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Karachi, Sat July 1, 2017

LAHORE

M HAYAT

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hief Collector of Customs Central Region Zeba Hai Azhar has instructed all the Collectorates falls under the jurisdiction of Customs Central Region to take all necessary measures to meet the tax collection target assigned for the cur-

rent Qiscal year (201617), sources told Customs Today. The sources told that the chief collector has assured the collector of all the four Collectorates of her full support for achieving the duty and tax collection targets set for Fiscal Year 2017-18. Meanwhile, the sources said Collector of Customs Preventive and Customs Appraisement have started work on war

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footing to achieve the revenue collection target for the current Qinancial year. The sources said that each and every ofQicial including ofQicers have been working and doing their best to achieve the target. It was added that the Customs Appraisement Lahore under the supervision of Collector Jamil Nasir making all out efforts to meet the target for the Qinancial year 2016-17.

Hyderabad Customs confiscates goods valued Rs100m in two months

Multan Customs generates Rs2.76m from auction of vehicles, goods

Railways paid Rs80m tax during current fiscal year: Senate panel

Customs Preventive collects Rs 4,395m duty, taxes in first 15 days of June 2017

Gilgit-Baltistan Customs earns Rs2669.131 million all duty taxes

In its campaign to check the menace of smuggling of various items, MCC | See pAge 02 |

The Customs Collectorate Multan has generated Rs2.76 million from the auction | See pAge 03 |

The PR paid Rs80 million in tax to the FBR during the outgoing fiscal year | See pAge 04 |

Customs Preventive Lahore has collected Rs 4,395m in all duty taxes | See pAge 14 |

TheMCCGBgeneratesAllDutyTaxesworth Rs2669.131million during 11 month | See pAge 16 |

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Govt will likely to withdraw zero percent sales tax on 5 sectors Saturday, July 1, 2017

National

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering withdrawing the facility of zero percent sales tax on inputs of ﬁve export oriented sectors, including textiles. Zero percent sales tax had been allowed through the federal budget 2016-17 to address the issue of liquidity faced by export sectors and in anticipation that sales tax refund issue would be addressed once and for all. However, it has been noticed that the position of refunds remains unchanged. The federal government is also considering withdrawal of rebate allowed on the export of yarn as a part of export package announced in January this year.

Hyderabad customs confiscates goods valued rs100m in two months

MULTAN

HYDERABAD

iMrAn ALi

ASLAM AnJuM QureSHi

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he Anti-Smuggling Organization Multan captured a smuggled Land Cruiser valued Rs05million. Deputy Collector Model Customs Collectorate Multan Saad Atta Rabbani received a tip-off about a non-customs-paid vehicle coming from Quetta in the Jurisdiction of Dera Ghazi Khan. Saad Atta formed a special team of the Anti-Smuggling Squad led by Superintendent Habib-ur-Rehman to impound the said vehicle. The customs squad was deployed on various routes of Dera Ghazi Khan’s region to intercept the vehicle. The squad captured the said suspected vehicle with registration No: WB731/ICT modelled 2003. The customs team asked the owner of the vehicle to present the documents of the captured vehicle. Owner Muhammad Hassan Khan provided the original documents on demand. The customs found the documents of the said vehicle forged during the verification process and impounded the Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle was found non–tampered during the examination of Multan Customs AntiSmuggling team.

n its campaign to check the menace of smuggling of various items, Model Customs Collectorate Hyderabad has made seizures of various smuggled items worth Rs100million during the two months. During the period from mid April to May 2017, different items, including u/s 157 vehicles and non-duty-paid cloths, tyres and tubes, auto parts, cigarettes, electronic items air-conditioner, Gutka, LED TV and other contraband items, were conQiscated by three Special Anti-Smuggling Squads of MCC Hyderabad. Besides, 15,720 liters HSD worth Rs710610 and smuggled 672 liters of motor oil worth Rs336800 were also seized during the period. During the two months of April and May 2017, Qive smuggled NDP vehicles (u/s157) (10) worth Rs2.3million, 288 sets of tyres & tubes valued Rs1.1million, electronic items, including air-conditioner, LED TV and Data cable worth Rs16.6million, Gutka worth Rs24million and various other items including 70,858 yards of smuggled non-duty-paid cloths, non-duty-paid smuggled 40,058 cartons of cigarettes, carpets, blankets, toys, toiletries and 63 kilograms of opium worth millions of rupees in the international market

Smuggled Land cruiser worth rs05m impounded by Multan ASo

have been impounded. The Hyderabad ASO Customs Preventive conQiscated goods and vehicles valued Rs22.656million during nine days of May. In the month of June, several smuggled goods have been seized.

