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pAkIStAN’S FIrSt INDepth NewSpAper oN cuStoMS

Daily

Vol 1 Issue No. 282

Karachi, Tue January 26, 2016

ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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irectorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation has seized different goods from July to December 2015. The market value of these items is Rs 2.64 billion.

Sources told Customs Today that the customs team arrested 49 suspected and registered 671 cases of smuggling. Sources said that the customs recovered 1,463 kilogram charas, 19 kilogram opium, 40,550 kilogram poppy seeds and 6,64,500 kilogram explosive material. The Customs team also recovered 53,617 kilogram smuggled items, including 12,257 tyres and 182 bottles of alcohol during several operations.

Sources said that customs teams showed outstanding performance during the last six months of the last year and seized more smuggled items as compared to the previous year.

Price Rs. 14.00

Meanwhile, Director General Customs Intelligence and Investigations Imtiaz Ali Khan visited Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Quetta. Sources told Customs Today that during his visit Director Irfanur Rehman briefed hithe m on about different issues being faced by Customs Intelligence Quetta. Director Imtiaz Ali also presided over a meeting which discussed various measures to curb smuggling on Iran and Afghanisan borders.

He directed all departments concerned to take every possible measure to curb smuggling close to the border areas.

Customs to further promote use of Information Technology: Saifuddin

Customs will continue to follow path of modernization: Haroon Akhtar Khan

Pak-China Industrial Working Group Yet To Be Formed: Ahsan

FBR engaged in digitalization of Customs processes: Collector Rozi Khan

Chief Commissioner ICT assures to resolve issues of traders on priority

Exports, Custom House, Saifuddin Junejo in his message on the occasion | See pAge 02 |

Special Assistant to PM on Revenue Haroon has said that the Pak Customs | See pAge 03 |

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof Ahsan | See pAge 04 |

Collector Rozi Khan in his message on the occasion of“International Customs Day” | See pAge 12 |

Business community was playing an important role in the development | See pAge 09 |

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FIA arrests three notorious human traffickers Tuesday, January 26, 2016

National

LAHORE: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has booked three human traffickers in different operations in different areas. According to sources of Customs Today antihuman trafficking cell of the agency raided in a locality at Sahiwal and arrested an accused Armghan Abbasi and Gulzar. Another accused Raja Irslan was also booked by the Federal Investigation Agency. FIA has registered cases against the culprits under sections of human smuggling and fraud with citizens. Arrested accused were involved in sending innocent citizens to foreign countries on bugus documents and also looted millions of rupees in frauds on the wake of sending them abroad.

customs to further promote use of Information technology: Saifuddin

customs Appelate tribunal DB to hear 15 customs cases today ISLAMABAD

NAeeM uLLAh tArIQ

KARACHI

AFtAB chANNA

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ollector Exports, Custom House, Saifuddin Junejo in his message on the occasion of “International Customs Day| said that “Pakistan Customs celebrates International Customs Day (ICD) every year on January 26 like other Customs administrations around the world. The main ceremony is always held in Custom House, Karachi.

This day actually commemorates the day of 1953, when the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was established in Brussels, Belgium, in which 17 European countries participated. In 1994, the CCC was renamed as World Customs Organization (WCO) and as of today, Customs organizations from 179 countries are WCO members, most of which celebrate this day.

International Customs Day recognizes the role of Customs ofQicials in maintaining border security by ensuring enforcement actions, as well as, economic security by generating revenue for the nations. It focuses on the working conditions and challenges being faced by Customs ofQicers and staff in their jobs.

On International Customs Day, Customs administrations around the globe, organize events where Customs ofQicers and staff are recognized for their exemplary serv-

division bench of the Customs Appellate Tribunal will hear 15 customs cases on Monday. According to details, the division bench comprising of Chairman Ghulam Murtaza Bhatti and Member Technical M Nazim Saleem would hear eight customs cases. Another division bench comprising the chairman and another member Technical, M Nasir Khan, would hear seven cases.

The former division bench would hear cases, which were filed by National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Expanded Programe on Immunization, Fahad Industries, Sanaullah, Abid Butt, Malik Jehangir Ahmed, M Mnsoor and M/s Iqbal and Co. Six of these cases had been filed against collector customs, Islamabad, except Malik Jehangir and National Institute of Health, which had made Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation a respondent in the cases. The later division bench would hear cases all seven cases filed against customs intelligence, Islamabad. These cases had been filed by M/s Waseem Autos, M/s Nisar Traders, M/s Parts and Parts, M/s Chief Autos, M/s Aman Elahi and Co, and M/s Kohinoor Traders.

ices. workshops, conferences and seminars are held, focusing on the year’s theme and the challenges that Customs organizations and ofQicers face in the line of their duties. This year, the WCO has dedicated year 2016 to promoting the digitalization of Customs process under the slogan “Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement.” Like all Customs administrations around the world, Pakistan Customs is

planning to utilize the opportunity to showcase and further promote use of Information and Communication Technologies. After PaCCS, Pakistan Customs has successfully designed its own automated system, now famously known as WeBOC, which means Web Based One Customs. The system is truly an indigenous system developed by the dedicated team of PRAL under the leadership of ofQicers of Pakistan

Customs. WeBOC is, now, successfully working throughout Pakistan and soon it is going to achieve 100% coverage of imports and exports of Pakistan from all Customs stations. WeBOC is of the most efQicient automated system of Customs clearances in the world and that too on a minimum cost of Rs.100 million, as compared to Rs.10,000 million demanded by M/s Agility for paperless erstwhile PaCCS.

‘customs preventive protecting society from illicit drugs’

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KARACHI

AFtAB chANNA

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dditional Collector Customs Preventive Shafqat Ali Niazi in his message on the occasion of “International Customs Day” said “The Custom House Karachi was constructed in 1910. At the time of creation of Pakistan, the Custom House, Karachi was working under administrative control of Bombay Customs. The Collectorate of Cus-

toms (Preventive) was the Qirst Customs Collectorate of Pakistan which was created after the independence.

