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PAKISTAN’S FIRST INDEPTH NEWSPAPER ON CUSTOMS

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Karachi, Tue January 24, 2017

ISLAMABAD

M ARSHAD

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he Ministry of Commerce is trying to search out new markets for Pakistani exports through active trade diplomacy. In this regard, MoC is trying get better market access for the local businesses in international markets by concluding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with different countries.

“Bilateral free trade agreements with China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Iran, Mauritius and Indonesia are already in place” a well placed source at Ministry of Com-

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merce (MoC) told Customs Today, saying that the opportunity of zero-rated market access in European Union market under GSP Plus scheme had provided a Rillip to our exports to our largest market as well as enhancing bilateral trade with European countries.

“Moreover, MoC is in the process of negotiating trade agreements with Thailand and Turkey and leading business support institutions are being strengthened” the source added saying that under short-term export enhancement measures, the four product categories including Basmati rice, horticulture, meat and meat products, and jewelry, were being focused with the parallel focus on the following markets: Iran, Afghanistan, China, and European Union.

ASO earns Rs650m through seizures in six months: Collector Qurban Ali

DG Valuation issues Order in Revision No.288/2017 against VR No.946/2016

Budget for new roads finishes in seven months

Customs Central Region collects Rs 66.43b duty, taxes in six months

Faisalabad ASO seizes non duty paid cloth near Kamal Interchange

Collector QurbanAlisaidtheASO,Peshawar, hasgeneratedarevenueofRs650million | SEE PAGE 02 |

DG Customs Valuation Syed Tanveer issues Order in Revision No.288/2017 | SEE PAGE 03 |

The Communications Ministry is likely to ask for more money to construct roads | SEE PAGE 04 |

The Customs Central Region has collected Rs 66,430m as duty and taxes | SEE PAGE 14 |

The ASO seized non huge quantity of non duty paid foreign origin cloth | SEE PAGE 16 |

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FIA arrests two human traffickers in different raids Tuesday, January 24, 2017

National

FAISALABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two notorious human traffickers. All accused were arrested from different cities of Faisalabad division. The FIA has registered separate cases against the culprits under sections of human smuggling and fraud with citizens.

Sources told Customs Today that anti human trafficking cell of the agency raided different areas of Faisalabad division and arrested human trafficker namely Sultan Javed son of Javed Ahmad. The accused extorted Rs80,000 from Muhammad Ali for overseas employment to Dubai.

ASO earns Rs650m through seizures in six months: Collector Qurban Ali

KARACHI

PESHAWAR

WAQAR AHMED ANSARI

NADIR KHAN

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odel Customs Collectorate Gawadar confiscated 7 kilogram fine quality charas worth Rs800, 000 during an operation in Ormara. While in another operation Customs team seized 1500 liter Iranian origin diesel. Four accused were also arrested during these operations. According to details, Customs Collectorate received a tip-off regarding smuggling of charas in a local transport vehicle which is heading towards Karachi from Ormara. Customs Collectorate immediately constitutes an Anti-Smuggling Organization squad. The ASO team started searching vehicles on exit points of the city. While searching, the ASO team intercepted a bus of Al-Khalij Bus Service bearing registration no: BA-3472 and recovered 7 kilogram fine quality weed hidden in the bus. The Customs authorities arrested driver of the bus Sanobar Khan and his companion as well as impounded offending vehicle. Meanwhile, during another operation, the ASO team confiscated 1500 liter Iranian origin diesel from a Mazda Truck and arrested two accused.

The Customs authorities, after registering separate cases, forwarded both cases to Customs Adjudication department for further proceeding.

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ollector Modal Customs Collectorate Qurban Ali Khan said the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Peshawar, has generated a revenue of Rs 650 million during six months through recovery of smuggled items, currency and gold whereas Rs 1.33 billion was collected by seizing different goods in the whole previous year.

Qurban informed Customs Today that due to border management, the smuggled activities also have been controlled. He said that due to repeated protests of transporters on the transit route, sometime the revenue generation process becomes badly affected.

He said that this year the Customs House seized 87 non-custom paid vehicles, 118 smuggled cars, 3420,000 yard cloth, 23 kilogram of tea, 6,530 cigarette cartons , currency amount of Rs47million and 45,000 mobile phones.

He added that Afghanistan is one of major export partners of Pakistan wherefrom most of the items are exported. He said whenever relations get bitter between the two countries, it baldy affects the revenue generation and collection.

It is pertinent to mention here that after assuming the charge, Collector Qurban Ali has took a number of steps to improve the revenue gen-

Gawadar Customs confiscates 7kg charas, Iranian diesel

eration and check smuggling by installing a scanner and other gadgets at Torkham border.

Meanwhile, The Customs authorities at Torkham border have foiled an attempt to smuggle gold jewellery to Afghanistan. The Customs

ofRicials seized 1,055g gold jewellery worth Rs 4.3 million and arrested the accused, an Afghan National. An FIR has been lodged for criminal proceedings against the accused. Pakistan Customs is the guardian of economic frontiers of

the country generating revenue and combating the menace of smuggling.

The instant case is preceded by a number of other seizure cases of narcotics, gold, local & foreign currency, fertilizers and mobile phone sets worth billions of rupees.

SECP chief Zafar Hijazi hails Nisar for having spotless tenure

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ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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he Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Nisar Muhammad Khan has praised the reforms introduced in SECP during the last two years, especially appreciating the sincere efforts of Zafar Hijazi for turning the organization into a strong regulatory body.

He was speaking at the farewell reception given by the SECP senior

ofRicers on the eve of his retirement.

He said that the integration of stock exchanges into Pakistan Stock Exchange was a landmark achievement of SECP and so was the Companies’ Bill 2016.

He said the signiRicant and comprehensive changes brought in regulations by the SECP had increased the level of transparency which is bound to positively impact the economy of the country.

He said there has been excellent cooperation between FBR and SECP

during the last two years especially regarding measures with regard to the capital gain tax and two percent reduction for Sharia Compliant Companies.

The proposal of SECP on REIT rentals 5% tax on disposal of immoveable property of rental REITs till June 2019 was accepted.

Similarly the proposal on list Sukuk tax neutrality no bearing on any type of reduction in tax collection and the efforts are only for the promotion of Islamic Finance and

creation of a level-playing Rield for Shariah compliant instruments was accepted. He was conRident that this level of cooperation between the two organizations would continue.

The Chairman FBR said that the tax growth during the last year was 25% and the targets of tax collection for the incoming budget would also be achieved though the tax avoidance culture prevails in the society.

He said that SECP and FBR will continue their consultations with regard to the proposals for the incom-

ing budget. He hoped that the next budget would reRlect 70% measures relating to direct taxes. The FBR chairman, also disclosed that reforms are being initiated in various sectors details will be made public very soon and these reforms would strengthen the country’s economy.

Earlier the Chairman SECP Zafar Hijazi, lauded the services of Nasir Muhammad Khan in FBR and congratulating him for leaving the organization with a spotless service record.

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FST adjourns hearing of complaints filed by FBR employees ISLAMABAD: Federal Service Tribunal adjourned hearing on complaints challenging administrative measures taken by FBR concerning to its employees services.

Two division benches of Federal Service Tribunal heard plenty of cases being contested by the employees of Federal Board of Revenue against their organization of working.

FST benches comprising Syed Rafique Hussain and Nazir Saeed; and Syed Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Javed Iqbal Kasi heard complaints about seniority, implementation and other matters. Benches on the day remained busy with hearing other cases and then adjourned them to next dates.

Tuesday January 24, 2017

National

ASO seizes 180 bags of tamarind seeds worth Rs 349,000

DG Valuation issues Order in Revision No.288/2017 against VR No.946/2016

FAISALABAD

NAEEM SHEIKH

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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Faisalabad, has confiscated 180 bags of tamarind seeds worth Rs 349,000 besides impounding a carrier vehicle worth Rs1.5m. Sources told Customs Today that Deputy Collector Muhammad Rizwan got a tip-off regarding a smuggling bid, so he formed a team, including Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya, Inspectors Khalid Ashraf Noor, Ali Zahid and Sepoys Liaquat Ali, Israr Ahmad and Muhammad Abdullah, to foil the smuggling attempt and seized smuggled goods and vehicles under the Section 16, 18 and 157 of the Customs Act-1969.

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Smuggled car with fake number plate impounded ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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he Directorate General, Customs Intelligence and Investigation, Federal Board of Revenue Islamabad has impounded a non-duty paid Toyota Altis car model 2004 with fake registration no plate worth over Rs. one million from Rawalpindi. According to details, following a tip-off, the staff of the Special Car Cell of the Directorate General, I&I FBR Islamabad, impounded the said smuggled Toyota Altis Corolla car having Chassis No: MR053ZEC 107056088 (1598 CC) at Cantt area near 502 workshop Rawalpindi from one Muhammad Umar s/o Raja Waqar Ahmed, a resident of Plot No: 18, Gulshanabad, Adila Road, Rawalpindi (NIC No. 37405 0343088 7). On demand, driver of the car failed to produce any legal proof regarding the import or payment of leviable customs duty and taxes except registration book.