Sources told Customs Today that the Model Customs Collectorate Hyderabad Collector Akhlaq Ahmad Khattaq has issued strict instructions to all the anti-smuggling formations for utilization of all re-

sources to curb the menace of smuggling. This team is working under the supervision of Additional Collector Rehmatullah Vistro in the light of the direction of collector Akhlaq Ahmad khattaq.

M/s regal colour & Varnish co moves SHc against notice T

KARACHI

M B rAnA

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought comments from tax authorities and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Regal Colour & Varnish Company against impugned demand notice for recovery of Rs 62,611,681. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Irfan Sadat Khan, heard the matter.

Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner has been engaged in the business at very small scale for the last many years dealing in the mixing of dry colours and packing under different names. According to the petitioner, Deputy Commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-I, Regional Tax Office-II passed an order for recovery of Rs 62,611,681 for the period of April 2012 to March 2017. He further submitted that its appeal is pending before the appellate au-

thority. However, he has apprehension of coercive action from the tax department. Citing Secretary Ministry of Law, chairman Federal Board of Revenue, commissioner Inland Revenue Regional Tax Office-II as respondents, he pleaded the court to restrain the tax department not to take any coercive action till final decision of the appellate authority. Meanwhile, The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the tax authorities not to take any coercive measures against

M/s Lakson Money Market Fund for recovery of disputed amount. While the hearing of the petition, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, also issued notices to the Commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-I, Large Taxpayers Unit-II, and others, directing them to Qile their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it always fulQils all the legal requirement and pays liabilities properly. However, the re-

spondent passed an order for recovery of the disputed amount. Being aggrieved, the petitioner Qiled an appeal along with stay application before concerned authority which is pending for disposal, however, petitioner has apprehension of coercive action from tax department. Citing Ministry of Finance, Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Large Taxpayers Unit-II, Regional Tax OfQice (RTO) Karachi and others as respondents, he pleaded the court may restrain them.

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NIT announces interim results for FY 17 KARACHI: National Investment Trust Limited (NITL), the largest asset management company of Pakistan, has declared interim distribution for all funds under its management for the year ending June 2017. The Board of Directors earlier approved the interim distribution for all funds under its management, says NITL statement. NITL is presently managing ten funds with assets under management of around Rs 111 billion as on June 21, 2017. NI(U)T Fund: The board has declared an interim cash dividend at the rate of Rs 4.50 per unit for unit holders of NI(U)T for the year ending on June 30, 2017 as compared to Rs 4.50 per unit for the year ending on June 30, 2016.

Quetta ASo impounds vehicles & goods worth rs37.801m

Saturday July 1, 2017

National

Multan customs generates rs2.76m from auction of vehicles, goods

QUETTA

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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Quetta impounded Non-Duty-Paid vehicles and various smuggled goods valued Rs37.801million during initial 15 days of June’s Financial Year FY2016-17. According to Junaid Mehmood, Deputy Collector ASO Quetta, the ASO impounded 22 NDP vehicles under Section 16 Customs Act-1969 worth Rs22.138million. During above said period, the ASO Quetta seized miscellaneous smuggled goods like diesel, auto parts, tyres, fabric, electronic goods and many other items. The value of the confiscated goods is estimated at Rs15.66million.

Tax payable explained on franchise services KARACHI

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indh Revenue Board (SRB) has explained tax payable on services rendered by franchise and in this regard the provincial revenue authority amended the Sndh Sales Tax on Services Rules, 2011. In a notification issued, the SRB explained that in cases where franchise services are provided or rendered by a franchiser to franchisee and the agreement does not provide specifically for franchise and the consideration is paid as a consideration other than franchise fee, royalty, technical fee, or fee for transfer, usage, enjoyment of intellectual property, the value of the services shall be an amount equal to 10 percent of the turnover of the franchisee or the recipient of the intellectual property services, as the case may be, for the tax periods for which the tax is payable.

MULTAN

iMrAn ALi

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he Customs Collectorate Multan has generated Rs2.76 million from the auction of conQiscated vehicles and miscellaneous goods. According to details, Multan Customs held public auction of non-customs paid vehicles and various conQiscated smuggled goods in Multan Customs House. The Customs Collectorate Multan has presented three various lots of conQiscated vehicles for public auction and almost 20 different lots of smuggled goods for the bidding process. Multan Customs sold out three different conQiscated vehicles including Toyota Corolla (G),Toyota Hiace van, Passo car worth Rs2.620 million. Two vehicles Toyota Hiace van and Toyota Corolla were rejected during the auction process. The Multan Customs Collectorate has also offered various miscellaneous goods including HSD oil, mobil oil, grease, auto spare parts ,cell phone accessories and other lots for the auction. Oil marketing companies were authorized to participate in the bid of High Speed Diesel Oil during auction. Four various lots of miscellaneous goods were sold out during auction in worth Rs148,000. All these auctioned vehicles and goods were seized by Anti-Smuggling Organization in their various anti-smuggling operations in the Ju-

risdiction. Additional Collector Asdaq Afzal Sensera and Assistant Collector Zohaib Sandhila supervised the whole auction process. Meanwhile, The Customs Collectorate Multan has arranged special facilities at Multan International Airport for export of mango. Sources told Customs Today that Multan and other districts of South Punjab are recognized for best mangoes production in the world and mango of this belt exported to different coun-