Since then the role of Customs as well as Customs Preventive has changed over the years.

Like other countries Pakistan Customs role has metamorphosed from a revenue collecting agency to the more modern job of guardianship of the economic frontiers of the country; the protector of domestic market and society; protection from illicit drugs and more importantly

now, to be the Qirst line of defense in combating terrorism and serious crimes. Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive has stood upto he new challenges under the visionary leadership of Federal Board of Revenue and Customs House. It has not only aligned its own resources but has increased coordination with other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) like Anti-Narcotics Force, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Coast Guards, Pakistan Rangers, Sindh Police and Home Department,

Government of Sindh. A number of meetings have been convened at Custom House and in the ofQices of sister LEAs. All these agencies have joined hands in combating crimes including smuggling of illegal and contraband goods. This coordination is the best manifestation of WCO this year slogan communication: sharing information for better cooperation. The federal government has entrusted Pakistan Coast Guards and MSA with Anti-smuggling powers recently to re-inforce

these efforts. Pakistan Customs conducted a joint operation on 24th November, 2013 with the help of Sindh Rangers, Sindh Police, District Administration Karachi and Karachi Municipal Corporation against the illegal petrol pumps which were selling smuggled diesel oil at Northern Bypass Karachi and surrounding areas. This operation resulted in successful destruction of 61 illegal petrol pumps and seizure of thousands of liters of smuggled diesel oil.

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Faisalabad Adjudication issues OnO in favour of ASO Mianwali FAISALABAD: Deputy Collector Adjudication Asma Hameed has issued an Order-in-Original (OnO) in favor of the Anti-Smuggling Organization in Mianwali .

Sources told Customs Today that the ASO officials intercepted a Toyota Corolla car bearing registration No. W- 8162 (Sindh ) Model 1994 in white colour. The ASO asked the driver who was identified as Saidullah son of Faizullah to produce legal documents regarding possession of the car but he failed to provide any relevant documents. the ASO team seized the vehicles and sent its number plate and chassis number to Forensic Science Laboratory.

Lhc directs to impose fine on factories causing pollution

Tuesday January 26, 2016

National

customs will continue to follow path of modernisation: haroon

LAHORE

M hAYAt

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he Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Environment Department and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries to form a committee and levy tax on factories which are causing pollution in the area.

Sources told Customs Today that Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued these directions on the plea filed by a citizen Mohammad Naeem.

Sources said that counsel of appellant prayed to court that lot of factories are causing pollution in Lahore, so the Punjab government and hte LCCI should be directed to impose fine on these factories.

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FIA arrests seven notorious human traffickers FAISALABAD

IQrA ShehZADI

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he Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested seven human traffickers from different areas of Faisalabad. Three accused were involved in using illegal Gateway Exchange Code for phone calls out of the country. The FIA team also seized SIM cards of different countries from the scene, sources told Customs Today. Assistant Director FIA Chaudhary Mazerullah said that suspects were identified as Kamran Azeem son of Muhammad Azeem ,Abdul Waris son of Atta Muhammad and Muhammad Khan son of Muhammad Ramzan.

During another operation, the FIA arrested a human trafficker Nisar Hayat son of Mohammad Hayat.

The accused has been running illegal business of sending innocent people abroad.

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ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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pecial Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar has said that the Pakistan Customs being a member of the international Customs fraternity is celebrating the International Customs Day on January 26, 2016.

In his message on the occasion of the International Customs Day, he said, “Its the occasion to demonstrate the efforts and achievements of the Customs administration in realization of government revenues, facilitation of international trade, as well as , enforcing the controls at the international borders to safeguard the society from the inQlow illicit and dangerous goods.” In order to underscore the critical need of automation and connectivity in enforcing controls and extending facilitation to international trade, World Customs Organization (WCO) has chosen the theme of “Digital Customs”, with the slogan of “Progressive Engagement”, for this year s Customs Day, he said.

Since Customs administrations around the world intract with the global supply chains, it becomes imperative to adopt best international practices for ensuring smooth and seamless movement of goods across borders. This is possible only through automated Customs processes. Pakistan Customs invested considerable resources in

bridging the digital gap. A Qine example of the efforts made by Pakistan Customs clearance known as WeBOC and I am glad to say that it is able to process more than 97% of trade, import, export or transit crossing Pakistans borders. A Customs administration must aim to strike a delicate balance between trade facilitation and Customs controls. The digitization of Customs procedures is perhaps the only way to achieve this Qine balance I hope that Pakistan Customs

A fine example of the efforts made by pakistan customs clearance known as weBoc and I am glad to say that it is able to process more than 97% of trade, import, export or transit crossing pakistans borders

Dg customs Valuation revises values of glycerine KARACHI

AFtAB chANNA

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he Directorate General, Customs Valuation has revised the Customs values of glycerine vide Valuation Ruling No. 798/2016. According to details, the customs values of glycerine was determined vide Valuation Ruling

416/2012 on January 20, 2012. The trade community was demanding revision in the price of glycerine, claiming downward trend in their prices in international market. Accordingly to ascertain the current prices prevailing in the international market Directorate General considered the Custom values of the commodity. The Customs department asked the stakeholders to provide documents like copies of contracts made/Letter of Credit, sales tax invoices etc to substantiate their

contention of decrease in market prices. During next meeting the stakeholders submitted invoices of imports made during last three months showing factual values, websites, names and email addresses of known foreign manufacturers of the items in question through which the actual value could be ascertained. Copies of contracts made/Letter of Credit opened during the last three months showing the value of item in question and copies of sales tax.

will continue to follow the path of modernization and trade facilitation.

