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ISLAMABAD

TARIQ DERYA

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he Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Islamabad, earned Rs607.07million during initial 15 days of January of Financial Year (FY) 2016-17 under the head of all duty taxes. The collectorate was assigned the target of collection of Rs509.87million under the head of all duty taxes for above said period, so the collectorate has exceeded the assigned target with collection of Rs97.20million.

According to details, during the Pirst 15 days of January, the collectorate got Rs291.95million under

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the head of Customs Duty whereas the collectorate was assigned the target of Rs216.32million, thus exceededing the CD collection target for above said period with the amount of Rs75.62 million. The collector MCC further told Customs Today that during the above said period the collectorate collected revenue of Rs218.68million under head of Sales Tax (ST) while the collectorate was assigned the ST target for above said period amounting to Rs196.90 million. Thus the collectorate surpassed the ST target with Rs21.78million. He said that during initial 15 days of January FY16-17 the collectorate achieved collection of Rs92.86million under the head of Income Tax whereas the collectorate was assigned Rs90.77million.

DG Customs I&I Shaukat Ali directs officers for better results during 2017

ASO earns Rs211.369m during Shahid Jan’s posting as DC Preventive

Dar chairs meeting to review matters related to Privatization

DC Asma Hameed declares seizure of mobile phones as legal

Faisalabad ASO confiscates cloth worth Rs246,450 from Daewoo

DG I&I Shaukat has asked the officers for better result during the current year | SEE pAgE 02 |

DC ASO Islamabad Shahid Jan has been transferred to AFU Islamabad | SEE pAgE 03 |

Dar, chaired a meeting to review matters related to Privatization here at the Ministry | SEE pAgE 04 |

DC Asma Hameed issued ONO in favour of the Customs I&I while declaring | SEE pAgE 14 |

The ASO seized non-duty paid foreign origin cloth valued Rs246,450 involving | SEE pAgE 16 |

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PRA seals 12 housing societies in Sialkot, 10 in Sargodha Thursday, January 26, 2017

National

SIALKOT: The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has launched a crackdown against the housing societies, involved in tax evasion.

The PRA oďŹƒcials, taking action, sealed 12 societies and banned all their transactions.

These housing societies include Green Villas, Silk City, Palm City, Happy Valley, Model Housing Society and Nishtar Garden Housing Society etc.

The PRA had also sealed ten housing societies, one hotel and two beauty parlours in Sargodha in April last year.

Meanwhile, the PRA team also sealed 10 societies in Sargodha.

Dg customs I&I Shaukat Ali seeks better results during 2017

FAISALABAD

KARACHI

nAEEm ShEIkh

muBEEn huSSAIn

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he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of the Customs Department has seized two imported generators. The market value of the seized generators is Rs7 million involving customs duty and taxes assessed Rs1.9 million. Sources informed Customs Today that Additional Deputy Collector Muhammad Saeed Asad received a tip-off about the lying of two generators on an identified place transported from Lahore to Faisalabad. The party headed by Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya of the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Faisalabad, along with team raided the place and recovered the said used diesel generators weighed 6,510 kg and one alternator for generator weighed 1,040 kg without payment of duty and taxes. The team asked accused Malik Naseer, a resident of 202 R.B Bhaiwala Faisalabad, and Tanveer Hussain son of Muhammad Ismail (Owner of Generators), to produce legal documents of the items but they failed to do so. The Anti-Smuggling Organization forwarded the case to the Customs Adjudication.

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irector General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Shaukat Ali has asked the ofPicers for better result during the current year.

According to the sources in the Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I), Director General Shaukat Ali has asked the ofPicers for the result oriented and effective raids across the country as well for boosting the revenue collection through auction of goods recovered during the raids.

The source also informed that the director general issued the directives after reviewing the overall progress report of the year 2016.

The report covered the total seizures and the total revenues collected through the auction of the seized goods. The director general being very strict said that the showcase will be served to those ofPicers who are not serious in their duties or not performing the way ofPicers are assigned the duties, the source further informed. The Director General has directed the ofPicers to produce twenty nine to thirty million rupees more seizures during the current year, the source also informed. He also asked the ofPicers to make suitable arrangements, spread the blanket of the informers, stay vigilant during the duties and thor-

ASo confiscates two generators worth Rs 7 million on tip-o

oughly check all the documents on the check posts and during seizures whereas the ofPicers involved in the unfair means activities will be dealt with iron hands, said the source.

Meanwhile, The Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investi-

gation (I&I) has acquired a private warehouse on rent to keep the seized goods in it. According to the sources, the Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) took this decision on the directives of the higher authorities.

The source also informed that the warehouse of the Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation in Rasheedabad is packed with the different goods, especially with the several imported non-duty paid luxury vehicles.

fruits worth $189.583m exported during last six-month

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ISLAMABAD

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ruit exports from the country during Pirst six months of current Pinancial year increased by 10.53 percent as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year. About 259,341 metric tons of fresh fruit of different kinds worth $198.583 million were exported from the country during the period from July-December, 2016-

17 as compared to same period of last year. The fruits export from the country in Pirst six months of last Pinancial year were recorded at 267.133 metric tons valuing of $179.661 million, according the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

In last two quarters of current Pinancial year, vegetable exports decreased by 25.10 percent as compared to same period of last year.

In last six months about 199,883 metric tons of fresh vegetables

worth $59.753 million were exported as compared to 278.986 million tons valuing $79.779 million of same period of last year.

During the period under review tobacco exports grew by 9.14 percent as 1,064 metric tons tobacco valuing $3.987 million exported as against 1,113 metric tons costing $3.653 million of same period of last year. In Pirst half of current Pinancial year, food group exports from the country decreased by 10.94 percent as compared the corresponding

period of last year.

During last six months, food commodities worth $1.659 billion were exported as compared the exports of $1.862 billion of same period of last year. The commodities which registered negative growth in their exports included rice by 17.97 percent, basmati rice by 25.52 percent and rice other then basmati reduced by 15.28 percent respectively. On the other hand, the exports of food commodities from the country recording the positive growth in ex-

ports during Pirst half of current Pinancial year included wheat by 100 percent, spices by 5.55 percent oil seed, nuts and kernals by 38.27 percent respectively.

It may be recalled that during the period from July-December, 201617 food group imports in the country increased by 9.04 percent as food commodities worth $2.884 billion were imported to fulPil the domestic requirements as against the import of $2.628 billion of same period of last year.

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Transit Trade DG reviews Vehicles contract 2017 KARACHI: Directorate General of Transit Trade has reviewed the bids for Transit Vehicles contract 2017 and announcement of the decision is expected soon.

According to sources, the directorate opened the bidding for Transit Vehicle Contract 2017 in the first week of December 2016. To make the tracking process transparent, the directorate will finalize it in three phases. In the first phase the directorate will short-list five companies out of all the received bids. Three days after the first phase, the directorate will short-list three companies out of five. In the third phase, the directorate will examine the available resources to short-listed companies before making a final decision.

Thursday January 26, 2017

National

Acting chairman fBR to hold meeting with top customs officers

ASo earns Rs211.369m during Shahid Jan’s posting as Dc preventive

KARACHI

S R khAn

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he Acting Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue-FBR Dr Muhammad Irshad has called on a meeting of Chief Collector Appraisement-South Abdul Rashid Shaikh and Chief Collector-Enforcement-South Muhammad Zahid Khokhar at FBR Headquarters. The sources informed Customs Today that the acting FBR chairman is going to hold a meeting with the top officers of Pakistan Customs on Monday. The sources informed this scribe that the agenda of meeting is to review the revenue generation and anti-smuggling actions taken by the customs authorities during the first two quarters of the Fiscal Year2016-17.

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ASo seizes 180 bags of tamarind seeds worth Rs 349,000 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. The ASO team raided the Gattwala Toll Plaza, Sheikhupura Road, Faisalabad, and impounded a Mazda mini truck with registration No: LES-12-6998, Model 2012, loaded with the said tamarind seed bags weighed 8000 kg.

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ISLAMABAD

TARIQ DERYA

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eputy Collector Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad Shahid Jan has been transferred to Air Freight Unit (AFU) Islamabad on the same designation. In place of his seat at the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad, Deputy Collector AFU Ansar Anees’s transfer orders have been notiPied for the charge of DC Headquarter.

According to the document provided to Customs Today, Shahid Jan will take charge of the AFU (Import, AFU Admin, Appraisement, BG Cell, DTRE,TP, Licensing and Recovery) whereas DC Ansar Anees will take charge of the HQ ofPice, Preventive Division, Investigation and Prosecution and AIB (HQ). The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Islamabad has earned Rs.211.369 million during Shahid Jan’s service as DC Preventive from (July to December) of Financial Year (FY) 2016-17.