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KARACHI

MUBEEN HUSSAIN

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irector General Customs Valuation Syed Tanveer Ahmed issues Order in Revision No.288/2017 under section 25-D of the Customs Act, 1969 against Valuation Ruling No.946/2016 dated 05-10-2016; the revision petition was Riled by M/s Fair Marketing Pakistan.

According to the details, being aggrieved and dissatisRied with the Valuation Ruling No.625/2013, issued by the above named respondent vide reference No. Misc/17/2013-I dated 23.12.2013, the applicant challenges the said valuation ruling on the consideration of following facts and founds inter alia the grounds, which shall be raised at the time of hearing of this review petition.

Applicant stated that they are regular importer of the confectionary items and a transparent import of the applicant is evident from the recently passed import. In the recent past, the applicant declared its consignments at US$0.50/kilogram in accordance with the commercial invoice etc, some of which have/had been assessed at US$.0.60/kilogram to US$0.70/kilogram.

It is specifically averred that enhancement of US$.0.10/Kg to US$.0.20/kilogram was unjustified and the department had never

prescribed any reason of such enhancement but the applicant did not agitate, keeping in view that ultimately the amount paid by the applicant shall be credited to the national exchequer. The above described facts require immediate attention and kind perusal of this authority, hence this review petition. Director General Customs Valuation in his order stated that the case record and written as well as verbal submissions of the peti-

In the recent past, the applicant declared its consignments at US$0.50/kilogram in accordance with the commercial invoice etc, some of which have/had been assessed at US$.0.60/kilogram to US$0.70/kilogram

Sialkot ASO recovers 62 Iranian tyres

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SIALKOT

SALEEM AWAN SHEIKHU

www.customsbulletin.com he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) team has confiscated 62 Iranian tyres worth Rs400,000 during road checking near Wazirabad.

Reportedly under the directions of Assistant Collector Ali Mohatashim Minhas the Superintendent Sardar Manzoor Ahmed Khan along with his team member Inspector Amjad Mayo and consta-

bles started checking vehicles on corresponding road. The said team members checked several vehicles meanwhile the team intercepted a vehicle Suzuki Pick up.

During the search of the vehicle the team recovered 62smuggled Iranian Tyres.

The team asked driver Salman Khan about customs-duty paid documents but he failed to produce the said documents.

The driver told the team I have not customs duty paid documents

because the tyres were loaded from Tyres market of Lahore and I am only driver of this loading Pick Up. On this customs intelligence team confiscated the tyres and released driver after proper interrogation with Pick Up whereas the team has challaned of driver.

The team shifted the Tyres in the store room of Sialkot. The team has registered a case and team will forward case before the Adjudication court for proceeding.

tioners were examined in detail.

The petitioner along with advocate Muhammad Rafi Kamboh and clearing agent Muhammad Abrar appeared. They challenged the customs value determined at S.No.1, 3, 4 and 08 of the Valuation Ruling No.946/2016 dated 05-10-2016. After conducting fresh market inquiry the prices obtained worked out by work back method under Section 25(7) of the Customs Act, 1969.

SHC seeks reply on plea filed by M/s Urooj Autos he Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to tax authorities on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Urooj Autos seeking release order of its consignment of “automotive vehicle replacement parts”. While the hearing of constitutional petition, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar also directing them to file their respective comments on next date of hearing, court.

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Papers containing politicians’ bank transactions are fake: SBP KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on declared the documents detailing massive amounts transacted from the purported accounts of top parliamentarians “fake”, saying that no actual transaction had taken place.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah brought the matter to the attention of the authorities after receiving Term Deposit Reports (TDRs) from banks where they did not operate any accounts.

Tuesday January 24, 2017

Business

Budget for new roads finishes in 7 months ISLAMABAD

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he Communications Ministry is likely to ask for more money to construct roads as the allocated budget is about to finish in next seven.

According to the ministry sources, Rs 188 billion have been allocated in the current financial year for the National Highway Authority. The NHA has spent Rs 140 billion so far and the NHA chairman told a parliamentary body recently that the budget would cross Rs 200 billion in the current year otherwise they would not be able to complete various roads

Jazz, Warid joinhands franchise network MULTAN

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across Pakistan.

"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

Exhibitors seal $18 million deals at textile machinery expo

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ore than a third of the nearly 700 franchise outlets of both Warid and Jazz will shut down as the two entities consolidate their franchise network after a merger last year. Anjum Rahman, the head of communications at Jazz, said no Jazz employee have been affected by the closure of these franchises in the country. She said the combined strength of the permanent employees of both Warid and Jazz, including sales centre employees, is about 4,000.

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has directed the NHA to include some projects of China-Pakistan

Economic Corridor in the NHA budget as well.

Due to this our expenditures would be increased so we would soon send a summary to the Finance Ministry for supplementary grant," an NHA official told Customs Today.

In Pakistan and abroad the Sharifs are known for their unending love for roads. Sources said Rs 800 billion were required to complete the ongoing projects but the allocated budget was not enough to complete them in one year. "We told the prime minister in a briefing that NHA was not in a position to start any new project in the next budget because a large number of through- forward projects were still in the pipeline," NHA sources concluded.

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KARACHI

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he three-day GTex International B2B Textile Machinery Brand Expo concluded at Expo Centre on Sunday with $18 million matured deals.

Sindh Minister for Transport Syed Nasir Hussain Shah was chief guest at the closing ceremony of the event, which was organised by Global Enterprise. He visited stalls and interacted with foreign and local exhibitors. Global Enterprise CEO Mujib

R Siddiqi, Director Sohail Aziz, Ghousia General Manager Zohaib Siddiqi and Naeemuddin of United Machinery were also present. Talking to the media on this occasion, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said the textile sector was being ignored in Pakistan for the last many years. He said the federal government should immediately support this sector. "Textile exports in 2013 stood at $25 billion. They should have been increased, but they are in decline. Pakistani exporters are unable to compete in the international market due to heavy electricity bills here. Such expos should be held

on a regular basis to boost business opportunities," he said. He said the FBR should resolve the refund issue facing the exporters. Exporters were waiting for about Rs250 billion refund amount, he said. Responding to a question about indecent remarks of a minister against a woman lawmaker in the Sindh Assembly a few days ago, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah showed his dislike for the incident and said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had already taken action on it. He said that a show-cause notice had been issued to the member of the provincial assembly.

‘Provincial govts should complete railway crossings’ LAHORE

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ailways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has on said that the provincial governments were responsible for the expenses on the level crossings.

He said that the car drivers didn’t pay attention to the signal in Gojra, causing the accident. Holding a press conference at Railways Headquarters on the issue of Gojra train accident, Saad Rafique said that the accidents on level crossings always occurred because of the haste. In today’s accident also, the car drivers didn’t pay attention to the signal, he said. The minister said that he and his employees were doing everything for improving the railways’ system but the expenses related to level crossings weren’t Railways’ responsibility.

He said that it was provincial government’s responsibility and the department shouldn’t be held responsible for the level crossings’ expenses. Saad further said that Railways would have been responsible if the crossings without guards hadn’t been identified and highlighted before the relevant provinces. He said that work on one hundred more level crossings would have been completed by one more year.

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Pakistan’s economic indicators are positive: PM LONDON

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rime Minister Muham.mad Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s economic indicators were positive and the country was on the path of progress. “Country’s economy is in the right direction and both domestic and foreign investment was pouring into Pakistan,” the Prime Minister told the

media person here after his arrival from Switzerland where he attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

The Prime Minister said his Davos visit was very successful where he met with various business and world leaders. He said they all were appreciative of Pakistan’s liberal economic policy and business friendly environment. The Prime Minister said during his stay in Switzerland he highlighted Pakistan’s economic strength

in an effective manner and presented the country as a secure investment destination. Highlighting his government’s achievements, he said Pakistan’s stock market had achieved Rirst position in Asia while it had become 5th in the world, adding Pakistan hoped to cross Rive percent GDP growth in coming Riscal year as the government was focusing on all crucial sector of economy. Sharif said $55 billion were being invested in the country under the China Pakistan

Economic Corridor, adding that this gigantic corridor project would not only beneRit Pakistan but it was a game changer for the entire region.

To a question, the Prime Minister said negative politics and creating hurdles in the way of development was not in the interest of Pakistan. “We all, particularly the politicians should be united to make the country strong and prosperous,” he added. The Prime Minister said there was a signiRicant decrease in loadshedding and

it would be a thing of the past very soon. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that terrorism in the country had been curtailed. To a question about Panama Leaks scandal, the Prime Minister said the matter was in the Supreme Court and any comment on it was inappropriate. The Prime Minister condemned attack on PML-N UK President Zubair Gul and said Gul was an asset, who worked hard for the PML-N. He said the law would take its course in this regard.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2017

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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) impounded smuggled vehicles and miscellaneous items of worth Rs236.34 million during the Rirst half (July to December) of current Riscal year (FY) 201617. According to details, the Customs Collectorate has intensiRied the antismuggling drive against smuggled goods and non-custom paid vehicles during the above said period. The ASO conducted various anti-smuggling operations and impounded 80 vehicles of worth Rs125 million during the above said period. The impounded vehicles include Toyota V8, Toyota Axio, Lexus, Toyota Crown, Toyota Corolla G, Toyota Corolla X, Toyota Fielder, Toyota Vitz and others.