In the end, I extend my warm felicitations to the ofQicers of Pakistan Customs on this auspicious International Customs Day. Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Customs Nasir Masroor will attend an ofQicial function in customs collectorate in Karachi. The function will be held in connection with International Customs Day which will be celebrated on January 26, 2016.

Quetta customs recovers smuggled brake oil irectorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Quetta recovered 80 drums of Iranian origin brake oil during another crackdown customs team confiscate two heavy bikes.

Sources told Customs Today that customs Quetta authorities received credible information regarding some smuggling attempts after which they constituted different team.

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US suspends imports of Moroccan citrus WASHINGTON: According to Moroccan media, the decision came after the US Food Safety and Inspection services (USDA) discovered a shipment of clementine infested with fly larvae, an insect that exists in the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and can infest more than 300 species. The Moroccan Health Security Office of foodstuffs (ONSSA), held an urgent meeting with citrus professionals to take the necessary measures. The ONSSA said on Friday that the suspension is temporary and will be lifted in the coming days, according to Moroccan news website Medias24.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Business

pSX crosses 31,000 mark, adds 116 points to close at 31065 KARACHI

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espite shedding some early gains, the Pakistan Stock Exchange benchmark KSE100 index Monday crossed 31,000 mark and closed adding 116.10 points to reach 31065.13 points level. The stocks recorded the highest trading level of 31322.59 points and lowest level of 30949.03 points, with the volume of 129.37 million

trade leader for lowering taxes on telecom sector LAHORE

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slamabad Chamber of Small Traders Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt has said that the higher telecom taxes are discouraging consumers and companies. According to a study, a price increase of 1 percent leads to a decrease in consumption by consumers of ICT goods and services of anywhere from 0.2 percent to 3.8 percent, he said, adding that according to the World Bank.

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shares, having over Rs6.50 billion value. As many as 317 companies were active; of which 167 advanced,

135 declined and 15 remained unchanged. The three top traded companies were TRG Pak Ltd with a vol-

ume of 12,302,500 and price per share of 27.24 (0.56), Pace (Pak) Ltd with a volume 10,160,500 of price per share of 6.40 (0.42), and Japan Power with a volume 8,445,000 of price per share of 3.75 (0.75).

The top three gainers were Bata (Pak) with price per share 3350 (50), Island Textile with price per share of 795 (35.85) and Shield Corp price per share of 532.35 (25.35).The top three losers were Unilever Foods with price per share of 6000 (-200), Ferozsons (Lab) with price per share of 1053.56 (55.45) and Murree Brewery per share of 820 (-33.12).

pak-china Industrial working group yet to be formed: Ahsan LAHORE

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ederal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof Ahsan Iqbal Saturday clariQied that there was no pre-decided or approved route in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor while Pak-China Industrial Working Group has yet to be constituted, therefore, reports about any change of the CPEC route or shifting of industrial zones from the

western route was baseless and misleading. He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Different facets of China-Pak Economic Corridor Project’ organized jointly by Pakistan Institute of National Affairs (PINA) and University of Management and Technology (UMT) at a local hotel.

Ahsan Iqbal said the CPEC was being executed on the pattern through which the China had attained her developmental goals, and that pattern based upon the principles: No projects would be launched without having scientiQic planning; this is an enterprise and we (Chinese)

will do it in steps/phases; we will take the easy path Qirst. Ahsan Iqbal said that infrastructural and road network development was also being focused and all missing links were being constructed and work on all the CPEC routes- western, central and eastern- was underway expeditiously. Lahore- Karachi Motorway was not part of the CPEC and constructed under the BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) and with the toll tax money however, China was providing concessional Qinancing for its Multan-Sukkur section, he maintained.

towel export up by 4.46% to $396.196m in six months ISLAMABAD

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he country’s towel exports increased by 4.56 per cent $396.196 million during first half of the ongoing fiscal year as compared to $380.823 million of corresponding period last year.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, during the period from July-December, 2015, about 87,413 metric tons of towel exported as compared the export of 81,112 metric tons of same period last year, the data added. Meanwhile, exports of readymade garments grew by 3.85 percent as compared to the corresponding period of last year, the data revealed. In first six-months readymade garments worth $1.006 billion exported as compared the exports of $1.004 billion of same period of last year.

During the period under review, about 15,027 thousand dozen of readymade garments were exported as compared to 15,094 thousand dozen exported during same period of last financial year, said the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

On month-on-month basis, the textile group exports increased by 8.2 percent to $1.04 billion in December as compared to the previous month’s (November, 2016) exports of $961.455 million.

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govt collects rs 183b gas cess in three years ISLAMABAD

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he government has collected around Rs 183 billion on account of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) from January 2012 to December 31, 2015, ofQicial sources in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources said.

“The GIDC was levied from January 2012 and the amount collected

under GIDC stood at Rs 183.86 billion,” they told APP. Giving province’s wise breakup, they said Rs 133.22 billion were collected from Sindh, Rs 4.703 billion from Balochistan, Rs 38.226 billion and Rs 6.763 billion from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa respectively.

They said the amount, deposited into accounts of the federal government, was supposed to be utilized for infrastructure development of Iran Pakistan (IP) and Turk-

menistan Afghanistan-PakistanIndia (TAPI) pipeline projects, LiqueQied Natural Gas or other ancillary projects. So far, they said, the GIDC amount had not been utilized as the rules for GIDC spending were not in place and the same was under active proportion. They said the GIDC receipts would be utilized after Qinalization and subsequent approval of the rules.

Meanwhile, The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited

(OGDCL) is determined to meet the target of drilling as many as 31 new well during the ongoing fiscal year 2015-16. “Under the target, the company has to dig 31 wells in all province and it will hopefully be achieved by end of June this year,” official sources in the company told APP. Presently, they said, 17 wells were under the drilling process, adding that nine new wells had been spud and five were in testing phase. In next month, six more

drills would be carried out and the company would complete all the process by June, 2016.