The customs collectorate has presented three various lots of confiscated vehicles for public auction and almost 20 different lots of smuggled goods for the bidding process

‘rising number of complaints reflect public trust’

ISLAMABAD

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ith the number of complaints, inquiries and investigations doubling from 2014 to 2017 over a corresponding period, it shows a rising level of public trust in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). This was stated by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry while chairing a meeting to review NAB’s proactive anti-corruption strategy, a state-

ment released. He added that NAB has adopted a zero tolerance policy and a proactive approach to curbing corruption and corrupt practices in the country. The increase in the number of complaints, he said, also reQlects enhanced public trusted in the NAB. The PILDAT in its report, he added, noted that 42 per cent of people trust NAB, against 30 per cent for police and 29 per cent for government ofQicials. A recent report from Transparency International also improved Pakistan’s rating in the Cor-

ruption Perception Index (CPI) from 126 to 117. The Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum also improved Pakistan’s rating from 126 to 122 this year. To create awareness of the ill effects of corruption among the youth, the anti-corruption watchdog had collaborated with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create over 42,000 Character Building Societies (CBSs) in universities, colleges and schools over the past year.

tries according to its demand. Mango export from Multan International Airport has been started and their Qirst export consignments of 1.5 tons have been exported recently to a Gulf country. Multan city is the heart of traditional mango area which produced huge quantity of export quality mango. Multan International Airport is providing state of the art facilities at Multan International Airport for export handling of mango.

current account deficit reaches $8.9b urrent account deficit in the eleven months of the present fiscal year crossed the government’s full year target of $8.4 billion due to diminishing export performance, lesser arrival of remittances and substantial jump in imports. According to the data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the current account deficit in July to May period of this fiscal year.

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Weekly inﬂation increases 0.29 percent Saturday July 1, 2017

Business

ISLAMABAD: The weekly inﬂation for the week ended on for the combined income groups increased by 0.29 percent as compared to the previous week. According to the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 220.48 points against 219.85 points last week. As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 1.74 per cent.

‘railways paid rs80m tax in fY 2016-17’ ISLAMABAD

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he Pakistan Railways paid Rs80 million in tax to the Federal Board of Revenue during the outgoing Qiscal year. This was revealed during a meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Pakistan Railways. The raised questions over the leasing out of the railway land to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Bahawalpur. The committee headed by Senator Fateh Muhammad Hassani took strong exception to the issue questioning who authorized the deputy commissioner to lease out the rail-

fiA seals warehouse in Lahore LAHORE

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way land to the housing authority. The committee was informed that the leasing out of 34 acres of railway land to the DHA Bahawalpur will cause billion of rupees loss to the railway as it will require diversion of a 140-kilometre railway

five new discoveries to produce 70 mmcfd gas, 636 bpd oil initially

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team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted a raid at a warehouse in Thokar Niaz Baig area where substandard rock powder was being mixed in the cement of various companies. According to FIA spokesman, packing material, original cement, rock powder and substandard mixture were confiscated and the warehouse was sealed. A case was registered against Muhammad Intizar, the owner of the warehouse.

track. The Senate committee asked the Chief Secretary Punjab and railway and defence ministry ofQicials to brief the panel on the leasing out the issue at the next meeting. The committee was informed that a summary regarding the leas-

ing out of the railway land, dispatched to Punjab chief minister, has been taken back. Senator Hassani said that the deputy commissioner Bahawalpur has illegally leased out the railway land to the DHA. “Who has given the deputy commissioner the authority to lease the railway land illegally?” he questioned. Railway Minister Khawaja Saad RaQiq said that the case regarding the lease was pending in a civil court and they will also consult the higher judiciary in this regard. The minister said that they will have to divert 140-kilometre railway track due to the lease of 34-acre to the DHA. Senator Taj Haider said that a prized railway land located on II Chandigarh Road in Karachi has also been handed over to Etisalat.