Sources said that the ASO made 114 seizures of worth Rs100.76 million during the same period of Rinancial year 2015-16 adding that the ASO also impounded 48 offending vehicles of worth Rs46 million in the same period.

The Customs Collectorate impounded all 80 vehicles in road detection and interception in their jurisdiction under the directions of Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich.

The Customs Collectorate seized six various consignments of auto parts, tyres, diesel, cigarettes, fabric, electronic goods, mobile phones, gold and foreign currency of worth Rs.111.02 million during the Rirst half of FY2016-17. The ASO has registered various smuggling cases

against accused ones and arrested Rive smugglers. Meanwhile, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation has issued new instructions to Rield formations staff for the arrest of seized vehicle owners along with their non-custom paid vehicles. Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Shaukat Ali has issued directions to Rield formation ofRices of the country, including Multan Range OfRice, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Islamabad, Lahore and others, to register First Information Report (FIR) against the accused. The Customs Intelligence and Investigation has asked the Field Intelligence Unit to launch vigorous anti-smuggling operations against the smugglings. The Customs Intelligence Muli t n a ous i r tan Range OfRice has antica 0 v d8 ed nduc t ounde ipated extensive antio p c m O i S g and n s Th e A i n r smuggling operations o u i d t a n millio g oper due to scattered areas of n 5 i l 2 d g 1 e s g d oun smu r th R p o Baluchistan and Sindh m w i f he es o Axio, riod. T borders. The Customs e a vehicl t p o d y i , To e sa 8 v V o Intelligence and Investi, a b t G a a oyo the Coroll gation Multan Range Ofa lude T t c o n i y s o T e Rice seized 75 % smuggled Toyota vehicl rown, elder, yota C i o F T a , vehicles during their Rirst t s o y o T Lexu a X, six months.

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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

Latest World Bank report

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ccording to newspaper reports, the World Bank has revised the projected growth of Pakistan from 4.5 percent to 5.2 percent for Fiscal Year 2017 and further 5.5 percent for 2018.Earlier, the bank had projected the growth in Gross Domestic Product at 4.5 percent for 2016-17 after slashing half a percent of its earlier assessment. But now it has estimated the growth at 5.2 percent for the current financial year, thanks to the business and investment activities spurred by rising spending in infrastructure sector.

The government’s reforms programme has not only lifted domestic demands but also improved the business climate. Pakistan’s expected growth is projected at 5.5 percent for 2018 and 5.8 percent for 2019-20, due to possible improvements in agriculture, energy and infrastructure sectors. The country is facing various challenges, including energy crisis, security issues and very low foreign investment. At a time the countries in the region are blaming Pakistan for everything going wrong on their lands and are tarnishing the economic image of the country, the latest World Bank report is a blow of fresh air. Pakistan has completed billions of dollars’ three years’ extended facility programme last year which covered reforms and reduced the pressure of fiscal vulnerabilities. It also raised the confidence of consumers and investors in the country.

The latest World Bank report, Global Economic Prospects; weak investment in uncertain times, is not final words as the government will have to focus on various hostile factors haunting the national economy. Another problem facing the nation is corruption. If the government sincerely wants to develop the country, it has to end corruption which is the mother of all evils. If corruption is minimized, there will be no dearth of funds for health, education and electricity generation.The Chinese investment in the corridor project is boosting the investors’ confidence in the government policies, and it will work as an engine of growth for the national economy.

If the world financial institutions discuss positive indicators of Pakistan, they will also point out the challenges facing the economy. As far as the GDP of the country is concerned, the share of industrial output as well as exports cannot be denied.

Question of piling up loans T

LAHORE

DR AFTAB AFZAL

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he Senate has raised the question of growing loans which are piling up to an alarming proportion, lending credence to the fears that the trend could lead to a situation where debt servicing will become a major issue for the nation. On a call attention notice in the upper house of parliament, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz criticized the government for its growing appetite for acquiring more and more loans in utter disregard to its Riscal responsibilities and debt limitations.The members also expressed concern over the reports that the government has planned

to get another Rs 1.6 trillion loan during the third quarter of the current Riscal year. This is the unfortunate part of mismanagement and mal administration by the government policymakers who are fully depending upon loans to run the country’s affairs. The previous Pakistan People’s Party government had discovered a novel way to run the country’s affairs by taking loans and shifting the burden on the next government. A government minister came to the rescue of the government, saying external debts of $12 billion,which were taken by the previous government, have been repaid by June last year.

The countries in the region have introduced new policies to improve their economies which

are now successfully increasing their gross domestic product. Pakistan’s only achievement is the China Pakistan Economic Corridor butthe hostile forces are active to make this mega project controversial. Increasing the volume of loans means a time will come when debt servicing will eat up all the economic gains and the government would have to take new loans to pay the old debts. The government minister admitted that the debt-to-GDP ratio has increased by 1.1 percent during the Rirst three years of the government. However, some economic indicators have also shown signs of improvement during the period and it is hoped the country will achieve the growth of 5.2 percent projected by the World Bank in its

recent report. The country is facing domestic debt of Rs13.17trillion which wasRs9.49trilliononly three years ago while the external debt has shot up to $57.7billion from $48.1billion during the period. The volume of internal and external debt have reached Rs19.68trillion at the end of the previous Riscal year from Rs14.3trillion three years ago.The current government has less than two years to show its performance and fulRill the promises the leadership had made during election campaigns. It is easy to make a promise but difRicult to fulRill it.

The economy has still not been put on the right track and unless prudent policies are devised, loans will not serve any good to the economy.

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Bright prospects for Iranian economy TEHRAN: Following the removal of unjust sanctions as part of a nuclear agreement with the six major world powers, which had negatively affected economy over the past decade, Iran’s economy is on a flourishing trend these days. Undoubtedly, Iran’s nuclear deal has launched a new chapter in the country’s economic prosperity and has paved the way for Iran to move quickly to economic growth and scientific development.

In an indication of booming Iran’s economy, on the first say of the 2017 President Hassan Rouhani in a live TV program underscored that the government had decided to register five percent growth by the end of the Iranian calendar year started on March 20, 2016, reiterating that the growth in Iran’s oil income, growth in agricultural products, cultivation of wheat, small-sized industrial, and the country’s exports mainly in the first three months of the year the growth rate stood at 6.4 percent.

Founders Group urges implementation of Child Labour Act LAHORE

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ounders Group of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has called for stern implementation of Child Labour Act to prevent the incidents of child abuse. In a statement issued here, senior leaders of Founders Group Mian Muhammad Ashraf and Farooq Iftikhar said that due to poor implementation of Child Labour Act, crime of torture against minors are rising and hitting the soft image of the country. Founders Group leaders said that child Labour is not only a social issue and against humanitarian ethics but is also directly linked to the economy of any country as developed world always reluctant to do business with those countries where child labour and child abuse is still a big issue. Mian Muhammad Ashraf and Farooq Iftikhar said that both federal and provincial

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governments would have to control the violation of laws, rules & regulations against the child labour. “Child labour is a universal problem and a family being a unit of a society has a direct impact on the socio-economic development of a country. Therefore, the best course of action through which it can be tackled is a phased strategy” they added. They said that said that in the pretext of GSP Plus Status granted from the European Union, Pakistan needs utilize its all of resources to eliminate child labour as particularly European countries have set strict standards in this connection. They said that there is a need to be consistent and much aggressive to root out this problem with least possible loss to economic conditions of the poor. —CB Report

Tuesday January 24, 2017

Chambers

New Industrial Estate to Promote exports with China, Central Asia E

ISLAMABAD

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stablishment of a new Industrial Estate in Islamabad Region has become essential to promote trade and exports with China and Central Asian countries and government should accelerate efforts to realize this goal, observed former Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said CPEC project was poised to change the business dynamics in Pakistan while the next century was termed the century of Asia and business community should get ready to face coming challenges to compete effectively in the new scenario.

Syed Zafar Ali Shah said business community was playing important role in the development of local economy and all relevant organizations including IESCO, SNGPL, FBR and CDA should play facilitative role in the better growth of business activities. It will help in creating new jobs and reducing unemployment in the region as well. He said that he has old relations with ICCI and as-

sured that he would cooperate with Chamber in efforts aimed at redress of key issues of business community. Speaking at the occasion, Khalid Iqbal Malik, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry lauded the services of Syed Zafar Ali Shah and said that 90 percent issues of local business community were related to the CDA. He said businessmen have lot of expectations from Sheikh Anser Aziz, Chairman CDA and Mayor IMC, but

so far no visible improvement in the working of civic body was visible.

He said Chairman CDA had assured to address the issues of lease renewal and additional storey in Marakaz soon, but there was no tangible progress on these issues as yet.