During the above said period, the ASO seized various smuggled goods under the value of Rs12.530 million.

The ASO also collected revenue of Rs85.55 by impounding 78 offending vehicles. The ASO earned revenue of Rs108.94 by impounding 79 non-duty paid vehicles and the same ASO collected revenue of Rs39.25 million by seizing foreign origin fabric in quantity of 58,569 yards.

Under the command of Shahid

Jan, the ASO collected revenue of Rs7.51 million by seizing food grains in quantity of 65,879 kilogram, did revenue of Rs0.703 million by doing black tea weighed 2,433 kilogram, collected revenue of Rs1.014 million by seizing smuggled tyres and tubes in quantity of 366. The ASO also collected revenue of Rs2.765 million by seizing smuggled spare-parts weighed 10,402 kilogram. The ASO Islamabad collected revenue of Rs0.043 million by conPiscating 260

The ASo also collected revenue of Rs85.55 by impounding 78 offending vehicles. The ASo earned revenue of Rs108.94 by impounding 79 non-duty paid vehicles and the same ASo collected revenue of Rs39.25 million by seizing foreign origin fabric in quantity of 58,569 yards

Shc rejects plea filed by m/s Trading corp

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KARACHI

m BILAL

www.customsbulletin.com he Sindh High Court (SHC) has dismissed a constitutional petition as not pressed Piled by M/s Trading Corporation of Pakistan (Private) Limited against show cause notices for recovery of income tax for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. A twomember bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing the petition. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that under in-

structions, he does not want to press instant petition, as according to the learned counsel, the respondents could not take any adverse action against the petitioner in the instant pursuant to impugned show cause notices. After the arguments, court dismissed the petition as not pressed along with listed application. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner has recently received show cause notices under section 221 for recovery of income tax, simultaneously whereby, it is alleged that the

tax credits claimed in income tax returns do not match with the record available in integrated tax management system (ITMS) maintained by the tax authorities. He said, being aggrieved, the petitioner Piled an appeal before authority concerned which was rejected without considering facts. Citing Secretary Ministry of Finance, chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) the Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue Zone –III, Large Taxpayer Unit, Karachi as respondents, importer pleaded the court.

litres of smuggled mobil oil and made revenue of Rs4.486 million by seizing smuggled fake cigarettes. The ASO earned revenue of Rs32.56 million by conPiscating smuggled electronics weighed 3,321. The same organization collected revenue of Rs0.823 million by seizing smuggled pirated CDs/DVDs in quantity of 41,400. The ASO earned revenue of Rs0.234 million and seized 287 smuggled blankets and made revenue of Rs0.403 million.

Anf seizes 7kg heroin, arrests five peddlers he Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Sindh has arrested five drug peddlers and recovered 7 kg heroin while conducting raids in two different areas of metropolis. An official of the force informed on Wednesday that the ANF on a tip off conducted raids in Korangi and Pehlwan Goth on Tuesday. He added that cases have been registered and further investigations are underway.

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Rs162b package for textile sector achievement for Mintex ISLAMABAD: Rs162 billion for the modernization and development of textile sector was a big achievement for Ministry of Textile in years 2016.

Textile sector has got Rs162 billion from Rs180 billion “Trade Enhancement Package” announced by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for coming 18 months from January 2017 to June 2018 to enhance the country’s export, a senior official of Ministry of Textile. The official said that the government had decided to give drawback on duties in garments by seven percent, process fabric five percent, made ups six percent in the coming 18 months.

Thursday January 26, 2017

Business

Dar review matters related to privatization ISLAMABAD

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ederal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics & Privatization, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, chaired a meeting to review matters related to Privatization here at the Ministry of Finance today.

Chairman Privatization Commission, Mohammad Zubair, briefed the minister on the status of the ongoing privatization transactions. He apprised the minister on the status of various stateowned entities including Pakistan Steel Mills and SME Bank Finance Minister emphasized

Trade to gain momentum after cpEc ISLAMABAD

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that the government’s utmost priority with respect to privatization

govt extends fertiliser subsidy, allows export of 300,000 tons

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ML-N Leader Maj. Ret. Tahir Iqbal said on Wednesday that trade activities in Pakistan would gain momentum after Pak-China Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) completion as many countries including Iran and Russia are also willing to join it. He said CPEC to bring a new era of speedy progress and prosperity in the country. He further said India is our old enemy, however, all its claims and dreams could not be materialized. Just to destabilize Pakistan and hinder its progress, India talks about surgical strikes, instigates separatists in Balochistan.

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is to ensure that transactions are conducted in an open, fair and

transparent manner. He said that the government is actively working to resolve the financial bleeding caused to the national exchequer by loss-making state-owned enterprises.

He stated that the government makes a decision regarding the restructuring or privatization of each loss-making entity on a case-bycase basis while keeping in view the specific circumstances of each entity, and in the best interests of the people of Pakistan. He urged the Privatization Commission to complete the ongoing transactions in a timely manner whilst ensuring full compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Privatization Commission.

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ISLAMABAD

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he government has allowed the long-awaited export of 300,000 tonnes urea fertiliser without the Rs200 per bag subsidy being extended for sales to local farmers. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The move aims to partially ofPload substantial surplus stocks built through domestic pro-

duction with subsidised gas and public sector imports.

The ECC also formally endorsed the Jan 13 decision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to continue sale of fertilisers to farmers at subsidised rates. “In pursuance of the prime minister’s decision, the ECC endorsed continuation of the previous fertiliser subsidy scheme for 2016-17 on the same terms, conditions and modalities,” an official statement said.

The government is paying Rs200 per bag subsidy to support the farming community and agriculture sec-

tor. The export of 300,000 tonnes of urea fertiliser will be allowed till April 28, 2017 without the abovementioned subsidy.

The export quantity will be monitored by the State Bank of Pakistan in a similar mechanism adopted for sugar exports.

The Fertiliser Review Committee (FRC) was directed to monitor domestic prices of urea on monthly basis following the weekly sensitive price index and recommend to the ECC discontinuation of further exports in case of abnormal increase in retail price.

Banks refuse to take old-design uS dollar notes KARACHI

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illions of dollars stashed away in lockers by Pakistanis face the risk of devaluation as banks have stopped accepting old-design notes. Meanwhile, moneychangers are charging up to a 4 per cent fee to exchange the old-design bills. Pakistanis who do not know the difference between old- and new-design notes are going to be unsuspecting victims of devaluation and unacceptability of the dollars. Banks and moneychangers confirmed on Tuesday that the former are not accepting the old-design notes while the latter are charging a fee to exchange them.

The old-design $100 notes are not banned anywhere in the world, except Pakistan where the strange situation seems to have emerged mainly due to the banks’ refusal to accept old-design banknotes. The $100 bill with a blue stripe in middle of the note is newly designed.

Older bills without the blue stripe are not currently acceptable by Pakistani banks. There is no official restriction on accepting the olddesign $100 note. But moneychangers say banks turn down old-design notes when they try to deposit them.

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Development spending slows down to 32pc of allocation ISLAMABAD

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he federal government’s development programme appears slowing down this year as disbursements to all the federal ministries stood at just 32 per cent of annual allocations in almost seven months against a target of about 50pc.

The release of funds to the fed-

eral ministries as of Jan 20 (about seven months) amounted to Rs75 billion against an annual allocation of Rs234.3bn, according to Planning Commission of Pakistan. This was even lower than Rs97bn released to federal ministries during same period last Pinancial year when disbursement rate stood at about 44pc of Rs222.5bn allocation.

On top of that, the government disbursed less than 39pc funds (about Rs312bn) for the overall

Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) that also includes major corporations, special areas and special programmes in the Pirst seven months of this Piscal year against the allocation of Rs800bn.

During the same period last year, the government released over Rs295 billion (more than 42pc) for overall PSDP against that years’ allocation of Rs700bn.

Under the government’s approved disbursement mechanism,

the government should have released at least Rs385bn by Jan 20.

However, substantial shortfalls in revenue collection during the period contributed to lower disbursements for the development programme, said an ofPicial explaining that it was practically impossible to contain major ‘on-tap’ expenditures like debt servicing, defence and running of the government. In line with the government priority to end load-shedding, the disbursements

for power sector projects have been scaled up signiPicantly over the last two months. Total releases for the power sector stood at Rs47.6bn as of Jan 20 against an allocation of Rs130bn for the full year, about 36.6pc but still short of the target.

Also, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the releases to the power sector were struggling at just 12pc at the end of Pirst Pive months (July-Nov) but were sped up by more than three times.