They informed that around 125 mmcfd (million cubic feet gas per day) gas would be added to the system and 380 metric ton plant of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) would also be installed in March this year. They said OGDCL had recently made two significant oil and gas discoveries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

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n a bid to lower ratio of borrowing to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is about to opt for extra ordinary measures to increase the revenue collections. As per Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act 2005 (FLDRA), the ratio of borrowing of the country is Qixed at 60 percent of the GDP and as per economists the current ratio has exceeded the said limit. However, the Finance Ministry is of the stance that the exceeding the limit of Debt to GDP ratio is not a violation of the constitution. Section 3(4) of the said Act, allows government to temporarily depart from the limit. Any such instance is reported to National Assembly through Debt Policy Statement every year by end January.

The last report was submitted to National Assembly at the end January 2015.

Besides, Medium Term Budgetary Statement is submitted to National Assembly with budget documents for approval which contain tentative timeframe for returning to the said path. A well-placed ofQicial source at FBR told Customs Today that in pursuance of the objective of reducing ratio of borrowings to GDP, FBR has geared up efforts to increase the revenue collection through tax reforms focusing on broadening income tax base.

In this regard, a number of austerity measures have also been introduced at FBR and related organizations through reducing other than obligatory expenditures and non development expenditures.

Moreover, the source said that Finance Ministry also pushed FBR to reform public sector corporations as well as to pave way for attracting non-debt creating Qlows the inQlow of Remittances. The source observed that by dint of measures taken

by FBR, government was on the path to Qiscal consolidation with a commitment to reduce the Qinancing gap which ultimately would help reducing the dependence on debt in future as well as to return to the path to the ratio of debt limit as mentioned under FRDLA. It is pertinent to note here that at present the ratio of debt trajectory is on the declining path which declined from 64% at end June 2013 to 63.5% at end June 2015. It is expected that as a result of Qiscal consolidation measures debt to GDP ratio will come down to below 60% during the medium term.

Meanwhile, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Nisar Mohammad Khan in his message on the occasion of “International Customs Day said that “Together

with all other customs administration of the world, the Pakistan Customs is also celebrating International Customs Day on January 26 ,2016. I extend my warm felicitations to all ofQicers of Customs on this special day. The World Customs Organization has chosen the theme of “Digital Customs” with the slogan “Progressive Engagment” , for this year aiming at promoting coordination among all agencies and authorities responsible for cross border movement of goods and people.

he is of t he y r t s i ding t ce Min Finan t the excee tio is tha Dp ra s t a n c e f D e b t to g f t h e limit o violation o 3(4) of n not a S ec tio s . n o i t tu l l ow consti said Act, a orarily mp the t to te limit. n e m n gover rt from the depa

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Founder & Chairman Zulfiqar Ali Editor rahil Yasin editor@customsbulletin.com.pk For advertising & subscription marketing@customsbulletin.com.pk www.customsbulletin.com Phones: 042-35781643-4, Fax: 042-35781645 Address: 627, Siddiq Trade Centre, Gulberg, Lahore

eDItorIAL

passage of tax Amnesty Bill

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he National Assembly has passed a bill to amend the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, giving a new opportunity to traders and others who matter to whiten their black money up to Rs 50 million by paying 1 percent tax. The statement of objects and reasons of the bill point out the factual situation of the undocumented economy and a large number of traders are reluctant to file their income tax returns or hide their actual income, causing billions of rupees annual losses to the national exchequer.

The government believes there is a need to change the prevailing culture of tax avoidance and under-reporting and has to give legal cover to its measures to bring the non-filers into the tax net. The government believes the tax amnesty will not only regularise the tax affairs by offering simplified procedure for tax assessment, but will also enhance the number of taxpayers.

However, the critics believe the amnesty scheme will be an injustice to the honest and committed taxpayers who regularly pay their taxes on time and the scheme is also in clash with the government objectives to enhancetax revenues.

According to them, there is a need to change the fundamental reasons which lead to the introduction of such a scheme and the amnesty at one percent rate is also to meager to be allowed. Until some structural changes are incorporated in the tax collection system, the government will have to offer amnesty schemes one after another. However, the critics of the scheme forget the core point which forces the governments not only in Pakistan, but the world over to launch amnesty schemes.

There are foreign banks and tax havens which offer attractive opportunities to the holders of black money and corrupt elements to deposit their money with them and enjoy the profits without going through any official rigmarole. There are not just traders involved in the business, but people from all walks of life, including government officials are the clients of the foreign banks.

It is the time the government should reduce the number of indirect taxes and curtail the rates of direct taxes to encourage people to file their income tax returns.

Stepping up tax collection eorts T

LAHORE

Dr AFtAB AFZAL

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he government is increasingly becoming panicky on tax collections and is making desperate efforts to enhance tax net. As it is struggling to implement new tax regime, it is simultaneously bagging applause from Qinancial experts and criticism from potential taxpayers. The issue of withholding tax on bank transactions is still awaiting resolution, but the matters of sales tax also need immediate attention.

When the government is looking for foreign loans to maintain Qinancial matters, it will be unable to direct and regulate independent economic policies within its juris-

dictions and will have to listen to the advice of the lending agencies.

According to newspaper reports, the International Monetary Fund has advised the government to strengthen capital gains tax regime and adopt a common rate schedule for all Qinancial assets.The government has also been told to improve system of general sales tax collection on goods and services with a single statutory rate under one collection agent and withdraw exemptions for real estate transactions.The donor agency also wants the government to adopt progressive approach with lower tax rates. It says that fairness is essential to introduce tax policy reforms and increase revenue collection. Direct taxes should be

designed and implemented in a way to increase efQiciency and equality. The fund wants implementation of an integrated general sales tax collection system with a single statutory rate under one collection agent. The enforcement of the federal and provincial taxes should be based on valorem rates to increase the revenue yield and that a sense of social justice is a key to boosting tax morale and tax buoyancy.There is a need to strengthen capital gains tax regime by enforcing a common rate for all Qinancial assets and develop a strong relationship between tax-to-GDP ratio and business climate. A Qight against tax evasion should start from highwealth individuals and corporate entities by controlling illegal

transactions, which are used as a tool for tax avoidance and evasion.