He said promulgation of a balanced rent control act in Islamabad was a long-standing issue of business community. He said a consensus draft of said law was lying with a Standing Committee of National

Pakistan should enhance exports to African countries: VP FCCI

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FAISALABAD

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ice President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Engineer Ahmed Hassan said that the share of Pakistani export in overall imports of African countries is hardly 1 % and needs immediate steps to enhance it. Chairing a meeting of FCCI standing committee on Liaison with Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), he said that government through TDAP is making strenuous efforts to increase Pakistani exports. Similarly FCCI is also making efforts to contribute its role in enhancing exports from Faisalabad. He told that FCCI despite of its limited resources had arranged

many foreign delegations providing opportunity to its members to explore the export potentials of various international markets. He observed that china is switching over from labor intensive to high tech industries. This will create a vacuum especially in African markets and Pakistan can easily Rill this gap.

He said that this is a new opportunity and government of Pakistan should take the Pakistani exports into conRidence to Rill this gap. He also pointed out that India has already started activities in this respect and it has created special desks in all Indian embassies working in various African countries. He said that Pakistan should also establish such desks which could explore the available potentiality and suggest to the Pakistani exporters to avail from

these opportunity. He added that FCCI will request government to take immediate notice of this situation so that the Pakistani exporters could Rill up this gap. He further suggested that Pakistani exporters could also launch joint ventures in collaboration with Chinese exporters to make a reasonable room for the Pakistani products in the African markets. Engineer Ahmed Hassan further said that TDAP should review its strategy to give a quantum jump to the export of traditional as well as nontraditional products. He told that the information about various exhibitions and expos organize by TDAP are immediately communicated to the FCCI members. However TDAP should provide space for FCCI pavilion in various exhibitions organize by TDAP at subsidized rates.

Assembly since long and stressed that Syed Zafar Ali Shah, being the member of ruling party, should play role in early enactment of said draft into rent law.

Khalid Malik Senior Vice President, Tahir Ayub Vice President ICCI, Mian Akram Farid, Zafar Bakhtawari, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Khalid Chaudhry and others also spoke at the occasion and lauded the services of Syed Zafar Ali Shah for the local community.

KCCI facilitates Majyd Aziz on his election EFP president

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resident of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar and Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro have congratulated Majyd Aziz, Former President KCCI on his unanimous election as President of Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP). In a statement issued, KCCI OfRice Bearers said that the Karachi Chamber strongly believes that the new global economic environment necessitates a revisit of Human Resources sector as now the emphasis is on a new deRinition of future work, adhering sincerely to corporate governance, formulating social policy as per international conventions, and strengthening the linkages between employers and workers. —CB Report

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FIA arrests suspect on allegation of human trafficking, fraud Tuesday January 24, 2017

National ASO impounds 90 non-duty paid LEDs near Faizpur Interchange LAHORE

M HAYAT

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LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a suspect involved in sending people abroad on fake documents and on charges of fraud.

According to spokesperson of the FIA, suspect, Shahzad Ahmad s/o Abdul Hameed, a resident of Gul Raheem Town has been arrested and a first information report has been launched against him under the relevant laws.

The suspect had allegedly extorted Rs 400,000 from the complainant Sajida Pervin to send her husband Khadim Hussain Dubai for employment.

Faisalabad ASO seizes goods worth Rs1.7m: ADC Saima takes charge T

FAISALABAD

NAEEM SHEIKH

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he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of the Model Customs Collectorate Preventive Lahore confiscated 90 illegal latest model LED TVs. Sources said that on a tip-off Collector Preventive Zulfiqar Younas constituted a team under the supervision of Additional Collector Nayyer Shafiq and Assistant Collector Muhammad Asim Awan. The team also included Inspectors Irfan Mumtaz and Aslam Iqbal and Sepoys Ghulam Dastgir, Turab Hussain, Muhammad Yasin and others who intercepted a vehicle Ford bearing registration No: 1210 (NWFP) near Faizpur Interchange of M-2 at around 1.00 am. During the checking, ASO team recovered foreign origin smuggled LED TVs of latest models concealed in vegetable crates. The total number of seized LED TVs is 82 that include 65 inches, 70 inches, 42 inches and 32 inches LED TVs of Sony Bravia and Samsung brands.

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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) Mianwali seized smuggled goods worth Rs 1.7 million involving customs duty and taxes Rs 411,738 and impounded a Nissan truck trailer worth Rs three million under Section 157 of the Customs Act-1969 during an operation.

According to details, Additional Collector Muhammad Saeed Asad received tip-off about the transportation of smuggled goods. He immediately constituted a team comprising Superintendent Chaudhary Sardar Muhammad, Muhammad Umar Bhatti, Azhar Hussain Jafari, Driver Riasat Hussain, Sepoys Muhammad Ashraf, Faiz Ahmad, Riaz Ahmad and Muhammad Yousaf.

The team started checking vehicles and intercepted a trailer bearing registration No: TLF-676 near toll plaza M.M Road Mianwali. The driver was identified as Shahid Iqbal son of Muzafar Khan, a resi-

dent of Mainwali. The ASO officials recovered foreign origin porcelain including bowls, plates, cups and mugs. The ASO team asked the driver to show legal documents regarding the possession and trans-

portation of porcelain goods.

The driver failed to provide the required documents. After his failure, the ASO team registered a case of smuggling and seized the loaded goods and offending vehicle and forwarded the case to the customs adjudication for further proceedings.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Collector Saima Aftab assumed the charge of her new assignment at the Customs Adjudication with immediate effect. According to details the Anti Smuggling Organization team intercepted a foreign origin Toyota Premio car bearing registration number LEB -14- 1111. The driver of the vehicle failed to provide any legal documents to ASO authorities after which they impounded the vehicle and forwarded the case to Customs Adjudication.

Customs collects Rs1413.303m in 18 days of Jan

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MULTAN

IMRAN ALI

Reference value of HP laserjet printers issued irectorate General of Customs Valuation has issued the reference values for HP laserjet printers. The directorate general has initiated an exercise to develop database values for different items whereas it has been observed that declarations are of wide range and do not correctly reflect values of the items as traded in the international market. During the scrutiny of previous clearance data, it has been observed that Printers falling under PCT heading 8443.3210, 8443.3220, 84443.3230 & 8443.3290 are being assessed at different values and certain transactions are on very low side. The directorate gneral, after carefully examining the clearance data, also conducted market inquiries to verify the authenticity of declarations. —CB Report

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he Model of Customs Collectorate Multan collected revenue of Rs1431.303 million during the Rirst 18 days of January against the assigned target of Rs4364 million for the month of January. The Collectorate of the Multan Customs has been given different revenue collection targets for the customs duty, sales tax, federal excise duty (FED) and withholding tax (WHT).

The Federal Board of Revenue has assigned revenue collection target of Rs678 million under the head of customs duty for January 2016 while Multan Customs collected Rs304 million under the head of customs duty so far. The Federal Board of Revenue has revised the yearly target of customs duty collection on the request of Multan Customs Collectorate after assessment of trade situation in South Punjab regarding their imports. The FBR has assigned revenue collection target of Rs3560 million to Multan Customs in wake

of sales tax for the month of January.

On the other hand, Multan Customs has collected Rs658 million in wakes of sales taxes for the period of 18 days of January 2016. The Customs Collectorate Multan was assigned collection target of Rs24 million under the head of federal excise duty

(FED) for January and MCC Multan has poised Rs7.395 million from collection of federal excise duty (FED) during the current month of January 2016. Multan Customs allocated revenue collection target of Rs.92 million under the head of withholding tax (WHT) for the said period,

while it has collected Rs8.585 million as withholding tax so far in current month of January. During January, Multan Customs has also collected petroleum development levy of Rs453.323 million from the clearance of High Speed Diesel (HSD) so far in January.

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DG Valuation revises customs values of children’s garments KARACHI: The Directorate General of Customs Valuation has revised the customs value of imported children (baby/baba) garments China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, Sri Lanka and other origins through Valuation Ruling No 1005/2017 under Section 25A of the Customs Act, 1969. According to details, a number of representation were received from different importers regarding children’s (baby/baba) garments, stating that their imported children garments are not covered in the Order-In-Revision 239/2016 issued on August 31, 2016 which is causing hardship during examination and assessment stages. The importers of the children garments further contended for determination of fair value of these specific goods as per prevailing international prices.

SHC stops FBR from collecting sales tax from Imagin Paper Products KARACHI

M BILAL

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) has restrained the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) from recovering sales tax from M/s Imagin Paper Products.

The court took the action on a constitutional petition filed by the petitioner against impugned demand notice and also sought zero rated sales tax on its products. While the hearing of the petition, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi also issued notices to the tax authorities and deputy attorney general of Pakistan, directing them to file their respective

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comments on the next date of hearing.

The court adjourned the hearing for January 18, 2017. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is manufacture, importer and exporter of articles of paper and paperboard and purchases paper, paperboard, glue, jam pins, wires etc form local market and pays input tax on the said purchase invoices. According to the petitioner, exercise books, copies, registers and other items have been declared as zero rated under section 4 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 read with SRO 549(1)/2008 dated 11/06/2008, as such the petitioner does not charge sales tax on its supplies, however, officials of the tax authorities issued show cause notice to the petitioner under section 48 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and being aggrieved, the petitioner filed an appeal along with stay application which are pending before the authority concerned. The counsel further argued that despite pending appeal, tax authorities have threatened the petitioner of coercive action.