ISLAMABAD

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il and gas Exploration and Production (E&P) companies, operating in different potential areas of the country, made Qive new discoveries during the last four months that would initially produce 70 mmcfd gas and 636 bpd oil, ofQicial sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources said on Friday.“Interestingly, all these discoveries have been made in Sindh province, out of which, two were

made by OGDCL and one each MPCL, OMV and PPL,”. They said the government was making all-out efforts to further accelerate oil and gas exploration and production activities in potential areas to achieve self-sufQiciency in the energy sector. Answering a question, the sources said Pakistan witnessed an increase of 79 percent in oil and gas exploration activities during the last four years of current government as compared to corresponding period of the previous government. In its stride to achieve self-sufQiciency in the energy sector, the present government took a

number of initiatives which resulted in drilling of 179 exploratory wells and 194 appraisal/development wells. “Subsequently, E&P companies made 98 new oil and gas discoveries with 40 percent success rate,” they said. Meanwhile, The federal government is constructing the Northern Bypass in Peshawar to ensure smooth Qlow of trafQic in the city and its adjoining areas.According to Radio Pakistan quoting sources of National Highway Authority Friday said thirty two kilometres long Northern Bypass will be completed at a cost of twenty one billion rupees by the end of this year.

overseas workers keeping economy afloat, says pBif ISLAMABAD

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resident Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and senior vice chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said overseas Pakistanis are a great asset for the country and they should be supported. Pakistanis living abroad have been playing active role in making the country economically viable while developing the social sector through their remittances which is a great service, he said. Mian Zahid Hussain said that government should encourage expatriates and address their issues so that country can become economically self-reliant as foreign exchange inflows facilitate economic development. He said that remittances are the biggest source of generating foreign exchange outside exports while falling exports have increased the importance of the workers remittances. Country pays over four billion dollars to international financial institutions as interest which is unsustainable therefore country has to seek loans to repay loans, while the key to resolve this matter lies in promotion of remittances.

national grid to have 556.52Mw solar energy by 2018 KARACHI

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lternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) has issued seven Letter of Support (LoS) and 17 Letter of Intent (LoI) for various solar projects which will generate a total 556.52 MW electricity. OfQicial sources told APP here on Friday, that seven project were in process of achieving Financial Closing and

would supply 72.52 MW electricity to the system by December 2017 and March 2018. The projects included M/s Access Electric Pvt. Ltd, M/s Bukhsh Solar (Pvt) Ltd and M/s Safe Solar Power Pvt Ltd (10 MW each), M/s Acess Solar Pvt. Ltd (11.52 MW), M/s Blue Star Hydel Pvt Ltd (1 MW), Harappa Solar Pvt Ltd (18 MW) and AJ Power Pvt. Ltd (12 MW). Similarly, they said 17 solar power projects of 484 MW were at different stages of development and would be

completed by 2018-19. These projects included 50 MW each M/s Integrated Power Solution, M/s Jafri and Associates, M/s Solar Blue Pvt Ltd, Forshine (Pakistan), ACT Solar (Pvt) Ltd, Siddiqsons Energy Karachi and ET Solar Pvt Ltd, 20 MW each M.s R.E Solar-I Pvt Ltd, M/s R.E Solar-II Pvt Ltd, 12 MW each Janpur Energy Limited, 30 MW Asia Petroleum Ltd, 25 MW ET Solar Pvt Ltd and 2 MW each Crystal Energy Pvt. Ltd and First Solar Pvt Ltd. As many as four solar

projects of 400 MW capacity had already been operationalized and these projects are M/s QA Solar Pvt Ltd, M/s Appolo Solar Pakistan, M/s Crest Energy Pakistan and M/s Best Green Energy Pakistan Ltd (Quaid-eAzam Solar Park Bahawalpur). It is also pertinent to mention here that in a landmark decision, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) had already approved the upfront tariff and adjustments/indexations for solar power generation

for delivery of electricity to the power purchaser based on solar PV power plants. The Solar energy is clean, environment friendly and renewable and also provides beneQit of carbon credits. The overall cost of project and generation cost is very much competitive. The sources said the per MW cost of solar power although higher in the beginning but subsequent decline in cost made it Qinancially viable solution in the medium term.

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hairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Dr. Mohammad Irshad Wednesday said that the new tax laws will have no effects on the existing taxpayers rather it would increase the network for a prosperous Pakistan. This he said while addressing the gathering at the foundation stone lying ceremony of the District Taxation OfQice (DTO) in District Charsadda. Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Dr. Mohammad Irshad said that the teaching of Chinese language has been made compulsory in all training institutes of FBR because of the ongoing development in this part of the world after signing of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is certainly the game changer as far as development in the country is concerned. The Chairman, FBR said that the DTO ofQices established in light of the newly introduced reforms will be autonomous and miniRTO ofQice having Qinancial and administrative powers to recruit staff. He further said that District Tax OfQicer will be in-charge of the district and will having representation at Tehsil level so that they could report about all affairs regarding the overall performance of tax collection. He added that DTO will have separate ofQice and will have the powers of rectiQication, which will simplify the veriQication system

