction of privately owned storage facilities and cold storage facilities”, the LCCI ofTice-bearers

added. They said that 21st century belongs to Biotechnology and Pakistan has tremendous potential to emerge as Biotechnology leader but to achieve the goal private sector, scientists, researchers and government would have to work hand in hand.

They said that Pakistan’s agriculture sector was losing heavily due to insufTicient utilization of biotechnology as the magic progress of agriculture sector is only due to Genetically ModiTied crops. He said that agriculture sector in Pakistan has a huge potential. It continues to be the single largest and dominant driving force for growth as well as the main source of livelihood for 66 percent of Pakistan’s population. But it has always faced two major problems: Tirst, productions per acre are lower than many countries. Secondly, around 40% of production is wasted in the form of post-harvest losses due to insufTicient utilization of biotechnology.

the efforts of Prof. Iqbal for convincing China to make huge investment in CPEC and told that the business community of Pakistan fully supports this gigantic project which would make this region hub of economic and industrial activities in the coming years. He further told that announcement of this mega infra structure project by Chinese President has entirely changed the perception of Pakistan in the international community and many other countries are also now preparing to invest in Pakistan.

ginners ask govt not to waive import duty on indian cotton he ginners have asked the government not to waive duty and tax on the import of cotton from India. Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Chairman Nawab Shahzad Ali Khan, in a statement, said that regulatory duty, sales tax and customs duty on import of cotton should not be withdrawn and it must continue for survival of local farmers and ginners. The Pakistani Government had imposed a 10 per cent regulatory duty on imports of cotton yarn, grey and processed fabric, particularly from India from November 1, 2015, in a bid to protect the domestic industry by preventing the dumping of cheap raw material.—CB Report

T

10

www.customsbulletin.com

Spanish police smash ‘helicopter’ cannabis smuggling ring Wednesday February 3, 2016

World

MADRID: Spanish police said they had smashed a ring that smuggled cannabis from Morocco to Spain by helicopter, arresting 20 people including a former Ukrainian pilot who used to fight wildfires. Police launched their investigation when they detected a helicopter flying at “a very low altitude and without any lights” from Morocco to southern Spain, they said in a statement. Officers seized the helicopter after it landed in a farm in the Los Alcornocales National Park and arrested the pilot, co-pilot and a third man who was helping offload the drugs from the aircraft. “The pilot of the helicopter, a Ukrainian national, worked in his country as a pilot of helicopters used to put out wildfires and had extensive experience with night flights,” the statement said here the other day.

infamous policeman caught with drugs KUWAIT

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

T

he police officer who became infamous after a video clip went viral showing him forcing an Asian man to do push-ups while being kicked inside Sabah Al-Salem police station in 2014, was arrested by Qadisiya police in possession of shabu (the local name for crystal meth) and paraphernalia.

He was sent to Drugs Control General Department (DCGD). A security source said that Najda police patrols suspected a person and asked for his ID and found that he is a police officer in an inebriated condition, and when he was subjected to a precautionary search, the drugs were found on him. Meanwhile, Personnel from the Criminal Investigations Department have arrested three peo-

$595k drugs seized in 4-day op t was around 3am on Sunday, “ladies’ night” at a nightclub but the music had stopped and the lights had come on. “This bag, is it yours?” a man in a black vest asked a young partygoer. It was a raid by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). The man was one of many officers stationed between tables of partygoers in the club. The agency’s four-day operation this week led to the seizure of about $595,000 worth of drugs, with 115 suspected drug offenders arrested. The drug haul included 6.2kg of cannabis, 2.5kg of heroin, 1kg of Ice, 1,807 Erimin-5 tablets, 506 Ecstasy tablets and a small amount of cocaine, ketamine and LSD stamps.

The cannabis and most of the heroin were recovered from a unit in Fernvale Link following a raid on Sunday night.

Two men, aged 29 and 33, and a 37year-old woman were arrested there. Officers searched the older man’s unit in Punggol Central, recovering some 630g of Ice, or methamphetamine, and 719 Erimin-5 tablets.—CB Report

I

ple two Lebanese and an American for smuggling ‘chemical’ drug, reports Annahar daily.

The daily added, acting on information the police put the men under surveillance and caught them selling drugs to a police agent. After taking legal procedures, the detectives raided the houses of the traffickers and confiscated large quantities of drugs worth KD 250,000.

Meanwhile, Securitymen from Ahmadi Security Directorate arrested two smugglers in Mangaf for the possession of 243 bottles of local liquor.