National

PAC discusses Rs 187 billion irregularities in FBR audit report 2013-14 T

ISLAMABAD

CUSTOMS BULLETIN REPORT www.customsbulletin.com

he Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has discussed massive irregularities worth Rs 187 billion in accounts of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The PAC meeting was held to review FBR audit report for the year 2013-14 under the chairmanship of Sardar Ashiq Hussain Gopang, who expressed dissatisfaction over not holding of regular departmental audit in FBR. The committee directed both the audit ofRicials and FBR ofRicials to review the statistics and present them again for scrutiny. It reviewed the audit objections for the Rinancial year 2013-14. Audit ofRicials informed the PAC that irregularities of worth Rs 187 billion were unearthed in the FBR accounts during the audit. The audit authorities apprised the committee that meetings of Departmental Audit Committee (DAC) were held on regular basis in the board. They said Rs 16 billion were recovered after identiRication by the audit ofRicials, adding that currently 29 cases of irregularities in the Inland Revenue were in courts.

FBR Member Dr Irshad admitted

that the Rield ofRices of FBR in Karachi and Lahore could not recover Rs 42 billion sales tax, adding that so far Rs 5.19 billion had been recovered. The Member told the committee that they are facing difRiculties in meeting the target of the tax collection and they have dismissed 8 tax commissioners from their jobs over poor performance. From January 2016 to June 2016,

Tuesday January 24, 2017

the audit authorities said 200,000 applications of sales tax refunds were given to FBR in Karachi, out of which only 2,000 were veriRied. The post refund reports of the veriRied applications have also not shown, they added.

Rashid Godil said claims of sale tax refunds were on the rise on basis of fake invoices in Karachi, seeking details of blacklisted tax payers.

FTO adjourns hearing of case filed by M/s Khalil Steel Decoration LAHORE

MUHAMMAD NAWAZ www.customsbulletin.com

he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed the hearing of a case filed by proprietor of M/s Khalil Steel Decoration & Iron Store against the Regional Tax Office (RTO), Lahore until the next date. According to the details, FTO Advisor Muhammad Munir Qurashi heard the case filed by proprietor of M/s Khalil Steel Decoration & Iron Store in which the counsel for the appellant argued that RTO has not released the refund to the appellant of the last three years. He said that the RTO collected excessive tax from the company during the last three years. The company approached the officer concerned many time for issuance of the refunds but the department did not pay the refunds after the passage of reasonable time. Finally, the appellant decided to approach the FTO seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO to clear the refund claims. The counsel further said that the delay in issuance of refunds put burden on the taxpayers, adding that the RTO should make audit of the cases and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer.

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Post Clearance Audit moves SC against LHC decision

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ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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he Directorate General Post Clearance Audit has Riled a petition before the Supreme Court against the decision of the Lahore High Court in favour of M/s JP Construction and Trading Company.

The Directorate Post Clearance has raised the law points in terms of questions before the Supreme Court as to whether the impugned order of the learned Single Judge in the Chamber of the Lahore High Court erred in law by not considering this aspect that petitioner attempted to get clearance of Prime Movers be-

low 380 HP in violation of restrictions imposed on its import.

Whether the learned Judge in chamber has erred in law by not issuing the notice to respondent No.8 (Director Post Clearance Audit) in Riscal matter involving legitimate government revenue in millions under the garb of smuggling and Riscal fraud by violating provisions of the Customs Act 1959 and Import Policy Order 2013-15 and without providing an opportunity of hearing to respondent No.8/necessary party, who had seized the vehicles and issued notices under Section 168 and 171 of the Customs Act 1969.

These facts were deliberated and concealed in the writ petition and

an impression was created that the vehicles were being held by the Collector MCC ( Appraisement ) and M/s NLC without elaborating that neither of them had any objection of their own nor had any dispute for release of the vehicles. According to the brief facts of the case for the determination of above law points, that Post Clearance Audit/petitioner issued Alert dated 30th May 2016 regarding the attempts of clearance of the Prime Movers below 380 HP under the guise of MoC OM dated 5th May 2016. However, the MCC did not pay any heed and continued to clear used Prime Movers in violation of restrictions imposed on their import. As such, the importer was

guilty of the offence of mis-declaration (knowingly makes a false statement) as deRined in Section 32 and 32 A of the Customs Act 1969, got cleared restricted goods (Prime Movers of engine capacity of less than 380 HP) in violation of the provisions of Sections 16 and 79 of the Customs Act 1969 read with provisions of Section 3(1) and Section 3(3)of the Imports & Exports (Control) Act-1950 and in terms of para 9(ii)(5) and serial No.10 of Appendix C of Import Policy Order 2012 punishable under clauses 9, 14 and 14A of Section 156(1) of the Customs Act 1969. With the introduction of fully automated system of self-clearance.

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Qatar CPI inflation rises 1.8pc in December Tuesday January 24, 2017

World

DOHA: Increased expenses towards transport, utilities, education and recreation led Qatar’s cost of living, based on consumer price index (CPI), rise 1.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) in December 2016, according to official estimates. The CPI inflation, however, fell 0.3% month-on-month (m-o-m), mainly on falling prices of food, recreation and miscellaneous goods and services, according to figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS). Expecting average inflation in 2016 to inch up to 3%, the International Monetary Fund recently said that during 2017-18, subsidy cuts, increase in public fees, a moderate recovery in global commodity prices and the implementation of a value added tax (VAT) will drive inflation, which is slated to moderate to low levels over the medium term.

China, US customs increase checks around spring festival

UK to face £30 billion bills every year in NHS

WASHINGTON

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Russian rouble strengthens as oil prices rise he Russian rouble rose early, supported by gains in global oil prices. At 0725 GMT, the rouble was 0.4 percent stronger against the dollar at 59.26 <RUBUTSTN=MCX> and had gained 0.4 percent to trade at 63.05 versus the euro <EURRUBTN=MCX>. Brent crude oil <LCOc1>, a global benchmark for Russia’s main export, was up 0.8 percent at $54.4 a barrel. Analysts said the rouble was also being lifted by end-month tax payments as well as by investors snapping up Russian assets, which are relatively high yielding versus those in developed markets. The rouble is typically supported towards the end of each month, when exporters sell a portion of their foreign-currency revenues to pay rouble-denominated taxes. —CB Report

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ustoms services in both China and the United States have increased checks amid heavy travel between the two countries during the Spring Festival holiday, China National Radio reported.

Overseas Chinese media outlets have reported passengers getting into trouble at customs for carrying luxuries or electronic products exceeding allowed limits. Passengers are also advised not to carry a large amount of cash even though they plan to use it as hongbao, gift money put into red envelopes during the festival. Some passengers who left John F. Kennedy International Airport said they saw customs ofRicials with dogs monitoring departure terminals with many Chinese passengers.

Passengers are advised to strictly follow customs rules on the amount

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of cash or items they are allowed to carry when entering or leaving the country. Failure to declare monetary instruments of $10,000 or more can result in their seizure on arrival in the United States.

U.S. customs officials are also

strict in checking for alien plants and food entering the country, so it’s not a good idea to carry bags of local specialties from China because these products are also available at U.S. supermarkets, according to the report.

South African economy forecast to grow by 1pc in 2017

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he South African economy is forecast to grow by 1% during 2017 from an estimate real GDP growth rate of 0.5% in the preceding year, says KPMG senior economist, Christie Viljoen. This is in line with a Reuters poll of 27 economists taken over the past week which suggested growth would increase to 1.1% this year and 1.6% in 2018.

All 27 economists expect the repo rate to remain at 7% when the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) meets next week for the first time in 2017. And according to Reuters, medians for the rest of the year suggest no change for the repo rate after next week’s policy announcement. “The bank may still have a change of heart in its rate stance come the second half of this year, opening up room for it to cut policy rates later in the year,” said BNP Paribas economist Jeffrey Schultz. —CB Report

ritain’s ageing population will cost the UK £30 billion every decade in increased NHS, pensions and social care costs over the next 50 years and put pressure on the Chancellor’s pledge to cut the deRicit, a report warned the government.

According to details, the OfRice for Budget Responsibility found that spending on healthcare and pensions will grow faster than the British economy by 2066 leaving the UK with a gap of £156 billion unless taxes are increased and spending cut to pay for it.

The independent watchdog’s 50year forecast estimates that without drastic action public sector net debt will surge from 82 per cent GDP to 234 per cent by 2066-67 as borrowing rises to 16.6 per cent.