As a matter of fact, more are the tough laws, more will be corruption. Therefore, there is a need to introduce institutional reforms to reduce corruption and create an environment conducive for business activities in country. A number of tax regimes have confused the law-abiding taxpayers while potential taxpayers are reluctant to register their names with the tax authorities. The government must ensure implementation of a tax system and a mechanism to ensure collection of taxes in fair manners.

It must be noted that undue pressure on business community will not only have adverse effects on the economy, but it will also lead to capital Qlight from the country.

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Vietnam eyes Thai rice in global market HCM CITY: Viet Nam will have various advantages in exporting rice this year though it may have to compete with Thai rice in the global export market when Thailand sells rice at stock. Viet Nam Food Association (VFA) chairman Huynh The Nang said Thailand’s government has announced the sale of rice at stock in the near future. This will be one of the factors to pull the world rice prices down and may create negative impacts on Viet Nam’s rice exports. However, if Thailand promotes the export of rice at inventory to traditional markets of Viet Nam such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines, Vietnamese rice still can compete in those markets because Thailand has a low volume of white rice while the demand from those markets is for imported white rice, Nang said. Huynh Van Thon, chairman of Loc Troi Group, said not all enterprises in the traditional markets.

traders want 3% increase in gDp for development he local traders’ body has asked for three percent increase in the GDP to ensure the survival of the country as the government has so far received over $100 billion in loans and grants which, they said, has compounded miseries of the masses. This was stated by Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) Acting Chairman Tanveer Ahmed Sufi and Vice Chairman Khawaja Shahzeb Akram while talking with a group of businessmen at Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate. They said that population in the job mar-

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ket is increasing by three percent per annum which can be accommodated only if growth rate is at 7.5 percent, they said. Tanveer Sufi said that the economic situation is not as good as it is told for the last few years while international lenders have predicted that it will be improved gradually in the next five years provided projects with Iran and China are completed in stipulated time and law and orders situation being normal.

The acting chairman said that country is to face issues of poverty, food security, unemployment, brain drain, internal security and external threats if revolutionary steps are not taken. Only a good ratio of GDP growth can give government necessary space to invest in infrastructure, human capital, health and education, he added. He said that Pakistan’s economy was so stable at a time that it provided loans to US, Japan and Germany but after getting foreign loans things changed and became worse.—CB Report

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Chambers

Ict chief commissioner assures traders of resolving their issues on priority B

ISLAMABAD

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usiness community was playing an important role in the development of local economy and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration would make all possible efforts to resolve key issues of trade and industry on priority basis. This was assured by ZulQiqar Haider, Chief Commissioner ICT while talking to a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry that called on him in his ofQice led by Atif Ikram Sheikh president. Sheikh Pervez Ahmed senior vice president, Sheikh Abdul Waheed vice president, Khalid Mehmood Chaudhry former senior vice president and Ms. Nasira Ali Executive Member, ICCI were included in the delegation.

Chief Commissioner said ICT Administration would maintain a strong liaison with ICCI to identify problems that were hampering the growth of business activities and would find out mutually agreeable solutions of such problems. He said efforts were on for shifting of District Courts from F-8 to ease pressure on business community of the

area. He said ICCI demand for representation in ICT Market Committee would be given due consideration and if no legal hitch was found, business community would be given representation in the said Committee.

Speaking at the occasion, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted various issues of business community that needed urgent attention of ICT Administration. He said ICT Market Com-

mittee should be formed in consultation with business community and ICCI should be given due representation in the said Committee.

He said all issues of Fruits & Vegetable Market should be addressed and this market should be developed on modern lines.

He said ICT should look into the issue of double taxation on business community being charged by CDA and Market Committee and revise downward Market Committee license fee to provide them some

traders laud tax amnesty bill approved by NA

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ISLAMABAD

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he business community of the twin cities has lauded the tax amnesty bill approved by the National Assembly, saying the bill would expend the tax base in the country. Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh Friday said that small traders would be beneQitted from the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2016 and encourage the non-tax Qilers to come in tax net besides increasing the tax Qilers’ number from 700,000 to 1.7 million as per commitment by business community during the dialogue with government.

While talking to APP here, he said that the tax amnesty scheme will revive the confidence of traders on tax system and the gov-

ernment efforts to facilitate the business community. Atif Ikram Sheikh said, reforms in tax system will encourage the local and international investment in the country.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Mian Humayun Parvez welcomed the new tax amnesty bill passed by the Lower House of the Parliament. He said the government have taken positive steps to evolve the conducive business environment and save the local small business traders in the country.

The RCCI president said that the tax amnesty scheme has been proposed by the business community to persuade the non tax Qilers to Qile their tax returns. “We are committed to increase the number of tax payers and enhance the tax base for economic growth and prosperity in the country,” said Humayun.

Ex-president ICCI Muzzamil Hus-

sain Sabri, in his comments, said that Qirst time in country’s history, the current government has carried steps to beneQit the small traders and revive their conQidence on tax system. Before this scheme, only 700,000 tax Qilers were Qiling their tax returns out of total 200 million population of the country, which needed more than one million increase to enhance the tax to GDP ratio, he said. He said that after the new tax amnesty scheme only direct tax would encourage the traders to Qile their tax returns accordingly. Leader of Small Traders Association Islamabad, Ajmal Baloch said, 3.5 million traders were registered in WAPDA record and only 200,000 are paying their taxes.