While patrolling late at night in the area, the officers got suspicious when they noticed the erratic movement of a Japanesemade vehicle. When the officers signaled for the driver to pull over, he sped off so a hot chase ensued.

This resulted in the arrest of the driver and his companion, as they were found to be in possession of the abovementioned illicit items.

ireland customs seizes cigarettes worth €5m in past week DUBLIN

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

A

total of more than 9.5 million cigarettes have been seized as part of intelligence-led operations in the State in the last week. Revenue ofTicers made the seizures in Counties Dublin, Meath and Tipperary.

On Thursday morning, some 7,800 cigarettes branded MG, Marlboro Gold and Royal Classic, along with 3.5kg of Flandria tobacco, were seized when three houses in Dublin’s inner city were searched under warrant in an ongoing operation targeting illegal trade in Moore Street. On Wednesday afternoon, ofTicers executed a search warrant on a house in Cashel, Co Tipperary, and seized over 39,000 MG cigarettes. A man in his 40s was questioned and a Tile is being prepared for the DPP.

Malaysian police arrest couple for smuggling drugs

P

olice have detained a couple for alleged involvement in drug smuggling after raiding the couple’s house in Felda Kerteh 5, Ketengah Jaya, here, last night.

District police chief Superintendent Ahmad Zailani Yaacub said a 27-year-old man was initially arrested at his friend’s house but police failed to find any drugs on him in the 10pm incident. Ahmad Zailani said initial interrogations on the suspect led police to his house located nearby. Police later ar-

rested his 25-year-old wife. Ahmad Zailani said during the operation, police seized 1,194 stimulant pills worth RM13,200 hidden in a plastic bag inside a basket near the washing machine which was placed in the kitchen.

“We also seized a car and a motorcycle from the couples home and they are being remanded at the Dungun police station to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952,”he said. —CB Report

On Wednesday evening, 6.6 million cigarettes were seized at a warehouse in Co Meath. Royale PaciTic brand. A container of Royale PaciTic cigarettes had originated in Vietnam and arrived at Dublin Port on Monday from Rotterdam. The smuggled cigarettes were described as “Shower room linen baskets” on the manifest. On Thursday of last

T

Annual gDp grows less than 1%

he economy grew by a weakerthan-expected 0.85 percent last year, dragged down by persistent sluggish foreign and domestic demand, the DirectorateGeneral of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said yesterday.

Annual GDP growth missed the agency’s estimate of 1.06 percent, representing the weakest pace since the 2009 global Tinancial crisis.

The DGBAS attributed the weakness to the performance in the Tinal quarter of last year, with the economy shrinking by 0.28 percent yearon-year, lagging far behind the agency’s forecast of 0.49 percent

QDB signs Mou with islamic corporation

Q DOHA

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

atar Development Bank (QDB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The new

agreement is a joint strategic collaboration in examining innovative means and opportunities to support smalland-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar. The MoU commits the two institutions to share knowledge and expertise relating to the SME sector in Qatar. A work group composed of key stakeholders and experts from each party will be formed in order to work on the feasibility of co-developing an

week, 2.9 million cigarettes had been seized at Dublin Port. The Jim brand cigarettes had also originated in Vietnam. Investigations are ongoing in all of the cases. The Revenue claims the combined value of the seized products is €5 million, representing what would have been a total loss to the exchequer of almost €4 million.

investment and Tinancing vehicle that will focus on supporting and developing SMEs and local businesses. The preliminary work to be undertaken by the joint parties will cover, although be not limited to, the following: concept design, market analysis, structure and governance, as well as potential positioning and product development. The MoU was signed by Khaled Mohammed Al Aboodi, the

growth. It was the second consecutive quarter that GDP contracted, indicating that the nation entered recession in the second half of last year, agency statistics showed.

Softer-than-expected exports and domestic consumption contributed to the 0.28 percent contraction last quarter, DGBAS section chief Wang Shu-chuan told a media brieTing.

However, the scale of the decline last quarter narrowed from the previous quarter’s annual drop of 0.63 percent, Wang said, adding that the government’s short-term stimulus measures had a positive effect on domestic demand.—CB Report

Chief Executive OfTicer and General Manager of the ICD, and Abdulaziz Nasser Al Khalifa, the Chief Executive OfTicer of QDB. Abdulaziz Nasser Al Khalifa said: “We are delighted to partner with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, which includes in its membership a number of countries that strive to offer all assistance to young entrepreneurs.”

11

www.customsbulletin.com

Israeli, Turkish energy firms sign gas deal worth $1.3b ANKARA: Israeli and Turkish energy firms signed an agreement on Sunday to sell $1.3 billion worth of gas to Edeltech, Israel’s Leviathan natural gas field offshore partners announced.