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LAHORE

m hAYAT

www.customstoday.com ustoms Central Region has collected Rs2782 million under the head of sales tax during the Pirst Pifteen days of January 2016-17. As per details the Customs Appraisement Lahore collected Rs1149 million during the Pirst 15 days of the period under review.

Similarly, Customs Preventive Lahore collected Rs717 million under the head of sales tax during the period under review.

The Collectorate of Multan collected Rs658 million as sales tax during the month of January of current Pinancial year 2016-17.

The Collectorate of Customs Faisalabad collected Rs256 million as sales tax during the Pirst Pifteen days of Pinancial year 2016-17.

Overall the Central Region collected total sales tax from all the four Collectrates worth Rs2782 million during the Pirst Pifteen day of the month of January.

It is necessary to mention here that the Central Region was assigned Rs 8674 million sales tax revenue collection target for the month of January 2017.

Meanwhile, Customs Central Region has collected Rs1608 million under the head of customs duty during the Pirst Pifteen days January Pinancial year 2016-17.

As per details the Customs Appraisement Lahore collected Rs797 million during the 15 days of January Pinancial year 2016-17.

Similarly, Customs Preventive Lahore col-

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Thursday, January 26, 2017

lected Rs393 million as customs duty during the period under review.

The Collectorate of Multan collected Rs304 million under the head of customs duty during the period under review.

In the same way, the Collectorate of Customs Faisalabad collected Rs112 million customs duty during the Pirst Pifteen days of January Pinancial year 2016-17.

Overall the Customs Central Region collected total customs duty from all the four Collectorates worth Rs1608 million during the Pirst Pifteen day January of Pinancial year 20161-17.

The Central Region assigned Rs2162 million customs duty collection target in which all the Collectorates fall while the target given to the region last Pinancial year for the month of November was Rs3725 million.

Sources told Customs Today that in order to achieve Pinancial year targets the Central Region has made arrangements by holding meetings with the collectors of all the Collectorates in the limits of Central Region.

Meanwhile, Customs Central Region has collected Rs38308 million under the head of sales tax during the Pirst six months of current Pinancial year 2016-17 (July-December). According to the details, the sales tax collection has been collected by all the four collectorates of customs including Collectorate of Customs Preventive, Collectorate of Customs Appraisement, Colletorate of Customs Multan and Collectorate of Customs Faisalabad. As per details, Collectorate of Customs Appraisement collected Rs16748 sales tax million during the Pirst six months of the period under review while the

Collectorate of Customs Preventive collected Rs6326 million sales tax during the six month of Pinancial year 2016-17.

Similarly, Collectorate of Customs Multan collected Rs 20250 million under the head of sales tax during the period from July to December of the current Pinancial year.

On the other hand, the Collectorate of Faisalabad collected Rs 3143 million on account of sales tax during the period of Pinancial year 2016-17.

abad faisal s m o ust tax te of c sales a s r a o t n c al llio olle nanci fi 56 mi The c f 2 o s s R ted n day tral collec fiftee t s r e cen h fi t e l l h all a t r g x from 7. ove durin a 1 t 6 s 1 e 0 2 al sal year 2 Rs278 ed tot h t t c r e l o l n co tes w y of Regio en da lectra l e t o f c fi r u e first the fo ng th i r uary u d n of Jan h t millio n o the m

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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

case of sugar mills in cotton growing areas

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ccording to newspaper reports, the Ministry of Textile Industry has expressed the apprehensions that allowing the establishment of new sugar mills in the cotton growing areas will severely affect cotton production. The ministry has urged provinces not to issue no-objection certificates to the mill owners either to increase the capacity or shifting of their units to the cotton growing areas. The sugar prices have shown 100 percent increase during the last one decade and the mill owners are now want to expand their operations in the cotton growing areas.

Currently, 45 sugar mills are operational in Punjab, 32 in Sindh and eight in KhyberPakhtunkhwa as the units have increased from 45 to 85 in 10 years and it is increasingly becoming a lucrative business.

At least 70 percent sugar mills are already shifted to the cotton growing areas, including Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh. It has slashed the potentials of cotton areas by 26 percent and sugar mills in Mianwali will further cut the cotton production.Despite the potentials of the country to produce sugar surplus at a large scale, the prices of sugar are still very high and benefits of subsidies are not reaching the common man. There was a time the country was proud of manufacturing complete sugar plants and was offering the world to buy sugar units from Pakistan.

However, decades after the claims of selfreliance in sugar industry and sugar-cane production, the country faced shortage of this commodity many a time and even had to import it from India. The shrinkage of the cotton growing areas has already sent ripple effects to the textile exports of the country. The country’s textile industry is now heavily depending on the Indian cotton and squeezing of the cotton growing areas will further affect this vital sector.Last year, due to growing hostile attitude of the Indian government, Pakistan suspended cotton import from that country only to restore it after few days.An officials of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association has already rejected the claims by some lobbies that the sugar mill owners are making billions of rupees by increasing the sugar prices and production capacity of sugar mills.

pakistan as fastest growing economy A

LAHORE

DR AfTAB AfZAL

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ccording to the media reports, Pakistan is emerging as the fifth fastest economy of the world and is performing better than many developed economies. The renowned Economist magazine suggests that the financial indicators regard Pakistan as the fastest growing economy in the Muslim world with estimated GDP growth at 5.3 percent. However, the country still lags behind India, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Philippines where India is growing at 7.5 percent and others, including China, at the rate of more than 6 percent. The economists

project the country’s GDP growth at 5.3 percent for 2017, which is 0.4 percent less than the growth rate of the previous financial year. This shows the country has miles to go to keep up pace with the countries in the region. The growth of the gross domestic product in 2014 was projected as the sixth fastest in the world.

However, the country is facing declining exports, energy crisis, security situation and lack of will of the government to introduce structural reforms. Various Muslim economies are facing the same challenges as of Pakistan, including Egypt where load shedding is haunting its industry, political chaos has cost the domestic peace and disturbance in the neighbouring countries is hin-

dering the expansion of its business and trade. On another note, the Malaysian economy is growing at 4.6 percent and Indonesia’s at 5.2 percent.

There are lessons to learn for the Pakistani policymakers with regard to Bangladesh which had half of the GDP of Pakistan a few years ago, but has been growing at 6.5 percent.

Bangladesh’s GDP has reached $230 billion, putting it in the middle income countries from the list of the world’s poorest nations. Bangladesh has been achieving a steady growth rate by expanding textile and garment sectors. The Bangladeshi exports remained over $31 billion last year in which garment sector exports contributed over $25 bil-

lion. Pakistan’s exports touched $25 billion in 2012-13, but these are nose-diving since then.

The government has failed to revisit its economic policies and priorities. Now all hopes are pinned on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is regarded as the game changer. However, the country is in the habit of losing opportunities for one reason or the other. Earlier, the government had planned to set up industrial estates on the sides of the motorways, but nothing happened decades after the operation of the project. Now the government is promising the nation of setting up special economic zones along the economic corridor but it is yet to be seen how it moves forward to implement its plans.

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Tame inflation unlikely to rattle RBA WASHINGTON: A more subdued inflation result than economists had been expecting is unlikely to panic the Reserve Bank into cutting the cash rate from an already record low. As expected, rising petrol prices and an increase in tobacco excise were the main factors contributing to a 0.5 per cent rise in the consumer price index for the December quarter. They were partly offset by falls in the cost of international holidays and accommodation, and “waters, soft drinks and juices”, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. It left the annual inflation rate at 1.5 per cent and below the central bank’s two to three per cent target band. Measures of underlying inflation, which smooth out wild swings in prices and more relevant to interest rate policy, grew by just 0.4 per cent on average for an annual rate of 1.6 per cent.

They were also shy of expectations.”

LccI demands transport for educational sector LAHORE

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he Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Wednesday hailed the donation of busses to the educational institutes in the capital by the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif under the PM Education Reforms Program and termed it a great favor to the students who are future of Pakistan. There is a dire need to provide mass transit system to all schools. In a statement issued here, the LCCI President Abdul Basit and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said that this measure shows that government wants to ensure children are provided with all latest facilities and good environment for education. The LCCI office-bearers said that hats off for the present regime in general and Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif in particular for doing this as children are the fu-

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ture of Pakistan and precious asset.

They said that same courage should be shown by the provincial governments.

They said that though Punjab government is doing a lot to promote education among the poor but still a lot has to be done as a large part of society has not access to the education or the basic facilities at the government schools. They said that federal government should take such initiatives for the students across the country while provincial government should ensure provision of all necessities in the government schools. They said that education is to be the force of development plan.