“We particularly need to educate the traders about beneQits of Qiling tax returns and revive their conQidence on tax system of the country.” said Ajmal Baloch.

relief. He said fee charged to trucks in Sabzi Mandi was quite high and it should be reduced to facilitate truckers.

Sheikh Pervez Ahmed Senior Vice President and Sheikh Abdul Waheed Vice President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted the issues being faced by the traders in F-8 due to existence of District Courts and urged that these courts should be shifted from this business center to already allocated area.

Fruit, veg exports to Iran can be enhanced to $80m he exporters have estimated that Pakistan can increase fruit and vegetable exports to Iran up to $80 million by establishing banking channels with Tehran. All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) Chairman Waheed Ahmed, in a press release, said that there is immense potential for export of fresh food products to Iran and Pakistan should immediately send a delegation there. Ahmed said there were many rival fresh food exporting countries that were trying to tap the Iranian market after the lifting of international sanctions. “We urge the government to take immediate measures.” According to Ahmed, Pakistan could export a huge quantity of meat, rice, oranges, mangoes and guava pulp to Iran. —CB Report

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Customs detain 4 with 13 gold bars at Dhaka’s Shahjalal Int’l Airport Tuesday January 26, 2016

World

DHAKA: Customs officials have detained four people at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport after frisking revealed 13 gold bars on two of them.

Assistant Commissioner Shahiduzzaman said the two were passengers of a Bangladesh Biman flight that had arrived in Dhaka from Istanbul via Chittagong on Wednesday afternoon.

During body searches, 12 of the bars were found concealed within the clothes of a woman, who had boarded the plane at Chittagong, he said.

She claimed another passenger of the same flight had asked her to take care of the gold bars. Customs officials found the 13th bar on that passenger when they searched him.

Ireland police arrest two drug smugglers COLERAINE

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wo people have been arrested in connection with the production and smuggling of cocaine in Coleraine.

A 30-year-old woman and 34year-old man have been arrested after police conducted searches at four addresses in Coleraine. At one of the addresses, a cocaine press and a large quantity of bulking agent was seized, alongside other items of drug paraphernalia.Police said that the searches are part of an ongoing operation against an organised crime gang involved in the production and supply of cocaine. Detective Inspector Tom McClure from Reactive and Organised Crime Branch said: “We have arrested a 30-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man on suspicion of a number of drugs offences includ-

Singapore’s IcA seizes over 3,000 cartons of cigarettes ore than 3,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes were seized at Jurong Port on Wednesday from a lorry carrying plasticware, an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) statement said today. The lorry had been driven by a 57-year-old Singaporean man. ICA officers had directed the driver to Jurong Scanning Station for radiographic scanning, after they stopped the vehicle for checks at the Jurong Port main gate at about 5.10pm. At Jurong Scanning Station, ICA officers observed anomalies in the scanned images. The contraband cigarettes, which had potential duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) of about S$284,800 and S$25,890 respectively, were subsequently found and seized. The driver, plasticware consignment, contraband cigarettes and lorry were handed over to Singapore Customs for investigations.—CB Report

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ing ‘possession of class A drugs’ and ‘possession of class A drugs with intent to supply’ as well as ‘Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs’ and ‘being concerned in the production of class A drugs, namely cocaine.

“Both individuals remain in custody assisting us with our enquiries.”Meanwhile, Ireland’s reputation as the puppy farm capital of Europe is being challenged as the Government looks to clamp down on the illegal trade of animals. It comes after a Customs dog used to sniff out drugs and illegal cigarettes discovered 18 puppies being illegally exported to England in the boot of a car. The DSPCA said that the illegal trade of animals across borders was a huge issue. DSPCA Head of Education Gillian Bird said that the illegal trade of puppies costs the taxpayer millions in lost revenue every year.

Some puppy traders are making profits of 1,000pc by illegally selling animals.

hong kong wedding firm owner arrested by customs HONG KONG

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he owner of a Hong Kong wedding services company, who was accused of collecting more than HK$500,000 from about 50 pairs of brides and grooms-to-be before the closure of his Qirm on Sunday, has been arrested by customs ofQicers.

The 55-year-old man was picked up when ofQicers from the Customs Department’s Unfair Trade Practice Investigation Group raided his home in Edward Mansion in Nathan Road, Mong Kok, on Wednesday night.

“He was suspected of having no intention to supply a product or offer services when he accepted payments,” a source with knowledge of the investigation said.

“This is in violation of the Trade

French police seize 41kg cocaine worth $2.2 million

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olice have seized 41 kilograms (90 pounds) of cocaine in a plane at a Paris airport and arrested six Frenchmen involved in a drug trafQicking network, including three luggage handlers.

Vincent Annereau, from the Paris judicial police, says the drugs seized last Friday at Orly Airport, south of Paris, are worth more than 2 million euros ($2.2 million) at current dealing prices. Annereau said at a press conference Thursday that the cocaine was in 41 packets divided into

two suitcases that were discovered in a plane coming from the Dominican Republic. The six suspects have been jailed. Meanwhile, France signed arms export contracts worth some €16 billion (US $17.5 billion) in 2015, with Dassault Aviation, MBDA, DCNS and Airbus at the top of the list for the foreign deals, said a Defense Ministry ofQicial who declined to be identiQied. That is France’s highest Qigure for exports and compares to foreign sales of €8.2 billion in 2014.—CB Report

Descriptions Ordinance under the wrongly accepting payment section, which carries a maximum Qine of HK$500,000 and Qive years in jail.”

At about 10am on Thursday, the suspect, who was covering his head with a jacket, was escorted by customs ofQicers to his Qlat for a search.

It is understood that some docu-

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ments and receipts were seized during the search.

The man was released on bail in the afternoon because ofQicers needed more time to collect evidence. The arrest was made after 53 complaints were lodged with the Customs and Excise Department earlier this month.

tigerair’s profit soars on cheaper fuel

alling fuel prices sent earnings soaring at Tigerair for the third quarter, it reported yesterday.