Saturday, July 1, 2017

and will be appellate authority in deciding tax payers? related problems. He said that the state will provide expenditure for DTO ofQices and instead of Additional Commissioners they will directly report to Commissioner OfQice. For the resolution of tax related problems Commissioner will have to visit the DTO ofQice in Qirst week of every month and Chief Commissioner will also pay quarterly visits to these ofQices, he informed. The Chairman FBR said that taxpayers are precious asset and urged the tax ofQicers for facilitation of taxpayers to expand the tax net. While clarifying the rumors about any effects on the existing tax payers, he made it clear that actually such reforms have been made only for increasing tax network. He said to deal with the present day development in the region, it has also decided to made the Chinese language mandatory in the training institutes working under the aegis of FRB so that to power the upcoming lots to deal with it in an appropriate manners. President, Tax Bar Association (TBA) Mushtaq Ahmad and Abdul Ali Khan, a representative of local trading community also addressed the ceremony and paid tributes to Chairman FBR, Dr. Mohammad Irshad for dedicated efforts for introducing tax reforms and broadening of tax net. Besides, Chief Commissioner, Inland Revenue (IR) Regional Tax OfQice (RTO), Mir Badshah Khan Wazir, Commissioners, Additional Commissioners and Taxation OfQicers, the rep-

resentatives of Tax Bar Association and local traders attended the meeting at large. Later, Chairman FBR Dr. Muhammad Irshad laid the foundation stone of District Taxation OfQice (DTO) Charsadda and also planted a sapling in the lawn of the under-construction ofQice.

DTo at the h t d i a e rs t of th an, fB n ligh i d chairm e h is ill be establ rms w s o e f c e r ffi o uced office introd ni-rTo i m newly d s an omou l and auton nancia fi g cruit n i hav s to re r e w o ve p istrati admin staff

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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

problem of rising trade deficit

ccording to newspaper reports, the trade deficit of the country are likely to cross $50 billion mark as the import bill has risen up by 20 percent to reach $48.5 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.On another note, the exports have dropped to $18.5 billion in the 11 months despite announcement of an export package by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif five months ago.The trade deficit increased by 42 percent or $8.9 billion in in the third quarter of the outgoing fiscal year. The rising volume of imports have eroded foreign exchange reserves by $3 billion during the period. The past governments used devaluation of the rupee as the only option to arrest the falling exports which brought further chaos in the overall economy of the country. The current government has also been under pressure for the last couple of years to depreciate the Pakistani rupee against dollar which the finance minister resisted until now. What the government has to do is to increase energy supply, improve capacity of the industrial units and extend tax concessions to the industrial sector to produce export surplus. The size of the economy is growing and the import of machinery has increased by 40 percent to stand at $10.8 billion due to ongoing infrastructure projects in the country. According to a report by the State Bank of Pakistan, the import of machinery and equipment has increased during the first 11 months of the outing fiscal year. However, the speed with which the devaluation of the rupee is unofficially allowed has raised a big question mark for the economists who see alarming raise in trade deficit. The country is still facing severe energy crisis and new power projects have increased the import of equipment and machinery by 71 percent.If the government wants to lower trade deficit, it will have to increase exports as it will be difficult to lower the import bill in the coming years. The best way to increase exports is to establish industries and it will be only possible if foreign investors are given tax concessions and incentives to invest in the country. It will be difficult to cut the import bill by increasing duties and taxes as the move will open the floodgates of corruption and smuggling.

Textile sector issues T

LAHORE

Dr AfTAB AfZAL

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he All Pakistan Textile Mills Association will launch a protest campaign from next months to highlight the challenges faced by the industry. The exports have been falling for the last three years, production capacity of the textiles mills has been affected by frequent power outages and the textile package announced by the prime minister has yet to hold ground. The millers allege the industry is in trouble due to high energy cost and inordinate delay in the release of

sales tax refunds. Despite the government has ensured incessant power supply to the industrial sector, it had been carrying out 10 hours power outages a day as a routine. The textile and export packages announced by the prime minister are of no utility in the practical terms as the situation is going from bad to worse with every passing day. As a matter of fact, improvement of the economy is not only a national obligation, but also a mission and the government should have to take steps to change the lot of the people. The growth of industry will automatically improve job creation opportunities, but in the

current situation, the industrial units are being closed, severely affecting not only the exports, but also the job market. One can only hope that the prime minister and the finance minister will themselves spare some time to listen to the problems of the industrial sector, including textile mills to speed up industrial production in the country. According to Aptma officials, the incessant power supply to the textile sector is one issue and the rising rate of electricity tariff is another. The industry is facing 10 hours load-shedding a day at a time when the government claims it is adding thousands of megawatts to the national

grid. The time has come the government should stop lip-service and take practical steps to increase electricity generation and improve its supply. The government should also lower the power tariff for the textile industry which has zero line losses. The per unit cost of electricity was around Rs7 in 2013 when oil prices were around $100 per barrel in the international market, but the prices have now come down to $50, but the power cost has been increased to Rs 11.5 per unit.Textile industry is the backbone of the economy and sooner the government resolves its issues, the better.