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The NHS will demand double the 6.9 per cent of GDP it currently costs in 50 years time, hitting 12.6 per cent and potentially costing every income tax payer an additional £1000 each decade. Social care costs will also double from 1.1 per cent to 2 per cent over the period while pension spending will rise from 5.8 per cent to 8 per cent largely as a result of the triple lock promise. The OBR warned that Britain’s public Rinances are on an “unsustainable path” and that unless the Chancellor plans long-term changes, he will miss his target to cut the deRicit and be forced to increase taxes and slash spending to cope. NHS costs pose the greatest risk, largely thanks to the UK’s growing older population as baby boomers retire and reach old age, while lower net migration and costly new operations becoming more widely available on the NHS will add to the bill. As a result, instead of moving into a surplus the budget deRicit would widen from 0.7 per cent of GDP in 2021-22 to 1.8 per cent by the end of the next Parliament in 2025-26.

Dutch to treat taxpayers equally evertheless Michael Lewis’s The Undoing Project is holding its own against the likes of the late Carrie Fisher’s autobiography, the Princess Diaries, which is currently popular for the saddest of reasons. Lewis’s book chronicles the work of two psychologists, Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman.

Both were academic researchers, but perhaps unlike much academic research, their work focused on a topic of interest to most of us why people get so many decisions wrong. Explanations of how decisions are taken where there is a risk of a bad outcome typically centred

around the ideal of a rational economic person. Such a person, in possession of all the facts, would weigh up the risks and likelihoods and come to a reasonable decision. The problem is that the ideal of the rational economic person is just that, an ideal. In the real world, people don’t take decisions that way.

To Rind out why, Kahneman and Tversky carried out a range of psychological tests and experiments and concluded that when taking decisions, human beings are slaves to how we measure up situations (what they called framing), and to our own biases about the facts. —CB Report

Iran’s foreign investment to reach US$13billion

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TEHRAN

CUSTOMS BULLETIN REPORT www.customsbulletin.com

ran’s foreign investment volume is likely to reach the point of $13 billion during the current Riscal year which is to end on March 21.

According to details, the country has already attracted $11 billion of foreign investment over the last ten

months, said Hossein Salimi, the chairman of Iranian and Foreign Joint Venture Investment Association, afRiliated to Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. Salimi further added that the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA / nuclear deal) encouraged foreigners to invest in Iran.

The landmark nuclear deal was

signed in January 2016 with the world powers and allowed to remove the nuclear related sanctions against the Islamic Republic in exchange for curbing the country’s nuclear activity. Overall, Iran’s economic outlook has improved since the deal. Salimi claimed that the volume of foreign investment in the country increased by four times during the past Iranian calendar

year as compared to the previous year. To reach the economic growth of eight percent Iran needs to Rinance about 20 percent of its development projects through foreign investment. Thus, Iran made up a plan to attract $43 billion in foreign investment over the next years. The statistics of previous years show the falling trend in attracting foreign investment.

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Customs Appellate Tribunal postpones hearing of cases ISLAMABAD: Division and single benches headed by the Customs Appellate Tribunal Chairman Justice (r) Malik Manzoor Hussain adjourned hearing of cases involving Model Collectorate of Customs and Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigations, Islamabad. Justice (R) Malik Manzoor Hussain, after assuming hearing at the tribunal after weeks, adjourned hearing of several cases being listed to be heard on Tuesday.

Division and single benches headed by the chairman had adjourned hearing of some case till Wednesday while rest would be heard on Thursday. These cases were filed by M/s Waseem Autos, M/s Nisar Traders, M/s Parts & Parts, M/s Chief Autos, M/s Aman Elahi, M/s Kohinoor Traders, M/s Saleem Silk Centre, M/s Five Star Trading.

Advance Telecom challenges tax recovery notice in SHC

Tuesday January 24, 2017

National

Deputy Collector Asma Hameed declares seizure of liquor as legal

Sialkot Customs Intelligence impounds Toyota Hilux Surf SIALKOT

KARACHI

M BILAL

SALEEM AWAN SHEIKHU

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the tax authorities and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Advance Telecom against impugned show cause notices for recovery of super tax to the tune of Rs 101.5 million. A twomember bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, also directed them to file their respective comments on the next date of hearing. The court adjourned the hearing for January, 2017. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is importer, exporter and trader of mobile phones of different brands and fulfilling all liabilities regularly. However, the tax authorities issued two show cause notices dated 27/12/2016 under section 122 (G) read with section 122 (5A) for amendment of assessments for the tax year 2015 and 2016 wherein it was alleged that the petitioner was liable to pay super tax.

he Customs Intelligence and Investigation has impounded noncustoms paid Toyota Hilux Surf worth Rs2 million at Sambrial on Sialkot Road. Under the strict directions of Deputy Director Ali Zeb Khan the Assistant Director Itrat Hussian ordered Superintendent Tariq Rafique to constitute a team to check vehicles at above mentioned road.

On this he constituted a team under the supervision of Inspector Saad Iqbal Sidhu to check the vehicles on the road. Saad Iqbal along with his team members constables Usama, Mubashir, Sajid Raz and Boota started checking of vehicles and intercepted a Toyota Hilux Surf bearing registration number KW-304 ICT model 2004 which was coming from Islamabad and going to Sialkot. The team asked driver Noor about dutypaid documents of the vehicle but he failed to produce the said documents.

The driver told the team I don’t know about customs duty paid documents while the owner of the vehicle knows better about documents. The team impounded the vehicle and released driver after proper interrogation whereas the team has challaned of driver and will issue legal notice to owner of vehicle.

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LHC adjourns hearing of Ayan Ali case ahore High Court (LHC) called the counsels of appellant and recipients on the next date of hearing. Court also adjourns hearing of the case till four weeks.

According to details, Justice Abdul Sami Khan heard the case in which the counsel of appellant‘Ayan Ali’argued before the court that the Lahore High Court already accept the bail of appellant and the customs department fail to produce any evidence before the court. Added more that in case of appellant customs authorities failed to investigate money laundering case so, the bases of unavailability of cases, Ayan Ali appeal for the absolves from the case. He also prayed before the court that trail court has rejected the absolves application so the LHC may null and void the order of trail court and release the appellant from the case. —Muhammad Nawaz

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LAHORE

IQRA SHEHZADI

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eputy Collector Customs Adjudication Asma Hameed has issued Order-inOriginal (ONO) in favour of the Customs Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) while declaring the seizure of foreign liquor bottles as legal.

As per details, the Customs Air Flight Unit (AFU) recovered foreign origin smuggled foreign liquor bottles of different brands from a suspect, Shahzad Farhan .

Custom AFU staff during the course of checking of passengers for Flydubai international Rlight scheduled to be arrived at Faisalabad from Dubai. A hand carried

black bag owned by passenger namely Shahid Farhan checked by the customs staff.

The bag was having doubtful status and was opened in the presence of witness which led to recovery of the foreign liquor bottles of different brands. The customs staff forwarded the case to Customs Adjudication for further proceedings taking stance that the seized foreign liquor bottles were prohibited and brought into country without payment of duty and taxes.

In the light of facts it is clear that the seized goods foreign liquor bottles are restricted ones and brought into the country illegally, thus the same are liable to conRiscation in favour of Customs Adjudication under the relevant customs law.

Further more, during the hearing of the case, no one appeared to

defend the case on behalf of respondents nor was any written reply was submitted despite giving many opportunities.

While Inspector Khalid Mehmood appeared from the prosecution side and asserted that the seized goods falls under the ambit of Section 2(s) of the Customs Act, 1969 read with current import policy order. It is therefore, established that the respondent have nothing to defend against the allegation framed in the show cause notice.

After hearing the arguments, Deputy Collector Asma Hameed decided case on the basis of facts and material available on the file and issued ONO and declared the seizure of cell phones as legal under Section 156(1)89 of the Customs Act, 1969 read with Import Policy Order, 2013.

FBR seeks proposals to boost revenues

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ISLAMABAD

CUSTOMS BULLETIN REPORT www.customsbulletin.com

he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has invited pro-revenue proposals relating to sales tax and federal excise duty for the upcoming budget for Riscal year 201718. The board has asked all stakeholders to send their proposals by the end of current month. The recommendations have been sought from the chambers of commerce and industry as well as from Rield

ofRices of the FBR, according to ofRicials. “Budgetary proposals should be pro-revenue and should focus on broadening the tax base and increase in revenue collection,” an ofRicial said. The stakeholders could suggest amendments to the Sales Tax Act 1990, Federal Excise Act 2005, Sales Tax Rules 2006, Federal Excise Rules 2005, Sales Tax Special Procedure Rules 2007, Sales Tax Special Procedure (Withholding) Rules 2007, notiRications, circulars, general order, clariRications or rules related to sales tax and federal ex-

cise duty, they said.

Amendments may also be suggested for simpliRication, removal of difRiculties and anomalies and doing away with the out-dated or obsolete provisions, if any. The FBR would welcome suggestions for eliminating tax fraud, fake and Rlying invoices, plugging loopholes, if any, facilitating genuine taxpayers and making procedures transparent, the ofRicials said. The FBR has advised that the proposals should be made keeping in view the impact on other related trade groups, which may be

harmed by the proposed measures.

Earlier at the beginning of the month, the FBR had initiated the process of formulating budget proposals for Riscal year 2017-18.

It invited income tax proposals from different stakeholders including chambers of commerce, trade bodies, provincial bodies and regulatory authorities. The date for submitting the proposals has been set at January 15 in order to ensure their timely compilation and consideration for potential incorporation into the Rinance bill.