The expense on education has hardly ever crossed 3 % percent of GDP despite the fact that no development plan can proceed further without raising this figure to 6% percent. –CB Report

Thursday January 26, 2017

Chambers

IccI launches project for promoting women entrepreneurship T

ISLAMABAD

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he Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with Aurat Foundation launched a project titled “Enhancing Women Economic Empowerment through Skills Development and Capacity Building”, which is a USAID funded project under its Gender Equity Program. ICCI would undertake many initiatives under this project to promote women entrepreneurship in the region.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Khalid Iqbal Malik, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the project would go a long way in enhancing the economic empowerment of women through their skills enhancement and capacity building.

He said that women were half of total population and bringing them into the mainstream of business activities was vital for sustainable economic growth of the country. He said ICCI has already taken many initiatives for women entrepreneurs including establishment a Women Business Growth Centre in collabo-

ration with UNIDO Pakistan and assured that ICCI would continue to work for the economic empowerment of women so that they could play effective role in the development of the country.

Under the project, ICCI would organize training programs for capacity building of women and equipping them with the required skills in the Pields of marketing and quality control geared towards product im-

provement. ICCI would help women entrepreneurs in establishing and expanding business ventures and integrating them into the mainstream of business Pield. A web portal for women entrepreneurs would be set up at ICCI website. ICCI would establish a women desk to provide business related information to aspiring businesswomen and would facilitate them in connectivity and networking with established women entrepre-

nAB recovers Rs 285 billion since its inception: chairman

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RAWALPINDI

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he National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered a hefty amount of Rs285 billion since its inception and deposited it in the national exchequer said Chairman NAB, Qamar Zaman Chaudhary.

Addressing traders during his visit to Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Thursday he said, elimination of terrorism from the country has improved business activities besides overall security situation.

He said, the business community is playing a pivotal role for economic development of the country and all economic indicators are positive.

NAB is making efforts to eradicate

corruption from the society, he added. He said that the recovery Pigures are indicative of the hard work being put in by all ranks ofNAB stafPin an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism, where Pight against corruption is being taken as a national duty.

He added that the Bureau has chalked out a comprehensive National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for eradication of corruption and corrupt practices in the country. Corruption is affecting the country just like cancer, he observed. Awareness and prevention of corruption is a challenging task and as a Pakistanis it is our moral duty to spread awareness regarding the ill effects of the menace all the segments of the society should play an active role for the eradication of corruption from the country,he said. He said, in-

crease in the number of complaints also rePlects enhanced public trust in the NAB. The Chairman said, NAB with improved infrastructure and rationalized workload; timelines have been prescribed for efPicient, effective and expeditious disposal of cases. He said, NAB has devised a centralized monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with the SOPs and prescribed timelines. The Chairman NAB said, the Bureau strongly believes in Zero Tolerance Policy against Corruption. NAB hopes that joint efforts of all stakeholders can collaborate to check corruption and corrupt practices before happening with the help of all stakeholders, civil society, media and people at large and bring sustainable systematic changes to the governance structure of our country,the chairman said.

neurs. The chamber would liaison with private sector for job placements for skilled women and would organize consultative sessions to identify lucrative business opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the local market. Speaking at the occasion, Ms. Mahpara Shakil Ghori and Abdul Raheem Khan of Aurat Foundation highlighted the initiatives of their organization for a just, democratic and caring society in Pakistan.

Iran exports first batch of products to Russia he potential of economic cooperation between Iran and Russia is very high and the turnover will be increased by several times over the next years. Under the Iranian-Russian protocol on implantation of simplified customs corridor, Iran supplied its first batch of agricultural products from the western province of Mazandaran to Russia. The first batch of Iranian products was delivered to Russia from the export terminal Abbas Abad, IRNA agency reported. The Customs Administration of Russia and Iran agreed to exchange information on customs value of the goods crossing the border, as well as a plan for the development of Russian-Iranian cooperation in the customs area for 2016-2017. –CB Report

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Customs valuation issues reference value of PU soles Thursday January 26, 2017

National Rs 2 million liquor cleared without customs-duty: pcA ISLAMABAD

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KARACHI: Directorate General of Customs Valuation has issued reference values for PU soles. 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 PU Soles for Shoes falling under PCT heading 6406.2090 are being assessed at different values and certain transactions are on very low side.

customs Adjudication orders impounding of smuggled vehicle C

FAISALABAD

nAEEm ShEIkh

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he Directorate General of Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has sent audit report prepared by its regional directorate Karachi against diplomatic warehouse. M/S General Enterprises Co. Karachi, which exclusively deals in import and supply of liquor in the names of diplomats. The Audit report has unearthed massive fraud and wrong doings carried out by the Enterprises from the very start of business which continued up till now.

The detailed report has calculated loss of billion of rupees caused by illegal supply of liquor in the name of diplomats stationed in Karachi.

According to details the audit has reveled in startling and criminal violations committed by the diplomatic bond. Over the years all operations and activities of the bond are marred by fraud, forgery and mis-declaration.

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ustoms Adjudication Additional Collector Beelamur Ramzan has issued an Orderin-Original (ONO) against the owner of non-duty-paid vehicle and ordered impounding of the vehicle. According to details, the Anti-Smuggling Organization team intercepted a Toyota Premio car with registration No: AAQ 996Quetta, Model 2008, House power 1496CC. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Abdul Ali of Ghulam Nabi, a resident of Muhallah National Colony, Quetta city, was asked to produce the proof of vehicle’s legitimacy but he failed to do so. The ASO authorities, after being unsatisfied, impounded the vehicle and forwarded the case to

ederal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a human trafficker from Chiniot city during intelligence base operation.

Sources told Customs Today that Deputy Director FIA Syed Imam Zaidi and Sub Inspector Muhammad Hanif conducted raid at Kark Muhammadi Sharif Bhawana district Chiniot along with FIA team and arrested human trafficker who was identified as Muhammad Saeed son of Noor Muhammad. Sources said that the accused was running an illegal business of sending innocent people abroad after extorting huge amounts from them after showing golden dreams of their lucid future abroad. –Naeem Sheikh

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clearance of the consignment.

Superintendent Sardar Mohammad, Inspectors Abdul Jabbar, Saf-

ASo seizes 45,000 liters smuggled hSD, arrests driver

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muBEEn huSSAIn

fIA arrests human trafficker from chiniot

the Customs Adjudication. Neither importer nor his authorized person approached the customs for

dar Ali, Naseer Ahmed and Masood Saeed Chohan and Bashir Hussain (IO) appeared before the authority and no written reply was received from the respondent.

From the case record of the forensic science laboratory, chassis number of Toyota Premio car with registration No: AAQ 996 Quetta was found cut. Neither respondent nor his counsel or any written reply appeared to defend the case. The inspector appeared from the prosecution side and asserted that the seized vehicle falls under Section 2(S) of the Customs Act-1969.

Therefore Customs Adjudication Additional Collector Beelamur Ramzan ordered the seizure of goods under Clause 14 of the Section 156 (1), 157(1) and (2) of the Customs Act-1969.

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irectorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I), Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), has seized a Hino tanker Pilled with smuggled high speed diesel.

An ASO team under the supervision of Superintendent Haji Muhammad Aslam along with area police intercepted the Hino oil tanker bearing registration no: TKS-540. The team recovered 45,000 liters of smuggled diesel worth millions of rupees. The driver of the tanker has been arrested and a Pirst information report has been lodged against him.

It is pertinent to mention here that high speed diesel is used as a fuel for commercial buses, trucks and lorries. High speed diesel has better combustion quality thereby achieving good performance as well as cleaner emissions. The advanced high speed diesel has a special additive that even cleans the carbon deposits on fuel injectors.

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FBR to transfer senior officials in field formation Collectorates KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to bring some changes in top bureaucracy of the field formation Collectorates, it is learnt here. Sources informed Customs Today that the high-ups of the FBR, including Chairman Nisar Mohammad Khan and Member Customs Nasir Masroor Ahmad have decided to bring some changes at the top bureaucracy in field formation Collectorates before ending the third quarters of the fiscal year 2016-17 in order to get even more fruitful results in revenue generations and achieving the set revenue targets during the last two quarters of the year. According to the sources, the FBR management is going to make some transfers and postings of Grade-BPS 19 and Grade-BPS-20 within the Collectorates of MCCAppraisement (West), MCC-Appraisement (East) and MCC-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim.

customs court grants bail to suspect involved in tax evasion KARACHI

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ustoms Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted interim bail to Abbas Ismail son of Ismail Jee who was booked in a case of tax evasion of Rs 174,339. On Monday, during the hearing, the accused appeared before the court along with his counsel and filed the bail application.