Net proQit for the three months to Dec 31 shot up 210 per cent to $6.78 million, while revenue was up 1.5 per cent to $187.38 million. Total spending dipped 1.8 per cent to $177.3 million. Chief executive Lee Lik Hsin said in a teleconference yesterday: “The low fuel price environment has helped our third-quarter performance and we expect to continue beneQiting from it.” Fuel prices are at their lowest in more than 10 years. Tigerair recorded an operating proQit of $200,000 for the nine months to Dec

31, reversing a $37.6 million loss a year earlier. Net loss in the same period narrowed to $7.7 million, compared with the previous year’s net loss of $245.4 million. Quarterly earnings per share rose to 0.27 cent from 0.18 cent a year earlier, while net asset value per share was 8.07 cents as at Dec 31, down from 8.63 cents as at March 31 last year. Despite the respite from lower fuel prices, there are challenges, Mr Lee said. Macroeconomic conditions are expected to remain uncertain and surplus capacity in the industry will continue to exert downward pressure on yields in the near term, he added.—CB Report

Bangladesh customs arrests man with stun gun, drone

B DHAKA

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angladesh Customs intelligence ofQicials arrested a man with a drone and a stun gun at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong Saturday morning.

The news of the seizure was made public yesterday, as the ofQi-

cials said it took them a day to verify the items, which the arrestee claimed to be toys, with the help of intelligence and law enforcement agencies. “This is the Qirst ever seizure of a stun gun, an electroshock weapon, which has the capacity of delivering electric shock of up to 1 million volts,” said Hossain Ahmad, additional director general of Customs Intelligence and Investi-

gation Directorate.

Representatives of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, after examining the devise (stun gun), conQirmed that it is a high-tech defense weapon, he said.

The other seized device is a 2.4 GHz Quadcopter with on-board high definition (HD) camera, which is able to fly over three to four-storied building, said officials of the

directorate.

Such a device could be used for spying and for collecting information from the country’s important establishments, they added.

The quadcopter is able to take photos and videos while in Qlight and the captured images and clips could be seen live and also be transmitted, said a senior ofQicial, preferring anonymity.

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South Carolina Ports Authority moving headquarters CHARLESTON: The South Carolina Ports Authority is moving its headquarters after being located for decades on the waterfront in downtown Charleston.

The authority board on Wednesday authorized the sale of the agency’s existing headquarters on the Cooper River in the city’s historic district.

Ports Authority president and CEO Jim Newsome says the agency plans to move its administrative offices to one of the agency’s port terminals to be closer to port operations.

Already some of the senior staff is working from offices at the Wando-Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant.

uLccs boost port of colombo’s volume olombo International Container Terminals Ltd. (CICT) has set another milestone by closing 2015 with an impressive 1.561 million teus, with the ULCC (Ultra Large Container Carrier) and VLCC (Very large Container Carrier) segments making a 67 percent contribution to this volume.

CICT is the first and currently the only deep water terminal in South Asia equipped with facilities to handle the largest vessels afloat. The Port of Colombo ended 2015 with an impressive 5.185 million teus, an overall growth of 5.7 percent over 2014 volumes while some other transhipment ports in the region recorded negative growth.

CICT CEO Nelson Liu stated that this record achievement was made possible due to the excellent port support auxiliary services provided by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Customs and Sri Lanka Navy, which

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Australian ports free from tug strikes

Tuesday January 26, 2016

India’s 12 major ports increase 3.18% in cargo traffic ndia’s top 12 major ports saw an increase in cargo traffic by 3.18 per cent to 447.05 million tonnes (MT) during the first nine months of the current fiscal. These ports operated by the central government had handled 433.26 MT of cargo during April-December period of the previous fiscal, 2014-15. According to the latest data, Kandla Port handled the maximum 73.87 MT of cargo during the period, which was up 4.26 per cent against 70.85 MT during April-December 2014. Paradip Port handled 55.13 MT, the second highest cargo traffic during the April-December period of the current fiscal. The port had handled 52.39 MT during the same period a year ago. JNPT at Mumbai handled 48.23 MT while Mumbai port handled 46.39 MT of cargo during April-December. Vishakhapatnam handled 42.24 MT, Chennai 37.41 MT, Kolkata 37.30 MT, New Mangalore 25.29 MT, VO Chidambaranar 27.80 MT, Kamarajar (Ennore) 22.96 MT, Cochin 16.49 MT and Mormugao 13.89 MT during the April-December period. In growth terms, Mormugao port registered the highest growth of 35.31 per cent during the period followed by VO Chidambaranar port with 19.30 per cent growth. There are 12 major ports under the control of the Centre besides 187 minor/intermediate ports under the jurisdiction of states along the 7,517 km long coastline of the country.—CB Report

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CANBERRA

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play a very critical but subtle role in the operations of the Port. The trust of customers and the support of other stakeholders within the industry also contributed to CICT’s success, he said.

“While the efficient and professional pilotage services are well recognised by the Masters of the ULCC vessels calling at CICT, the initiative by the Customs Department to operate on 24 x 7 basis is also a key factor which facilitates faster movement of cargo during night time,” Liu said.

“All of these factors have laid a solid foundation for gaining the confidence of our business partners: the shipping lines, importers and exporters who entrusted us with their goods in the Port of Colombo.” CICT received some of the largest vessels plying the Asia Europe routes in 2015.—CB Report

Ports & Shipping

ustralian tug boat workers accepted Friday a revised enterprise agreement from towage Qirm Svitzer, a union ofQicial said, after two rounds of work stoppages in the last week.