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FIA arrests manufacturers of spurious drugs Tuesday January 24, 2017

Lahore

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a number of accused involved in manufacturing and selling of spurious medicines.

According to a spokesperson for the FIA, a team of the FIA raided some pharmaceutical companies including M/s Caylex Pharma, M/s Bio Solutions Medical Store, M/s Ajwa Pharmacia, M/s Dhami Medicos and others. The team produced the accused before the relevant court and got them sentenced and fined.

The FIA Lahore authorities claimed to have improved its performance as compared to previous year regarding the actions against spurious drugs and said more raids and arrests are expected in 2017.

Special Customs Court Customs Central Region collects Rs adjourns hearing of 66.43b duty, taxes in six months Rs209m tax evasion case LAHORE

M IMRAN MEHAR

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he Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling has adjourned a case’s hearing against an accused who was arrested in the tax evasion of Rs209 million.

Sources told Customs Today that Tashreef Javed son of Khadim Hussain, Director M/s Hussain Cane Private limited, was arrested by the Customs Appraisement Lahore in tax evasion. Other accused Ikramul-Haq son of Muhammad Sharif Bhatti, Ihtisham-ul-Haq son of Muhammad Sharif Bhatti, Muhammad Saeed son of Muhammad Alim Malik, owners of M/s Imran International Service Customs Clearing Agency were also booked by the au-

FBR, PRA to ink accord for sharing customs data he Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) will be provided customs data by the Federal Board of Revenue for the input adjustment after both departments will reach an agreement in the near future.

Chairman PRA Raheel Ahmad Sidique said this while giving a briefing to Provincial Minister for Finance Ayesha Ghaus Pasha on a monthly performance on the other day. He said that a substantial increase has also been made in the collection of withholding tax. Moreover, the formula of the Punjab Infrastructure Cess receipt has also been devised. He said the complaints of traders regarding the double tax are being considered. He said that after beauty parlours, more luxury services are being brought under the tax net. Giving a briefing on the Restaurant Invoice Monitoring System, Raheel Ahmad Siddique informed Ayesha Ghaus Pasha that in the wake of increase of 28 percent tax receipts, the RIMS is also being introduced in Faisalabad.—M Imran Mehar

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thorities in the same case.

A case was registered against them at the Intelligence and Prosecution of Customs Appraisement Mughalpura Dry Port Lahore under Section of 156, 1, 14, 14A, 46 of the Customs Act-1969.

Meanwhile, The Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has extended the judicial remand of the accused allegedly involved in smuggling of gold, diamond and precious watches, for another 14 days. Earlier, the court had sent the accused to jail in on a 14-day judicial remand. Customs investigation and prosecution team of Customs Preventives had presented an investigation challan against the couple. As per the detail, customs authorities at Lahore airport recovered smuggled diamonds, 2.5kg gold and eight watches of Rado brand worth Rs15 million from passengers, Rana Muhammad RaRique who was travelling from Sharjah to Lahore.

LAHORE

M HAYAT

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he Customs Central Region has collected Rs 66,430 million as duty and taxes during

FBR approves Rs1.77m cash reward for Inspector Asghar Ali Waryah

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has approved Rs1.77 million cash reward for Inspector Inland Revenue Asgher Ali Waryah on outstanding performance during the Rirst six months of Rinancial year 2016-17. Cash reward has recommended under Statuary Regularity Order (SRO) 398 (1)/2016.

According to the details, FBR mentioned in the letter that Asghar Ali Waryah has showed excellent performance during Rirst half of current Fiscal Year and performs his

duties to collect budgetary targets.

Inspector Asghar has recovered Rs55 million in arrears from M/s EnEm Real Estate and Builders and Ali Saqlain Real Estate and Builders.

He also collected Rs7.6 million as advance tax. Sources said that Inspector Asghar also collected Rs31 million through tax returns and collected Rs9 million through revised returns.

Board also mentioned that Asgher Ali performed well while discharging his duties for tax recovery through bank attachments. —Muhammad Nawaz

(July-December) of the current Rinancial year 2016-17.

As per details, the Customs Appraisement Lahore collected Rs 31,997 million during the Rirst six months of the Rinancial year 201617 against the assigned target of Rs 33,167 million. Similarly, the Collectorate of Customs Preventive col-

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lected Rs 14,072 million during the period under review against the revenue target of Rs 15,097 million during the Rinancial year 2016-17.

On the other hand, the Collectorate of Customs Multan collected Rs 14,756 million during the period under review against the target Rs 24,328 million for the six months of the Rinancial year. Correspondingly, the Collectorate of Faisalabad collected Rs 5,603 million during the Rirst six months of the Rinancial year 2016-17 against the target of Rs 4,001 million during the Rinancial year 201617. Overall the Central Region collected Rs 66,430 million during the period under review. Source told Customs Today that Chief Collector of Customs Central Region Samaira Nazir Saddiqui has directed all the collectors under the Central Region limits to speed up collection of the duty and taxes to achieve the Rinancial year’s targets besides lower staff have also been ordered to put their maximum efforts for the revenue collections.

CAT conduct hearing of 13 cases

ustoms Appellate Tribunal bench-II comprising Judicial Member Omer Arshad Hakeem and Technical Member Imran Tariq heard 13 cases on Wednesday and adjourned all of them until the next hearing.

The tribunal heard 13 cases, including Muhammad Yousaf versus customs Lahore, Ahsan Mehmood versus customs Lahore, Salman Butt versus directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Lahore, customs Faisalabad versus Adam International. On Wednesday, Customs Appellate Tribunal heard cases, including Fayyaz Trading versus

directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Lahore, customs Lahore versus Abdul Khabir, Sohail and others versus customs Lahore. Furthermore, the tribunal heard the cases of M/s Saitara Textile two appeals versus customs Lahore, customs Multan versus Abdul Rauf, UCH Power versus directorate Multan Unit Sadiqabad, customs Lahore versus A.I Corporation, Digital World versus Post Clearance Audit Lahore, Dilbar Jani versus directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Lahore. In all cases, the counsels for the appellants appeared before the court and presented arguments. —CB Report

FTO hears case filed by Abid Yousaf against RTO Sargodha

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LAHORE

MUHAMAMD NAWAZ www.customsbulletin.com

he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed the hearing of a case Riled by Muhammad Abid Akhter, a resident of Sargodha, against the Regional Tax OfRice (RTO) Sargodha until the next hearing. FTO Advisor Tariq Yousaf

heard the case in which the counsel for the appellant argued that the RTO Sargodha has not released the refund to the appellant of the last two years.

He said that the RTO Sargodha collected excessive tax from the appellant during the last two years.

The company approached the ofRicer concerned many times for issuance of the refunds but the department did not pay the refunds

after the passage of a reasonable time. Finally, the appellant decided to approach the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the commissioner of RTO Sargodha to clear the refund claims.

The counsel further said that the delay in issuance of refunds put burden on the taxpayers, adding that

the RTO should make audit of the cases and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer.

On the other hand, counsel for the RTO argued that the appellant has not submitted all record in the ofRice on basis of which it is claiming for refunds. If appellant provides accurate record, the RTO will issue the refunds if any after proper assessment, he added.

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Port of Wilmington orders 2 new cranes at $27.4m WILMINGTON: North Carolina Ports has ordered two New Panamax cranes, and plans to purchase two more, as part of its ongoing infrastructure investment plan. When all four cranes have been purchased and delivered, the Port of Wilmington will feature a total of 10 container cranes operating over a 2,650 ft. area. The New Panamax cranes, which are expected to arrive in the spring of 2018, have a total estimated project cost of $27.4 million. Between additional projects such as the Turning Basin expansion project, the expansion of the container yard, and various other berth improvements, North Carolina Ports will be investing over $120 million into its infrastructure over the next few years.

Port of Oakland sees record volume in 2016 he Port of Oakland saw a record level of loaded shipping container volume in 2016, despite having consolidated its number of shipping terminals earlier in the year.

The port said Monday it handled the equivalent of 1.83 million loaded 20foot containers in 2016, a 7.6 percent increase from 2015, surpassing the previous record of 1.82 million 20footers set in 2013. According to port officials, a year-long growth clip in exports particularly agricultural products has driven the overall increase in cargo volume, as well as an increase in imports. Top export commodities from the port include wood pulp and waste paper and agricultural products, including fruits, nuts, meat, cereals and beverages and spirits.

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Agricultural products make up 40 percent of the port’s total export volume. The port has attributed much of its export growth to demand from Asia for high-quality farm products.

Its top five export destinations are China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. While other ports across the country skew toward imports, Oakland’s position near California’s growing regions like the Napa and Central valleys, as well as its position as a departure for Asian-bound ships, help boost its export business.