The counsel for the accused argued that his client was innocent and was falsely implicated in this case. The counsel said his client was ready to face trail, therefore, the court may grant him bail. After the arguments,

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the court granted him bail subject to furnishing solvent surety in the sum of Rs 100,000. The court also issued notice to the special prosecutor Custom Department and called police file for January 18, 2017. It needs to be mention here that the court had also granted bail to another accused namely Naveed Usman son of Usman.

According to the prosecution, case was registered against the above named accused persons in violation of section 32 (1) (2) 32A 79 & 80 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clauses 14, 14A & 42 of section 156 (i) ibid. Meanwhile, Custom Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has directed the suspect, Abdul Ghaffar, owner of M/s G & S Manufacture, to ensure his appearance before the Customs Court on the next date of hearing. The suspect was booked in a case of mis-declaration.

During the hearing, Accused Noman s/o Abdul Rauf, import manger of M/s AMI Pakistan (Pvt) Limited was present on after arrest bail vide order dated June 25, 2016.

National

Deputy collector Rizwan attends training workshop in karachi T

FAISALABAD

nAEEm ShEIkh

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he Federal Board of Revenue holds a workshop (16-20 January) at Directorate of Training in Karachi to interact with the withholding agents. The role and responsibilities of withholding agents will be explained in the workshop.

According to details, Deputy Collector Muhammad Rizwan is nominated by FBR to attend the workshop. Muhammad Rizwan already left on January 15, 2017 to attend the workshop and will be back on January 20, 2017. The workshop will provide a platform to improve the FBR and taxpayers relationship.

It is pertinent to mention here that Deputy Collector Rebate, Bonds and Auction, Rana Falik Shair has assumed the additional charge of Anti Smuggling Organization Faisalabad region.

Meanwhile, Assistant Collector Idrees Qureshi detected tax evasion of Rs2.486 million by M/s Orient Coating and Finishing Mills (Private) Limited in terms of violation of Clause-9 of Income Tax Ordinance-2001. Sources told Customs Today that during scrutiny of im-

port data of above said company availed undue concessions and benePits by using wrong PCT Heading 3906.9090 under the SRO 327(I)/2008 dated 29-3-2008 and got clearance without payment of customs duty and taxes. Sources

Thursday January 26, 2017

said that concessionary rate of advance income tax 3% was applicable under Clause-9 of part-II of the Second Schedule of Income Tax Ordinance-2001 read with Section148 ibid punishable under Section156(1)(1) of the Custom Act-1969.

Dg Syed Tanveer Ahmed revises value of confectioneries KARACHI

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ustoms Valuation Director General Syed Tanveer Ahmed has revised the customs values of euro cake and accordingly amended the Valuation Ruling No.946/2016. M/s Fair Marketing Pakistan represented by Advocate Muhammad Ran Kamboh challenged the Custom Value determined at S.No1, 3, 4 and 08 of the Valuation Ruling No.946/2016. They stated that these are confectionery and bakery items imported from UAE and were expecting decrease in customs values in revised valuation ruling No 946/2016 as international prices of all items particularly of subject items also been decreased. Previous Valuation Ruling No.305/2011 was five years old and required that customs value should considerably been reduced in new ruling but it was astonishingly increased instead of decrease. They further requested that determination of customs values of baking items were surely required to bring it in line with the prevailing prices in the international market. They added that the subject items are perishable which therefore are sold on discounted prices.

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Amended cgo advises safety for anti-smuggling dept

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TARIQ DERYA

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he Federal Board of Revenue has brought about amendments in the Customs General Order No: 12 of 2002 dated 15th of June 2002. The new clause inserted in the order says that the seized bulletproof jackets will be allocated by respective Collector of Customs/Director (Regional Directorate of Director General of Intelligence and Investigation-FBR) to an agency of department having anti-smuggling powers.

According to details, Collector Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad Dr. Arslan said the FBR has

amended the Customs General Order (CGO) regarding the disposal of seized bullet proof jackets. Now the board has accepted the request and made amendment in the CGO. He said that on the request of the Collectorate the FBR has amended the CGO, adding that in the aforesaid order in paragraph 34 in sub-para (a) after clause (viii).A, the new clause namely (viii-B) shall be inserted. He said that before the said new clause there was no clause in the CGO for disposal of conPiscated bullet proof jackets, adding that unchanged CGO has clauses to dispose of the conPiscated goods if the ASO seizes any type of ammunition which will be handed over to the armed forces. And if ASO

seizes liquor or illegal drugs then they will be destroyed, he added. He said according to the amended CGO the Collector of Customs or Directorate General I&I can distribute the bullet proof jackets for the ofPice use. The collector said the seized jackets will be provide to the customs staff of the Air Freight Unit entry gates, antismuggling squads and the security staff of the Islamabad Dry Port. The collector said the morale of the customs squads will be boosted in this way and they will be able to handle the culprits with more vigour and conPidence. Meanwhile, Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Shaukat Ali directed the staff not to leave the station without a prior per-

mission of the directorate. According to details, Deputy Director Khaldunul-Haq issued a notiPication with the approval of Shaukat Ali ordering the customs ofPicials to not leave the station without any prior permission, even on the holidays, adding that the directorate is a vital institute which prevents smuggling and imposes duties. The ofPicers need to perform duties on every occasion to prevent the huge revenue loss to the exchequer and discourage trafPicking of smuggled goods. The sources told Customs Today that the notiPication states that any ofPicials found violating the orders will be proceeded under the Government Servants (EfPiciency and Discipline) Rules-1973.

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Etihad makes flying from Kuwait to US easier Thursday January 26, 2017

World

KUWAIT CITY: Travellers flying on Etihad Airways from Kuwait to the US will be able to experience the benefits of arriving in the US with the pre-cleared US Customs and Border Protection in Abu Dhabi. The US preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal 3 is the only one of its kind in the Middle East and provides travellers with a unique opportunity to pass through all required checks including US customs, immigration and security, conveniently before they board their flights to the US, enabling them to avoid long queues on arrival. With this unique facility, guests can also through-check their baggage to their final destination in the US, where they arrive as domestic passengers, allowing them to save valuable time connecting to other flights or on to their final destination.

man arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs to Australia

Bangladesh customs seizes 60 gold bars

TAIPEI

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nRB flags credit to risky sectors epal Rastra Bank (NRB) has shown concerns over the sharp expansion of credit to unproductive sectors in this fiscal. The central bank has warned the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) that loan expansion to the unproductive sectors for higher returns is inherently risky strategy and may increase the share of non-performing loans in future. The outstanding credit of BFIs in overdraft, margin lending (against collateral of stock), real estate and hire purchase increased significantly in the period of mid-July to mid-December of 2016 as compared to the level of a year ago, the central bank said in its Macroeconomic Outlook of first five months of this fiscal, which was unveiled today. NRB has urged the BFIs to focus on productive sectors, which are less risky. –CB Report

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Taiwanese man was recently arrested for his alleged involvement in smuggling drugs to Australia, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said Tuesday.

The 26-year-old man, only identiPied by his surname Fan, was arrested on Jan. after he was conPirmed to be the driver of a truck that carried a batch of handbags to a warehouse in Taoyuan.

Some 500,000 tablets of the depressant nimetazepam, better known as Erimin, and 20 packs of ketamine (weighing about two kilograms), were found hidden in the handbag shipment, leading to the driver’s arrest.

The handbags had been scheduled to be shipped to Malaysia on Jan. 6. Fan claimed he was only hired to transport the drugs, the police

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said, and they indicated they will continue their investigation to track down Fan’s accomplices.

The bureau launched the investigation after receiving information from Australian police about a shipment of handbags sent from Taiwan to Australia last June that contained 220 kgs of amphetamine. During the months-long investigation, Fan was identiPied as a main suspect, the bu-

reau said. Fan was found to have driven a truck to transport “handbags” to the warehouse several times, and the handbags were being sent overseas from “Yu Yang” trading company in Taiwan, the police said.

As the investigation proceeded, the police cooperated with customs ofPicers to tighten inspections of the goods imported and exported by the trading company.

Swiss meat Smuggling foiled in $1 million frontier Scourge case

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wiss customs ofPicial have ended the career of a smuggler who admitted spiriting thousands of kilos of meat into the country over the past 15 years. While the 41-year-old man is accused of illegally transferring a total of 27 tons (59,000 pounds) of lamb, 18 tons of beef, 12 tons of chicken and 11 tons of pork, it was just 80 kilograms of fresh meat that tripped him up as he crossed the border in his hatchback car in the mountain town of Morgins. The case, re-

vealed by the Geneva regional customs ofPice on Thursday, isn’t an isolated incident. “Discoveries are quite frequent, they’ve increased over the years,” said Alain Husson, head of the criminal section at the agency, which oversees the area that includes Morgins. “The strength of the franc is a factor, as is the fact that meat is a lot cheaper in France.” The Swiss often shop for groceries and clothes across the border to take advantage of cheaper prices in neighboring France. –CB Report

ustoms ofPicials at the Shahjalal International Airport Dhaka recovered 60 gold bars inside the toilet of a Regent Airways plane, which came from Muscat to Dhaka.