“Now that the voting results are in, AIMPE will not be taking any further industrial action,” Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers federal secretary Martin

Byrne said. The union had conducted nationwide industrial action on tug boats over Svitzer seeking to bring three unions individually covering deckhands, skippers, and engineers under one enterprise agreement. AIMPE wanted Svitzer to retain a separate contract for tug engineers. The majority of workers with the other unions covering tug masters and deckhands, however, voted Friday in support of the new agreement. The work stoppages took place at the ports of Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, Geelong, Kwinana, Melbourne, Newcastle, and Sydney/Botany on January 14, 18 and 19. Meanwhile, An agreement be-

tween CCIC Australia and Gfresh will be signed in Sydney to assist Australian seafood exports to China.

With CCIC’s Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) system and Origin Traceability services, Australian seafood exporters on Gfresh and their Chinese consumers will be given greater conQidence in foreign trading. Seafood exports from Australia traditionally need to go through a lengthy and complicated process in terms of customs clearance and quarantine inspection.

The new China-Australia Free Trade Agreement policies were unable to help when it came to import and export administration.

canadian oil exports to uS reaches highest level ever

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TORONTO

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he depressed Canadian oilpatch is getting a market share boost as U.S. tight oil production declines.

Canadian crude oil exports to the United States reached its highest level ever of 3.4 million barrels per day in the Qirst week of January, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“That’s the one piece of puzzle you don’t hear too much about — the market share Canada is gaining in the U.S.,” said Carl Evans, senior crude oil analyst at energy research Qirm Genscape.

The surge comes as U.S. crude oil production recedes on the back of a withering oil price environment, with the EIA expecting a 80,000 bpd decline in U.S. domestic output in December alone.

“That’s deQinitely a positive for Canada,” said Martin King, vicepresident institutional research at

FirstEnergy Capital Inc. “As U.S. supplies come off, may be we can get our foot a bit more in the door, and capture a bit more of that market.”

The global oil and gas industry is reeling from a 45 per cent decline in crude oil output last year. West Texas Intermediate was enjoying a rare positive day on Tuesday, up 3.6 per cent to US$28.46 per barrel, but is down around 20 per cent since the start of the year.

As OPEC pursues its policy of gaining market share and driving down prices, most non-OPEC pro-

ducers have curtailed spending to weather the prolonged downturn.

Non-OPEC production in December declined sharply by nearly 650,000 bpd to 57.4 million bpd— its lowest level since September 2012, according to an International Energy Agency report published Tuesday.

Canadian conventional and oil production also fell last year, but heavy oil production from oilsands projects rose 250,000 bpd and will rise by another 260,000 bpd, energy investment broker Peters & Co. said in a report.

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Faisalabad MRA generates Rs 33m in three weeks of January FAISALABAD: The Motor Registration Authority has collected Rs 33m during the first three weeks of January against the assigned target of Rs 49 million. Sources told Customs Today that Excise and Taxation Officer Muhammad Afzal Goyaya and Assistnat Excise and Taxation Officer Mahir Mohammad Sajad formed special teams to check defaulter vehicles. These special teams checked 1500 vehicles including motorbikes, cars and other private vehicles at Sheikhupura Road, Sargodha Road, Khuranwala Byepass, Khuranwala Toll Plaza, Samanabad, Jaranwala Road and others place to check token tax defaulters vehicles.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

FBr engaged in digitalisation of customs processes: collector rozi khan Burki LAHORE M hAYAt

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ollector Customs Lahore Rozi Khan Burki in his message on the occasion of “International Customs Day” said that International Customs Day is being celebrated on January 26th each year to commemorate the occasion of the founding of the World Customs Organization in 1953. As the International Customs Day is celebrated each year with a different thematic focus and the theme of year 2016 is :’Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement.’ The Federal Board of Revenue is progressively engaged in the digitization of Customs processes and procedures and the foremost example in this regard is that of WeBOC software, whereby manifest declarations are being Qiled through web. Further, to familiarize different stakeholders with WeBOC system, training courses for importers and clearing agents have been organised. As digitization is a continuous process, and entails inclusion and involvement of stakeholders at different levels, so capacity building of ofQicers and ofQicials is also being regularly carried out to successfully implement the automation processes.

Senate Finance committee to discuss 1Q report of SBp ISLAMABAD

M ArShAD

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he Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has decided to discuss the Qirst quarterly report of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of national economy on coming Wednesday. The Finance Ministry laid the said report in the Senate on Friday last.

The report has shown some

concerns on lower growth in tax collections, slow privatisation process of the loss making state owned enterprises, dwindling exports as well as unsatisfactory state of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country.

“Therefore, the Senate Finance and Revenue committee decided to hold a question and answer session with Finance Ministry” a source privy to Chairman Committee Salim Manviwala told Customs Today, adding that committee had an appreciative view about the said report because SBP had been reporting state of economy as

good in the past without shedding any light on grey or weak areas.

In this regard, Finance Ministry is making preparations for possible brieQing to the committee on said matter as there had been news reports that Finance Ministry tried to inQluence on the report as well as delayed its vetting for almost two months.

Moreover, the source said that committee would also get a briefing from the Finance Ministry about working paper submitted by the Competition Commission of Pakistan regarding amendments in the Competition Commission Act

along with possible response of the ministry to the said working paper.

In December 2015, the source added that the CCP recommended to the federal and provincial governments to amend the registration laws for Qirms to minimise potential risk of deceptive marketing.

In this regard CCP sought suitable amendments in their territorial jurisdictions of the provincial and federal governments with regard to the Partnership Act, 1932, the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, the Trusts Act, 1882

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and the Co-operative Societies Act, 1925 so as to bar registration of potentially deceptive Qirm names with an aim to minimising the potential for deceptive marketing.

The agenda for the said meeting of the committee also reveals that committee will also discuss the issue of borrowings from World Bank and Asian Development Bank to the non governmental organizations working in Balochistan. Similarly, the committee will also issue of appointment of members from all provinces in the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).