The Leviathan natural gas field was discovered in 2010 and holds an estimated 622 billion cubic metres (bcm) natural gas reserves, according to Xinhua. The partners said they commit to providing 6 bcm within 18 years. Edeltech and Zorlu Enerji, a Turkish energy conglomerate, will employ the gas to operate two new energy plants being established in southern Israel.

Both plants will provide energy to the industrial sector.

global smartphone shipments cross 1.43b in 2015 ore than 1.4 billion smartphones were shipped worldwide last year in a new high for the sector, with Chinese handset makers racking up the biggest gains, an industry tracker said. Global smartphone shipments for 2015 jumped slightly more than 10% to an unprecedented 1.43 billion, said International Data Corporation (IDC), releasing its preliminary figures.

South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung remained the top smartphone maker, shipping 85.6 million units in the final quarter and 324.8 million for the year, according to the IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report. Second-place Apple shipped a record-setting 74.8 million iPhones in the quarter and were up slightly more than 20% to

M

Port of Hamburg: New strategy for Germany’s ports

federal cabinet endorses new national port concept

BERLIN

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

231.5 million units for the year, said IDC, a day after Apple warned that iPhone sales are set to fall for the first time. “Apple assured the public that demand for its premium smartphones is still alive and kicking,” said IDC’s Anthony Scarsella, referring to the new figures. “A new record-setting quarter for Apple indicates consumers continued demand for Apple’s latest offerings regarding upgraded hardware and software.” Samsung faces increasing pressure from US-based Apple in the high-end smartphone market and from Chinese firms such as Xiaomi and Huawei when it comes to mid or lowpriced handsets, according to IDC. “Usually the conversation in the smartphone market revolves around Samsung and Apple, but Huawei’s strong showing for both the quarter and the year speak to how much it has grown as an international brand,” said IDC’s Melissa Chau. —CB Report

Ports & Shipping

G

erman ports face fresh challenges: Cargo handling growth, tougher competition, stiffer demands on environmental protection and security. To enable them to master these, the German cabinet has endorsed the 2015 National Port Concept.

In doing so, the Federal government has implemented one of the

points in the coalition agreement for the 18th legislative period: ‘To boost the competitiveness of German ports, we shall further develop the National Port Concept […] and eliminate bottlenecks in the land and sea links of German seaports and inland ports of international signiTicance.’

The result is a new strategic guideline for port policy of the next ten years, giving all those involved a reliable basis for political and commercial action. ReTlecting the preceding 2009 concept, the 2015 National Port Concept identiTies future

challenges for Germany’s seaports and inland ports, setting out measures for overcoming these. With a total of 155 separate measures, the concept obliges central government, the states, business and employee bodies to an equal extent to pursue the following goals, to: expand port-related infrastructures as required, boost competitiveness of the ports, protect the environment and climate, provide highquality vocational training and employment, and guarantee appropriate security and hazard prevention.

Wednesday February 3, 2016

Atlas boosts shipments amid restructure truggling junior miner Atlas Iron has boosted shipments and trimmed costs in the December quarter, despite falling iron ore prices.

The announcement comes just weeks after it agreed to a debt restructuring that will hand its lenders 70 percent of the company’s stock, as it struggles to stay afloat.

Atlas said it shipped 3.6 million tonnes of iron ore during the three months to December, up from 3.3 million in the September quarter. It realised an average sales price of $51 per wet metric tonne (WMT), compared to $61/tonne in the previous quarter.

Its full cash costs fell to $54/tonne from $54 in the previous quarter. The miner had been forced to suspend production at its three mines in April 2015, following a slump in iron ore prices, but resumed operations between May and July. It posted a $1.38 billion loss for 2014/15 after taking impairment charges and writedowns earlier in the year.

In December, the company’s Term Loan B lenders agreed to retire nearly half its $US267 million debt, in exchange for 70 percent of the shares and options on issue.

Atlas on Friday said the deal had support from more than 80 per cent of the Term Loan B lenders by value, but it was still hopeful of a unanimous agreement. —CB Report

S

california cBr shipments declined 69% in 2015

O

CALIFORNIA

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

il-by-rail shipments to California plunged 69 percent last year compared with 2014, according to state data released on Jan. 28. The California Energy Commission said California received 1,762,369 barrels of crude via train last year, or 4,828 barrels per day. That is down from 5,737,081 barrels in 2014, or 15,718 bpd. The tally fell through-

out the year, starting at a high of 11,061 bpd in January to 949 bpd in December, the data showed. Total amounts for both years are less than 1 percent of the average 1.7 million bpd of crude processed by California refineries. The highest amount moved by rail to the state in any month remains 1.18 million barrels, or 38,085 bpd, in December 2013, CEC data show.