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Nigeria begins yam exports to Europe, US LAGOS: Nigeria on Thursday began to export yams to Europe and the United States, as part of moves to diversify its oil-dependent economy and earn much-needed foreign exchange. Agriculture minister Audu Ogbeh flagged off the first consignment of the fibrous tuber from the port in the country’s economic capital, Lagos. “Oil and gas cannot employ millions of people just like agriculture so we must work hard to move from oil to earning foreign exchange from agriculture,” he said on Wednesday. Ogbeh told a news conference inspection charges on export produce would be reduced to encourage more overseas sales and greater competition. “To make yam competitive, we will work on the packages and the right types of trucks to be used for transportation of the produce,” he said.

‘Agri zones along cpec can fetch $15b annually’ ISLAMABAD

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pakistan-Australia to should expand trade ties: Lcci

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he Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said Sunday said that agricultural zones along China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route could help Pakistan produce products to be exported to China to fetch $12 billion annually. China is importing agricultural products worth $111 billion annually including $25 billion soybean oil and by-products in which Pakistan can get a reasonable share. “All the provinces should consider establishing agro-economic zones along CPEC route to produce high-value agricultural products that can be exported to China while Chinese investors can also be lured into it”, said Atif Ikram Sheikh, Chairman FPCCI Re-

gional Committee on Industries. He said that funds should be allocated for the purpose while guidance should be sought from the province of Punjab which was best suited for it. Atif Ikram Sheikh said that such zones should become successful if provision of ample water through harvesting rainfall and other resources was ensured. Moreover, provision of quality seeds, pesticides, urea should also be guaranteed. Proper cold storage and warehousing facilities, olive oil extraction and solar dehydration of vegetables should also be promoted, he said. Peanuts, grapes, olive, citrus, mango, citrus, tomato, guava, strawberry, potato were some of the items which are in great demand in China, he informed. He said that overall agricultural system should be modernised so that country could start exports which can jump to fifteen billion dollars in few years.

Saturday July 1, 2017

LAHORE

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enior Trade and Investment Commissioner of Australian Trade & Investment Commission John Madew called on the LCCI Acting President Amjad Ai Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan and had a detailed discussion on trade and economic issues. Regional Business Development Manager of Australian Trade & Investment Commission Imran Saeed Khan was also present on the occasion. John Madew said that private sectors of the two countries should develop sustainable partnership and Qind out tangible ways to avail full advantage of the trade and investment potential exists in Australia and Pakistan. He said that Australia has made a considerable development in dairy and livestock sectors and its experience in these areas can be useful for Pakistan. He said that Australian Universities are focusing on Research & Development that is a key to give boost to the trade and economy. He informed

the house that Australian IT companies are Qinding new partners therefore Pakistani IT companies should avail this opportunity. The LCCI Acting President Amjad Ali Jawa said that Pakistan and Australia enjoy good diplomatic relations and at present, both countries are engaged in cooperating with each other in many Qields. He informed the participants that last year, there were two delegations – one from Sydney and other from Canberra visited

LCCI. He appreciated Australian High Commissioner for fully cooperating with the LCCI that went to Sydney in February 2017 to attend Halal Expo 2017. Our members had successful meetings in Australia. He said that the balance of trade has been in favour of Australia but it is a matter of concern for us that the gap between imports and exports is expanding year by year. From 2014 to 2015, the two way trade surged from dollar 504 million to dollar 714 mil-

icci for focusing on engineering sector ISLAMABAD

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he Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called upon the government to focus on making policies for better development of engineering sector that it has great potential to boost exports in the country. President, ICCI Khalid Iqbal Malik said that Pakistan was heavily depending on textiles products for exports while the share of textiles in global market was decreasing,said in statement issued by ICCI He said the engineering goods constituted around 50 percent of the world trade while, Pakistan’s engineering goods share in overall global exports was just 0.0151 percent which was quite negligible. It showed that the country was

losing huge export potential by ignoring engineering sector of the economy. He said Pakistan could earn billions of dollars of exports by creating an enabling environment for engineering sector. Khalid Iqbal Malik said that better development of engineering industry was the key to social and economic progress. He said the need for developing this strategically important sector was universally recognized as the engineering sector has the potential to create immense employment opportunities. He said all the strong economies have achieved phenomenal progress by developing engineering sector and Pakistan should also pay special attention to this important sector in order to emerge as a strong economy in the comity of nations. Meanwhile, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and In-

dustry (FPCCI) Thursday said the government should develop an effective strategy to attract Chinese investment in joint ventures in the SME sector which offer low-cost job creation and rapid poverty reduction. Chinese businessmen can help boost local SMEs through joint ventures in the industrial zones planned along CPEC, it said in a press releaae issued here. Technological cooperation between businessmen of Pakistan and China can also help and modernise existing SMEs through a transfer of technology, Chairman FPCCI Regional Committee on Industries Atif Ikram Sheikh said. He said the development of the proposed industrial zones along the trade route will offer an opportunity for development of the SME sector which is the backbone of the economy.