Customs Assistant Commissioner HM Ahsanul Kabir told that Plight RX-724 from Muscat was supposed to land in Chittagong, but dense fog at the port city forced the pilot to land in Dhaka. “The aircraft was searched on a tip-off and 60 gold bars were found abandoned inside the toilet.” The seized gold bars weigh 6.96 kilogram.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Finance Minister AMA Muhith announced that the government is going to use $1 billion of the hefty foreign currency reserve, lying idle in Bangladesh Bank, to create an in-

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vestment fund. The initial $1 billion fund can be raised up to $5 billion, he added. The proposed fund will be utilized to Pinance ‘big and profitable’ projects, for which the government is taking foreign loans and paying interests now.

Bangladesh has huge foreign currency assets, which are rising faster than the country’s international trade and business can accommodate. Until Thursday, the central bank had $31.75 billion reserves.

As the food reserve has been satisfactory for several years, the government is facing criticism for not utilizing the huge reserves. Economists have been recommending investing some of the reserves. Finance Minister Muhith has also hinted earlier that the reserves would be invested. He revealed a speciPic government plan to use the reserves while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday after getting the report of a committee on ‘Sovereign Fund’, which has been talked about for years.

Afghanistan gets tough on tax evasion fghanistan is cracking down on tax evasion to repair its Pinances as the country’s economy struggles with renewed violence and the withdrawal of the huge coalition presence that fed business for years.

The departure of most foreign troops two years ago allowed the Taliban to take advantage of the security vacuum and escalate attacks on the government, hurting consumer and business conPidence. Double-digit economic growth rates collapsed to almost zero a year after the withdrawal.

The Pentagon last week said it would redeploy 300 Marines in Afghanistan’s

Helmand province, which has been on the brink of falling to the Taliban for months. To plug persistently high Piscal dePicits, the Afghan government in the past two years has served notice to scores of companies for tax evasion dating back as far as 2002, targeting both domestic and foreign Pirms with measures such as operating-license suspensions, according to the Pinance ministry. Afghan and foreign Pirms say the tax regime has made the business environment even more challenging, citing new fees and uncertainty over arrears, just as the conPlict with the Taliban-led insurgency is getting worse. –CB Report

france launches new Export credit Agency

F PARIS

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rance concluded the transfer of its export credit agency (ECA) from Coface to the Banque Pub ique d’Investissement (Bpifrance) and rebranded it Bpifrance Assurance Export.

According to details, Coface’s

240 ECA-focused staff members have been transferred to Bpifrance to ensure continuity. Bpifrance Assurance Export teams will be led

by Chritophe Viprey as general manager. The new agency is owned and controlled by the state, with Bpifrance managing all operations and export guarantees. This transition completes Bpifrance’s offering, and will simplify access

to ECA products to make them available to small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs). It makes Bpifrance the only portal for all internationalization-related public aid, including cross-border investment funds, loans for international expansion, export credit, credit, foreign exchange, investment and pre-financing guarantees. Additionally, all Bpifrance financing

will now be automatically guaranteed by the state.

Viprey says: “All of the teams’ energy will now be put towards the development of midcaps and high-potential SMEs’ international activity. As we do with large companies, we will support them in facing foreign customers, in order to prove the competitiveness of public support for exports.”

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Customs Court issues non-bailable warrant in Jeep smuggling case KARACHI: The Custom Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi issued non-bail-able warrant against the absconding accused person namely Zulfqar Ali Kambho S/ O Jan Muhammad Kambho who was booked in a case of non-duty paid/ smuggle Wrangler Jeep.

During the hearing, investigation officer Syed Mohsin Ali appeard before the court and filed interim charge sheet which was accepted by the court and copies supplied to the accused. After the hearing court issued non-bail-able warrant against the absconding accused Zulfqar Ali Kambho S / O Jan Muhammad Kambho shown in interim charge sheet.

Lhc seeks finance ministry, fBR’s reply on amendment in tax return

Thursday January 26, 2017

National

Dc Asma hameed declares seizure of mobile phones as legal

Sialkot customs impounds mitsubishi pajero worth Rs1.2 SIALKOT

LAHORE

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SALEEm AwAn ShEIkhu

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ahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) president.Farhan Shehzad has challenged amendment of tax return form 2016 in Lahore High Court (LHC). In the case, LHC seeks reply from ministry of finance and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on two February 2017. Justice Abid Eziz Shiekh heard the case in which the appellant argued that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has amended illegally tax return form 2016. At the time of amendment, FBR has not consult amendment with LTBA. According to constitutional point of view the new tax is the violation of the tax act 114, 118 and 237. Farhan Shehzad prayed before the court that court may announce that tax return form illegal and also ordered to FBR to launch new tax return under the law. After hearing the arguments LHC seeks reply from the ministry of finance and Federal Board of on two February 2017.

he Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) of Model Customs Collectorate has impounded a non-customs paid vehicle, Mitsubishi Pajero on (GT) Road, Gujranwala worthRs1.2 million. Assistant Collector Ali Mohatashim Minhas received information about nonduty-paid vehicle. On this he instructed Superintendent Sardar Manzoor Ahmed Khan to impound the vehicle. The superintendents along with his team member Inspector Amjid Maqbool and constables started checking of vehicles at GT Road Gujranwala. During the checking vehicles the team intercepted a Mitsubishi Pajero bearing registration number RIR503-08, model 2008 which was playing on road without non-customs paid. The team asked driver Naseeb about customs paid documents of the vehicle but he failed to produce the said documents. The team impounded the vehicle while the driver phoned owner of vehicle about documents then owner said to him hand over the vehicle to ASO team. The team released driver after proper interrogation whereas the team will issue legal notice to owner of the vehicle. The team shifted the vehicle in the compound of Sialkot Customs while the team has registered a case and will forward case before the Adjudication court for proceeding.

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Sialkot ASo seizes 62 Iranian tyres 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 constables 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. –CB Report

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

As per details, the Customs Air Flight Unit (AFU) recovered foreign origin smuggled mobiles phones of different brands such as LG mobiles, Samsung mobile , Hawavic mobiles, Vega mobile , HTC mobile , ZTE mobile , I phone mobile , Axon mobile , SKY mobile , LTE mobile , Motorola

mobile , LLNU mobile and Honor mobiles, LG mobile etc , also very large amount of the mobile phones a suspect, Gul Riaz Khan son of Agha Farukh Humayun Khan who is a resident of Lahore .

The passenger was coming from the belt side in the Arrival Hall to custom counter side carrying two bags and one hand carry on a trolley with doubtful position. The customs staff forwarded the case to Customs Adjudication for further proceedings taking stance that the seized mobile phones 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 mobile phones are restricted ones and brought into the country illegally, thus the same are liable to conPiscation 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 inspector 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 Pile and issued ONO and declared the seizure of cell phones.

customs Valuation revises value of artificial jewellery

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wAQAR AhmED AnSARI www.customsbulletin.com

he Directorate General of Customs Valuation has revised the customs value of artiPicial jewellery through Valuation Ruling No 1007/2017 under Section 25A of the Customs Act, 1969.

Customs Values of artiPicial jewellery were determined vide Valuation Ruling No484/2012 dated 2510-2012. Being more than 4 years old, it was deemed expedient to re-

vise the same according to trends prevailing in the current international market. Meetings were scheduled on 25-08-2016, 22-11-2016 and 27-12-2016. The stakeholders had been requested to submit the following documents, Invoices of imports made during last three months showing factual value, websites, names and e-mail addresses of known foreign manufacturers of the item in question through which the actual current value can be ascertained, copies of Contracts made / LCs opened during the last three

months showing the value of item in question and copies of sales tax Invoices issued during last four months showing the difference in price (excluding duty and taxes) to substantiate that the benePit of difference in price is passed on to the local buyers.

The requisite documents were not submitted by the importers. However, some importers submitted some clearance related documents.

The Pirst two meetings were postponed on the request of the importers. The representative of the importers appeared for meetings on

27-12-2016 and submitted that the market enquiry should be conducted from whole sale markets in Karachi and Lahore. The Directorate of Customs Valuation, Lahore was also requested to conduct said market enquiry. A similar exercise was conducted from whole sale market in Karachi. Moreover, it was decided during the meeting that values for sea route shall be speciPied in the Valuation Ruling and the air freight component will be decided by the clearance Collectorates as per actual air freight paid.