Export volume jumped 10.5 percent in 2016, the port said. Exports were up 13.5 percent in December, marking four consecutive months of doubledigit growth. Import volume increased a more modest 4.7 percent in 2016, and December imports were up 6.1 percent. Port officials said the recordhigh cargo volume is important because loaded container volume is a key metric used for calculating fees at the port. —CB Report

Ports & Shipping

Essar Ports plans Rs10,600 crore greenfield port in Gujarat WASHINGTON

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ssar Ports Ltd, one of the leading port companies in the country, is exploring the option of setting up a greenRield commercial port in Gujarat, according to three ofRicials close to the development. The company has recently given a project proposal to the state’s maritime regulator Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for the same. If it materializes, this would be the company’s Rirst all commercial port in the country. Currently, the company operates Rive ports, all of which are largely for captive purpose although they handle some amount of third party commercial cargo as well. According to the investment proposal made to GMB, the company has proposed an investment of Rs10,600 crore for the port project and it plans to employ about 1,000 people, according to two of the three ofRicials quoted.

The company aims to develop a commercial multi-purpose port

preferably in Devbhoomi Dwarka district with facilities capable of handling bulk, general cargo, liquid including petroleum and oil lubricants, chemicals and LPG. A senior GMB official in the know of the development said that the Essar Ports wants to develop a commercial port with a draft of about 18 metres with a cargo handling capacity of 100 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Presently, there are only two commercial ports in India that handle a cargo of 100 MTPA or

more including the Adani group run Mundra port in Kutch and Kandla Port Trust run government port in Kandla, Kutch. Reliance Industries’ captive port at Sikka near Jamnagar handles close to 125 MMTPA, which is mainly used for its refinery and petrochemical projects at nearby Moti Khavdi.

Apart from cargo, Essar Ports has also proposed to set up a 5 MMTPA liquefied LNG import and re-gasification facilities for the proposed project.

Tuesday January 24, 2017

Lyttelton Port workers to continue strike action aritime Union members employed by the Lyttelton Port Company are striking over changes to a collective agreement, which covers members working at the container terminal. The union said the agreement it has been negotiating with the company covered about 160-180 employees. The company’s chief executive, Peter Davie, said the focus of the negotiations was a limited number of changes aimed at improving the alignment of work rosters with operational needs. The aim was to “continue to improve customer services at our container terminal and remain competitive with other New Zealand ports”, Mr Davie said. The union’s national secretary, Joe Fleetwood, said union members had gone on strike for the past two weekends and had given notice of strike action for the next two weekends as well. He would not go into detail about where the negotiations had broken down. “In the end, we have issued a legal strike notice,” Mr Fleetwood said. “—CB Report

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Port of Valencia announces investments T

WASHINGTON

CUSTOMS BULLETIN REPORT www.customsbulletin.com

he Port Authority of Valencia (the APV) has announced big investment plans worth more than USD $246 million. The planned investment will take place over the next three years with its three stateowned ports; Sagunto, Valencia and Gandia, all set to be upgraded.

Announcements were during the launch of the Port Authority’s business plan for 2020. The authority intends to use $37.4 million of the investment to provide new berths and port facilities at the Port of Valencia.

There are also plans for dredging at the Principe Felipe and Levante docks. The works are projected to increase the draft of Valencia’s three terminals to 18 meters as the ports prepare to welcome containerships carrying up to 18,000 TEU. This means that the ports will be the Rirst

on the Mediterranean to be able to accommodate the new class of cargo ships. Last year, (July 2016), the Noatum Container Terminal in Valencia increased their Koneranes RTG Rleet to 27 units. Meanwhile, The biggest container cargo shipping line in the Caribbean is ditching Saint John for Halifax with a Rirst ship, the Vega Omega, to call on the Port of Halifax early Monday morning. “We were operating out of the Port of Saint John,” Gordon Cole, assistant vicepresident of Tropical Shipping, said in an interview Thursday. “This is a complete switch.” Although Tropical Shipping’s roughly 20-person Canadian head ofRice will remain in Saint John, the shipping line’s vessels will now be calling on the Port of Halifax.

“Halifax just offered a lot more connectivity to global carriers and to intermodal opportunities,” said Cole.

With that strategic move, the shipping company is hoping to attract more

container trafRic from global shipping companies that call on the Port of Halifax, and also transfer more container cargo to them. The Port of Halifax’s strong network of trucking companies and the service offered by CN Rail was also a big draw for Tropical Shipping. The company is currently building six new vessels, including two that will be plying Canadian waters, said Cole. “This is a new service for Halifax … (and) what is signiRicant is the connections this will bring,” Lane Farguson, a spokesman for the Halifax Port Authority, said in an interview Thursday. “This will open up new connections for the Port of Halifax.” Tropical Shipping’s Vega Omega will be arriving from St. Maarten at about 7 a.m.

Monday and then heads back south again to call on the Port of Palm Beach in Florida. In the shipping industry, the capacity of container cargo vessels is typically stated in terms of the number of formerly-standard 20-foot

containers (TEUs) these ships can hold. By the standard of global shipping companies, the Vega Omega is fairly small, at 1,118 TEUs, compared to some of the behemoths carrying as much as 9,400 TEUs which have called on the Port of Halifax in the past few years.

But Tropical Shipping’s arrival in Halifax and the shipping line’s weekly service to Florida, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean is being seen as a strong strategic move for the local port, which currently only has about 12 per cent of its total container trafRic going to or coming from the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

During the third quarter of 2016, the Port of Halifax’s total container trafRic, both inbound and outbound, was 119,181 TEUs, which means about 14,300 TEUs of container trafRic from the Port of Halifax would have come from or gone to the Caribbean and Mediterranean during that time.

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Kohat Auction Cell gets Rs32m in 1H of FY2016-17 ISLAMABAD: The Kohat Customs Auction Cell collected revenue of Rs32 million under the head of All Duty Taxes during the first half of the current Financial Year (FY) 2016-17.

According to details, the Kohat Customs Station collected the above said revenue by auctioning different non-duty paid vehicles and confiscating smuggled goods. Fazle Samad, Additional Collector, MCC Peshawar said the Kohat Auction Cell got revenue of Rs24.55 million under the head of Total Customs Duty during the above said period.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

Faisalabad ASO seizes non duty paid cloth near Kamal Interchange FAISALABAD NAEEM SHEIKH

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he Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) seized non huge quantity of non duty paid foreign origin cloth. The market value of seized items is Rs 211970 involving duty and taxes amounting to Rs 122224.

Sources told Customs Today that Collector ZulRikar Ali Chaudhary received credible information regarding smuggling of cloth. After receiving the information the collector constituted a special team comprising Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya, Ali Zahid, Mehmood Ahmed Dogar, Dilawar Hussain, Liaqat Ali, ZuliRkar Ali Awan, Muhammad Arshad. The ASO team intercepted Kohistan bus bearing registration no: LWC-4276 near Kamal Interchange and recovered 300 kilogram of smuggled cloth from the vehicle.

The ASO seized all the cloth under section 2(s) read with SRO 566(1)/2005 and section 16, 18 of the Customs Act 1969 with section 3 of Sales Tax Act 1990, section 148 of Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

The consignment was being transported from Lahore to Faisalabad. The team asked the driver of

the accused who was later identiRied as Muhammad Abid son of Naik Muhammad resident of Nowshera

to produce legal documents regarding possession and transportation of loaded goods but he remained

failed to provide the same. The Anti Smuggling Organization after registering a case of smuggling against

accused persons forwarded the case to Customs Adjudication for further proceedings.

Customs Valuation issues reference values of stomach tube KARACHI

WAQAR AHMED ANSARI www.customsbulletin.com

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irectorate General of Customs Valuation has issued the reference values for stomach tube.

The directorate general has initiated an exercise to develop database values for different items wherein it has been observed that declarations are of wide range and do not correctly reRlect values of

the items as traded in the international market.

During the scrutiny of previous clearance data, it has been observed that stomach tube falling under PCT headings 9018.3990, are being assessed at different, values and certain transactions are on very low side.

The director general after carefully examining the clearance data, also conducted market inquiries to verify the authenticity of declarations. Online prices were also obtained to corroborate the findings of the market surveys. This office, therefore, has

found that the customs values of stomach tube are $0.10/pc.

These values are, however, for reference/guidance only and Rinal assessment may please be made after considering other factors which have bearing on the customs value.

The clearance collectorates may like to consider the values given above before Rinalizing the assessment of the subject items. If further Rine-tuning in speciRications and ensuing values are required, Collectorate may forward a reference along with detailed justiRications a.• worksheets so that requisite adjustments are accordingly issued.

In case of any grievances, the importer can Rile a request to the Directora I- General along with substantiating evidence/record for reconsideration/review. Meanwhile, Directorate General of Customs Valuation has issued the reference values for suction connecting tube. This Directorate General has initiated an exercise to develop database values for different items wherein it has been observed that declarations are of wide range and do not correctly reRlect values of the items as traded in the international market. During the scrutiny of previous clearance data,

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

it has been observed that suction connecting tube falling under PCT headings 9018.3990, are being assessed at different values and certain transactions are on very low side. This Directorate General, after carefully examining the clearance data, also conducted market inquiries to verify the authenticity of declarations. Online prices were also obtained to corroborate the Rindings of the market surveys. This ofRice, therefore, has found that the customs values of suction connecting tube China origin US$0.31, suction connecting tube (1/4″3m) China 0.42.