lion. This increase took place due to abrupt rise in imports from Australia to Pakistan which went up from dollar 337 million to dollar 538 million during that period. Pakistan exports showed some improvement but its magnitude was not sufQicient enough. The volume of exports to Australia inched up from dollar 167 million to dollar 176 million. Amjad Ali Jawa said that Australia has a well-developed dairy and livestock sectors and Pakistani counterparts can beneQit from Australia for enhancements in milk and meat production. Livestock sector of Pakistan accounts for more than 10% of GDP. Pakistan lags behind in technological innovation in agriculture and livestock. Australia should share its advanced agro-technology and expertise with Pakistan. The LCCI Acting President said it is really appreciative that Australian government is extending liberal scholarships to the Pakistani students and at the moment more than 15000 students are studying in various universities of Australia. LCCI is of the view that these scholarships should be increased to offer more opportunities to the Pakistani students.

Aptma announces to shut mills in protest ll Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has decided to keep all the mills shut next week in protest, as the government is not providing the incentives that were promised to the industrialists. Aptma Chairman Aamir Fiaz expressed his views in a press conference and said the trade deficit has reached the highest level in country’s history due to poor policies of the government and continuous increase in production costs. Gohar Ejaz, Aptma Vice Chairman Ali Pervez and Aptma Punjab Chairman Syed Ali Ahsan were also present along with him. The Aptma chairman said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is not fulfilling the promises that were made with the industrialists. He said the volume of export was more than $25 billion in 2013 when the incumbent government took charge, but now it has reduced to less than $20 billion.

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Senior Preventive Oﬃcer Musheer retires Saturday July 1, 2017

Islamabad peshawar customs inspector Zia punished for misconduct

ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Musheer, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS16, is going to retire from the government service on attaining the age of superannuation. The officer, presently posed as Senior Preventive Officer at Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Karachi, will stand retired from government service on June 18, 2017.

customs inspector fazal given minor penalty for ineﬃciency

ISLAMABAD

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uhammad Zia Khan, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS16, has been given minor penalty for misconduct. Disciplinary proceedings under Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 were initiated against the officer, presently posted as Inspector at Model Customs Collectorate, Peshawar vide charge sheet dated November 16, 2016. Adeem Khan, Deputy Director (BS-18), Directorate of Transit Trade, Peshawar was appointed as inquiry officer to conduct inquiry on account of various acts of omission and commission committed by the accused officer constituting “inefficiency”, and “misconduct”. According to the inquiry report, the charge of “misconduct” was established against the accused officer. A show-cause notice dated April 3, 2017 was issued to the accused officer and he was also called for personal hearing by the authorized officer on May 10, 2017.

Assist commissionerir khairuddin to retire on oct 14 hairuddin Siddiqui, an Inland Revenue Service officer of BS-17, is going to retire from the government service on attaining the age of superannuation. The officer, presently posted as Assistant Commissioner-IR at Regional Tax Office-III, Karachi, will stand retired from the government service on October 14, 2017. Meanwhile, Amer Bashir, an Inland Revenue Service officer of BS-17, is going to retire from the government service on attaining the age of superannuation. The officer, presently posted as Assistant Commissioner-IR at Corporate Regional Tax Office, Lahore, will stand retired from the government service on July 31, 2017. –CB Report

ciency”. According to the inquiry report, the charge of “inefQiciency” was established against the accused ofQicer. A show-cause notice dated March 30, 2017 was issued to the accused ofQicer and he was also called for personal hearing by the authorized ofQicer on May 11, 2017. After considering the charges framed in the charge sheet, inquiry report, personal hearing and other available record, the accused ofQicer was found guilty of “inefQiciency” under rule 3(a) of the Government Servants (EfQiciency and Discipline) Rules, 1973. The authorized ofQicer imposed minor penalty of “withholding of two increments without cumulative effect” upon Fazal-urRehman falling on December 1, 2017 under rule 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Govt. Servants (EfQiciency & Discipline) Rules, 1973.