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FIA arrests a human trafficker from Allama Iqbal Town Thursday January 26, 2017

Lahore

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team on receipt of secret information conducted a raid at Allama Iqbal Town and arrested Umar Farooq .

Sources told Customs Today that FIA authorities received credible information that a person namely Umar Farooq extorted huge amount from different persons by showing them their lucid future abroad.

Theteam comprising Sub Inspector Mohammad Ali and Sub Inspector Fayyaz Hussain Shah arrested accused Umar Farooq.

FIA team also recovered fake and forged documents visa stamps of different countries and medical certificates.

customs court adjourns hearing of cell phones smuggling LAHORE

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he Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling adjourned the hearing of mobile phone smuggling case. Earlier, the court had approved extension in judicial remand of an accused who was arrested by the customs authorities from Allama Iqbal International airport while making an attempt to smuggle cell phones from China to Lahore.

The Investigation and Prosecution (I&P) team of Customs Lahore had presented the accused Naveed Bhatti before the special court and asked for his physical remand of Pive days to investigate further regarding smuggling. After completion of physical remand the court sent him

customs court hears 17 cases on Thursday he Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling on Thursday heard 17 cases including pre-arrest bail pleas filed by suspects. Most of the cases were adjourned without any proceedings as the parties and lawyers concerned did not appear in the court.

Hearing of pre-arrest bail pleas filed by accused Abdul Razzaq and Salman were adjourned for new dates in next week. A case filed against Shaukat Ali was also scheduled for hearing in which court recorded statements of the parties.

Shaukat Ali is on bail nowadays.

Framing of charges against Humayun Rasheed also adjourned for next week. Final arguments and statements of the concerned parties in a case of smuggling against Rafique Ali was also scheduled for hearing which was rescheduled for next week. –M Imran Mehar

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to jail for judicial trial which is extended again for 14 days.

As per sources of Customs Today Naveed Bhatti was arrested by the Customs Preventive when they seized 170 android mobile phones of assorted types from his luggage at Lahore airport. As per the sources, on suspicion, the customs authorities intercepted the accused Naveed Bhatti while he was using green channel.

The mobile phones were hidden in bottles of water which the passenger claimed that he brought that water from Saudi Arabia, it was added. The sources said that the total value of the mobile phones has been estimated at Rs.5 million. Customs authorities after seizing the mobiles registered a case against him and further prosecution is still underway. It is pertinent to mention here that due to transfer of Chaudary ameed Muhammad khan number of cases are getting late for hearing.

pcA detects Rs3,071,296 duty, tax evasion by m/s Arrow Int’l

LAHORE

m hAYAT

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irectorate of Post Clarence Audit has detected Rs3,071,296 tax evasion by

pRA to bring 60 more restaurants under RImS network in faisalabad

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he Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has decided to broaden its network in Faisalabad and has shortlisted 60 restaurants to bring them in network in coming days. Sources told Customs Today that the PRA has checked almost 60 restaurants in posh areas of the city in Faisalabad which are providing expensive food to citizens and they are earning millions of rupees but not registered for sales tax.

These restaurants will increase the revenue of the authority in com-

ing days as it has already increased in past two years. It is pertinent to mention here PRA has increased its revenues up to 35 percent in Pirst six months of the Piscal year of 201617 as compared to the last year.

Restaurant invoice monitoring system will be installed in all restaurants that are providing services in posh areas of Faisalabad. Meanwhile PRA has also started crackdown against restaurants that are failed to submit their taxes despite receiving notices. –M Imran Mehar

M/s Arrow International, Ferozpur Road Lahore on account of inadmissible exemption of SRO 567 ()I 2006 and SRO 1007 (1)/ 2005.

The Directorate of Post Clearance Audit Lahore observed that certain importers having their principal activity of manufacturer of pesticide and other agro chemicals are in-

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volved in the evasion of duties and tax during customs clearance of zinc sulphate 33 percent which are classiPied under PCT heading 2833, 2940 by availing irregular exemption of customs duty under S. No. 4 of SRO567 (1)/2006 and exemption of sales tax of table -II of SRO 1007 (I) 2005. The PCA observed that the said SROs were meant for poultry ingredients only. It was observed that M/s Arrow International, Ferozepur Road Lahore has imported two consignment of the aforesaid impugned goods which were prima facie are fertilizers and as such not entitled for the exemption of customs duty and sales tax under the said SSROs cleared from MCC Appraisement Karachi (West) during calendar year 2014. The PCA said that the mis-declaration resulted in the duty and taxes evasion to the tune of Rs 3,071,296 and added that it is directed that the above mentioned short paid amount of duty and taxes may be deposited positively.

cAT adjourns hearings of 12 cases

he division bench-II of the Customs Appellate Tribunal, comprising Judicial Member Omer Arshad Hakeem and Technical Member Imran Tariq, heard 12 hearings of cases on Thursday and adjourned the hearings of all the cases until the next hearing.

The tribunal heard hearings of 12 cases, including Customs Multan versus Kabub Enterprises, Nazar Hussain versus Customs Multan, Advance International versus Customs Lahore, HaPiz Muhammad Tariq versus Customs Lahore and Abdul Rehman versus Customs Multan.

On Thursday, the Customs Appel-

late Tribunal heard hearings of cases, including Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Faisalabad versus Fakhar Abbas, Hamyon Akber versus Customs Lahore and Six Star Sports versus Customs Sambrial. Furthermore, the tribunal heard the hearings of cases of Toya Plast versus Post Clearance Audit Lahore, Kalash Textile versus Customs Faisalabad, Abdul Hashim versus Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Faisalabad, Muhammad Aqeel Yaqoob versus Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Multan and Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Lahore versus Tawaz Khan. –Muhammad Nawaz

fTo adjourns hearing of case filed by m/s Shakargunj Ltd

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LAHORE

muhAmAmD nAwAZ www.customsbulletin.com

he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has adjourned the hearing of a case Piled by M/s Shakargunj Limited against the Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) Lahore until the next hearing.

FTO Advisor Muhammad Munir

Qureshi heard the case of M/s Shakargunj Limited in which the counsel for the appellant argued that the LTU had failed to release the refund of the last three years.

He said that the LTU collected excessive tax from M/s Shakargunj Limited during the last three years.

He approached the ofPicer concerned many time for issuance of the refunds but the LTU ofPicials did

not pay the refunds after the passage of 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 LTU to clear the refund claims as early as possible. The counsel further said that the delay in issuance of refund claims put burden on the taxpayers,

adding that the LTU should make audit of the cases and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer. On the other hand, counsel for LTU argued that the appellant has not submitted all record in the ofPice on which basis it is claiming for refunds. If appellant provides accurate record, the LTU will issue the refunds if any after proper assessment, he added.

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Port of Los Angeles reports record cargo volume in 2016; 8.8 mln TEU handled WASHINGTON: Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles reached 8,856,782 TEU in 2016, marking the busiest year ever for the port or any port in the Western Hemisphere Port for that matter, the Port of Los Angeles said Thursday. The previous record was set in 2006, when the Port of Los Angeles handled 8,469,853 TEUs. The port finished the year with December volumes of 796,536 TEUs, a 27 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This marks the bbusiest December and fourth quarter in the ports 110-year history. Overall in 2016, cargo increased 8.5 percent compared to 2015. “I salute our industry stakeholders and thank Mayor Garcetti and the policymakers and agencies at the state and federal level that have supported our various Supply Chain Optimization initiatives over the past year.

king Abdullah port throughput up 8 percent audi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port, located in King Abdullah Economic City on the Red Sea coast, has reported an annual throughput of 1.4 million TEU by the end of 2016, which represents an increase of around 8 per cent compared to 2015.