In late 2014, oil-by-rail volumes began declining as oil prices fell and discounts of U.S. crudes to global crudes narrowed, siphoning prof-

itability of moving crude via train.

Meanwhile, The Georgia Ports Authority achieved record container volumes in 2015 as shipments in the Southeast continued to grow last year. GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz said today that the Port of Savannah boosted its handling of 20-foot equivalent container units by 11.3 percent to 3.73 million last year.

“The expansion was fueled in part by heightened demand in the U.S. Southeast, Savannah’s logistical advantages drawing new cus-

tomers to Georgia, and cargo diverted from the West Coast,” Foltz told the port authority board today.

Total tonnage across all terminals reached a record 31.48 million tons in 2015, an increase of 1.09 million tons, or 3.6 percent. Container tonnage accounted for most of that growth, adding 991,031 tons (up 4 percent), for a total of 25.81 million tons. Bulk cargo added 60,705 tons (up 2.2 percent) to reach 2.86 million, while bulk cargo grew 1.7 percent, or 47,358 tons, to reach 2.79 million tons.

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.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

faisalabad ASo seizes cloth, plastic beads worth rs 832,195 FAISALABAD nAeeM SHeikH

www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has seized smuggled foreign origin cloth and 375 kilogram of artiTicial plastic beads worth Rs 832,195 involving customs duty/taxes amounting to Rs 161,791.

As per details, Deputy Collector Muhammad Falik Shair received information regarding the smuggling attempt on which he formed a team comprising Superintendent Muhammad Javed Mehmood, Deputy Superintendent Sardar Muhammad, Inspector Masood Saeed Chohan and Abdul Jabbar and Sepoys HaTiz Naseer Ahmed, Muhammad Ashraf and Naeemullah to foil the smuggling attempt.

The ASO team raided M/S Al-Atif Goods Forwarding Agency, Faisalabad and found 490 kg of cloth worth Rs 471,070 and 375 kg of plastic beads worth Rs 367,125, which were bring into country without payment of duty/taxes as the owner of agency, Fahad and owner of goods, M. Nadeem could not produce documents regarding customs clearance.

M/s Barkat allowed concessionary rates of sales tax KARACHI

AfTAB cHAnnA

www.customsbulletin.com

T

he Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-West has allowed concessionary rates of sales tax to M/s Barkat Limited, Hyderabad on import of textile fabrics.

In this regard, Deputy Collector Mahwish Shah addressed to Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Inland Revenue

deputy director for verification of industrial/manufacturing status for the purpose of allowing exemption of sales tax.

M/s Barkat Limited, Hyderabad, have imported consignments of textile fabric vide Goods Declaration No. KAPW-HC132432-16.01.2016 and claimed concessionary rates of sales tax ad admissible to manufacturer/industrial undertaking under the provisions of SRO 1125(I)/2011 dated 31.12.2011, says the deputy collector. The importer has provided certificate from the Trade Development Au-

thority of Pakistan, confirming the status of the unit as exporter/importers of textile and allied products.

The benefits claimed concessionary rate of sales under SRO 1125(I)/2011 dated December 31, 2011 has been extended to the importer-cum-manufacturer. As per computer record, the unit has imported various types of fabrics valuing Rs 239.32 millions in recent past, DC Mahwish Shah added. It is requested that physical verification/survey of the aforesaid manufacturing unit may please be conducted confirming

the following. Whether the aforesaid unit is involved in manufacturing activities of textile madeups/garments and what kinds of goods/items are being produced.

Whether manufacturing capability commensurate with the imported raw material i.e. fabrics.

Whether the unit is entitle for benefit of concessionary rate of sales tax as admissible to manufacturer/industrial undertaking under the provisions of SRO 1125(I)/2011 dated December 31, 2011 or otherwise.

Meanwhile, Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-West

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

Deputy Collector Mariam Mehdi Raja has transferred at least seven principal appraisers and appraisers with immediate effect until further orders.

According to the notification, Shyam Lal has been posted at Internal Audit, Asad Masood posted at Post Release Verification Cell, Rafullah at PRV Cell, Ali Murad Ansari at Establishment wing, Muzaffar Ahmad Abbasi at Assessment Hall, Javel Khalid at Karachi International Containers Terminal and Shahid Ibrahim Dasti has been posted at Bank Guarantee Cell.