The annual throughput increase comes despite the challenges facing the markets and the slowdown of global economic growth. In addition, King Abdullah Port received 729 vessels in 2016 compared to 637 vessels in 2015, said a statement from the port. With the completion of the infrastructure works for Berth 5 and Berth 6, the port’s annual capacity increases to 4 million TEU after making preparations and operation of the two new berths that will begin in

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2017, providing greater competitiveness and further access to the most important trade capitals in the region and the world. Eng Abdullah Hameedadin, managing director of the Ports Development Company, owner and developer of King Abdullah Port, said: “We are looking forward to a bright future and is taking steady steps towards becoming a prime East-West hub on the main trade route between Asia and Europe, especially that around 30 per cent of world trade volume, apart from crude oil and petroleum products, pass through the Red Sea.”“The completion of construction of the two new berths is part of the strategic expansion plans aiming at increasing the capacity and strengthening the port’s position on the regional and global maritime map, which confirms the important role expected from King Abdullah Port and the private sector in general to contribute to achieving Saudi Vision 2030,” he added. –CB Report

Ports & Shipping

mmc corp to buy 70% stake in Tanjung Bruas port for Rm21m KUALA LUMPUR

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MC Corp Bhd, controlled by tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary, is buying a 70% stake in KMB Seaport Sdn Bhd – operator of Tanjung Bruas Port in Melaka – from its largest shareholder Seaport Terminal (Johore) Sdn Bhd for RM21 million cash. MMC said this is part of its effort to maintain its position as a key player in the country’s port industry. In a Piling with Bursa Malaysia today, MMC said it has entered into a share sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Seaport Management Services Sdn Bhd to acquire 7,000 shares or a 70% stake, as well as 4.99 million irredeemable convertible cumulative preference shares in KMB Seaport, which is a joint venture between Seaport Management and Kumpulan Melaka Bhd the investment arm of the Melaka state government.

Under the SPA, MMC has the right to nominate any of its sub-

sidiaries to hold the KMB shares.

MMC said the transaction will be fully funded with internal funds.

Seaport Management is a whollyowned subsidiary of Seaport Terminal (Johore), which in turn owns 51.76% of MMC shares.

Thus, the transaction is deemed as a related party transaction. The purchase price of RM21 million is 24%-38% lower than the fair market value of KMB Seaport of between RM27.6 million to RM33.8 million as appraised by Grant

Thornton Consulting Sdn Bhd. The transaction is still subject to approval from the Public Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it is expected to be completed in the first half of 2017. MMC noted that the proposed acquisition is in line with its initiative to make further strategic investment in MMC’s core ports and logistics business in order to strengthen the group’s financial position.

Thursday January 26, 2017

Dp world warns against new Indian port developments P World group chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, has warned against India pursuing a strategy of greenfield port developments. Instead he believes that the country’s strategy should focus on upgrading existing ports and transport infrastructure. Last year, the Indian government launched its National Perspective Plan (NPP) featuring proposals for six to eight new ports, over 40 port-capacity enhancement projects and more than 80 port connectivity projects amongst others. Sulayem stated: “DP World has invested in the development of five international gateway ports in India and we believe making ports more productive across the country rather than building more greenfield sites is the way forward.”

“There is also a great need to reach internal markets, invest in cold storage facilities and networks, using coastal and inland waterways to increase efficiencies and lower costs,” he added. The Dubaibased terminal operator’s has facilities in India’s largest ports: Nhava Sheva, Mundra and Chennai. –CB Report

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Annual cargo turnover down at Riga port L

WASHINGTON

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ast year cargo turnover at the Freeport of Riga dropped 7.5% from 2015 to 37.1 million tons, while the number of passengers grew 3.5% the port said. Bulk cargos were reloaded in the amount of 22.4 million tons in 2016, down 3.7% year-on-year. Handling of liquid cargos fell 23.1% to 8.1 million tons. General cargos increased 5.1% year-on-year to 6.5 million tons. The port administration said that, even though the cargo turnover dropped, it still was the third best turnover in the history of the port, and just in 2014 and 2015 turnovers were higher, when a record large amount of energy resources were handled by the port. Reduction of the coal and oil product cargos affected the port’s results in 2016. At the same time, it is a positive fact that han-

dling of other cargos increased by 4.6%, gradually diversifying and balancing reloading of different cargos at the Riga port, and reducing dependence on Russian transit ports.

“Considering the geopolitical situation, the situation in the world markets and drop of cargo handling in the region, operations of the Riga port were successful in 2016,” said Riga Freeport board chairman Andris Ameriks (Honor to Serve Riga).

More than half or 59.4% of reloaded bulk cargo was coal. In 2016 handling of coal cargos reached 3.3 million tons. Coal was shipped to 22 ports from Riga. The next big bulk cargo group was mineral fertilizers, reaching 2.8 million tons, which is the highest annual turnover of thus type of cargo in the history of the port. In 2016 there was also a new record registered for grain cargos – 1.3 million tons, up 23.6% from 2015. Increase in the handling of

general cargos is related with positive results of container cargos. In 2016 as many as 385,900 TEU units of container cargos were shipped through the port, which is by 8.6% more than in 2015. There were also positive results for ro-ro cargos and metals – by 5.3% and 48.9% more respectively. At the same time, 99% of liquid cargos were oil products, and drop of handling of these cargos affected the whole segment.

In December 2016, the port reloaded 3.7 million tons of cargos, up 27.6% from November, and it is the best monthly turnover in 2016. The main reason for growth is increase in handling of coal cargos – to 1.6 million tons in December, which also is the largest monthly turnover of coal in the history of the port. In 2015, cargo handling reached 40.056 million tons, down 2.5% from 2014. Previously port boss Andris Ameriks told LTV that the pro-

jected decline, steep as it may be, is actually less than expected.

Meanwhile, 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 Pirst 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 Pleet to 27 units. Meanwhile, The biggest container cargo shipping line in the Caribbean is ditching Saint John for Halifax with a Pirst 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 vice-president of Tropical Shipping, said in an interview Thursday.

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Customs, Khasadar forces seizes 900,000 Saudi Riyal PESHAWAR: In a joint operation Customs and Khasadar force have foiled a bid of smuggling of 900,000 Saudi Riyal from Pakistan to Afghanistan by recovering the currency from Afghan citizen at Torkham border .Naib Tehsildar Passport Torkham,Shams-ul-Islam told Customs Today that on duty Khasadar stopped an Afghan national in routine checking. During the search of the luggage the official recovered 900,000 Saudi Riyals.

One currency smugglers identified as Naeem Shah s/o Shundi Gul, resident of Achin District of Ningrahar province of Afghanistan.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

faisalabad ASo confiscates cloth worth Rs246,450 from Daewoo FAISALABAD nAEEm ShEIkh

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he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) seized non-duty paid foreign origin cloth valued Rs246,450 involving duty and taxes amounting to Rs93,651. Sources told Customs Today that Collector ZulPikar Ali Chaudhary got a tip-off regarding the smuggling of cloth. The collector constituted a special team, comprising Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya and Inspectors Ali Zahid, Mehmood Ahmed Dogar, Dilawar Hussain, Liaqat Ali, ZuliPkar Ali Awan and Muhammad Arshad. The ASO team intercepted a Daewoo Express near Akbar Chowk, Faisalabad, and recovered 155-kilogram of smuggled cloth from the bus. 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, identiPied as Ali Azeem son of Muhammad Islam, and his accomplice Muhammad Usman to produce legal documents of the loaded goods but he failed.

Dg Valuation revises customs values of glass tube KARACHI

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he Directorate General of Customs Valuation has revised the customs value of glass tubing of a kind used for the manufacturing of ampoules through Valuation Ruling No 1013/2017 under Section 25A of the Customs Act, 1969.

According to the details, Customs Appraisement West has is-

sued a guideline for assessment of glass tube of a kind used for the manufacturing of ampoules. This guideline was issued on a complaint by local manufacturers of glass tubes. Earlier, some clearance cases were provisionally assessed and the goods declarations were forwarded to the Directorate General. This ofPice not only issued valuation advice in the relevant cases but at the same time issued valuation database values vide DG/VDB/REF/77/2016-V/9880 No.77 on November 16, 2016 for uniform application of rules across the country.

Certain importers agitated against VDB letter and requested for formal valuation ruling in the subject item. Consequently it was deemed expedient to issue a valuation ruling of the subject goods after taking all stakeholders on board. A stakeholders meeting was held on 10-01-2017. The importers were requested to furnish invoices of imports made during last three months showing factual value. Websites, names and E-mail addresses of known foreign manufacturers of the item in question through which the actual current value can be ascertained.

Copies of Contracts made / LCs opened during the last three months showing the value of item in question. Copies of sales tax invoices issued during last four months showing the difference in price (excluding duty and taxes) to substantiate that the benePit of difference in price is passed on to the local buyers.

During the course of meeting importers asserted that the subject product is not a consumer item therefore aspersions of misdeclaration of value are uncalled for. They also stated that there are no high Pluctuations of value in the

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

market and only few manufacturers produce this item in China and that there is only one manufacturer in Germany which produce top quality glass tubing.

They claimed that their declarations are correct. Importers also stated that quality of Chinese glass tube is as per approved standards of USP and that they do not have any quality problems from Chinese glass tubing. They pleaded that their declarations may be accepted and that they are ready /to supply goods at their declared prices. On the contrary, local manufacturer took a point of view.