ISLAMABAD

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azal-ur-Rehman, a Pakistan Customs Service ofQicer of BS16, has been given minor penalty for inefQiciency. Disciplinary proceedings under Government Servants (EfQiciency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 were initiated against the ofQicer, presently posted as Inspector at Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad vide charge sheet dated Oct 20, 2016. Karam Elahi, the then Additional Director (BS-19), Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation-FBR, Rawalpindi was appointed as inquiry ofQicer to conduct inquiry on account of various acts of omission and commission committed by the accused ofQicer constituting “inefQi-

gwadar customs foils bid to smuggle hashish T

GWADAR

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he Customs Collectorate Gawadar has foiled a smuggling attempt and seized ten kilograms hashish in a raid. The value of seized hashish in international market is Rs 1.2 million. According to details, Collector Gawadar Saeed Akram received a tip-off regarding transportation of narcotics in Jewani area. He immediately constituted a team of Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) to curb the smuggling attempts. The team under the supervision of Inspector Ghulam Shah started a search operation in Jewani area. The Customs team intercepted a passenger bus bearing registration number: JT-3475 which was going to Hyderabad and found 10 kilogram Qine quality hashish under the passenger seats. The team seized the drugs, passenger bus and arrested two person who were later identiQied as Imran Ali and Faheem Khan. Sources said that the value of seized drugs is Rs

1.2 million in international market. Customs authorities also registered an FIR against the suspects and

started investigations. Source told that this raid is the Qifth raid during the month of June while on the

other hand anti smuggling team showed outstanding performance during Eid holidays.

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Peshawar Dry Port receives Rs324.82 of All Duty Taxes PESHAWAR: The Customs Dry Port of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Peshawar earned Rs324.82million of All Duty Taxes during the 1st to 15th of June’s Financial Year (FY) 2016-17. During the first 15 days of June’s FY 2016-17, the Dry Port Peshawar collected Rs118.72million of Customs Duty (CD) whereas it did Rs4.55million of Miscellaneous Duties and Surcharges. During above said period, the dry port received Rs165.23million of Sales Tax (ST) while it did Rs26.57million of ST on Imports and the dry port generated Rs7.40million of Additional Income Tax (AIT).

customs intelligence (enforcement) unearths rs111.5m tax evasion KARACHI

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ustoms Intelligence (Enforcement) has unearthed tax evasion of Rs111.5 million. On information of Customs Intelligence & Investigation Director General Shaukat Ali, Karachi Customs (Enforcement) constituted a team of intelligence oﬃcers, which detected a group of importers who illegally transported non-duty paid items from public bonded warehouse without payment of duties and taxes. The group used to transfer nonduty paid goods, include generators, LEDs, TV panels, remote controls etc, to bonded warehouse and later illegally take out without paying taxes or duties with the involvement of warehouse administration. The companies

and goods confiscated by the Karachi Customs Directorate General Intelligence & Investigation (Enforcement), include Easer Traders Karachi 92 gasoline generators, NHC Corporation 4,305 pieces of 32’ LED penal display screen, Cummins Sales & Service (Pakistan) Ltd 2 diesel generators, Gateway International Lahore 211 gasoline generators, HNC Corporation Karachi 1,159 carton of LED panel display screens of 39’ and 48’ TVs, Engineering INdustery Lahore 1548.707 metric tonne GP steel sheets coils and Fierce Engineering Industry Lahore 716.365 metric tonne GP steel sheets coils. These illegally transported goods are worth Rs210.9 million and Rs111.5 million worth of duty/taxes evaded on them. The Customs authorities have lodged an FIR against owners and importers involved in this heinous crime and further investigations are underway.

Karachi

M/s Bawany Suger Mills moves SHc against recovery notice of rs 264.5 million

pcA sends contravention report against M/s Alhamra garments & exports KARACHI

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irectorate of Customs Post Clearance Audit (PCA) authorities detected tax evasion on import of cloth consignments. Sources told Customs Today that during scrutiny of import data it was revealed that M/s Alhamra Super Garments and Exports imported 12 consignments of cloth from January to April 2017. Sources told that Customs Post Clearance Audit team comprising Deputy Director Sajid Ali Baloch, Appraiser Talha Sheraz detected the tax evasion. Sources told the above said company availed unnecessary concessions and availed undue benefits. After detecting the tax evasion, Customs Post Clearance Audit authorities issued a show cause notice to the management of the above said company. After company’s unsatisfactory reply, Post Clearance Audit authorities finalized a contravention report against M/s Alhamra Garments and forwarded the same to Customs Adjudication for further proceedings.

KARACHI

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought comments from tax authorities on a constitutional petition Qiled by M/s Bawany Suger Mills Limited against recovery notice of Rs 264.5 million issued by commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-II Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU). A two-member bench also restrained the tax authorities from taking any coercive action against the petitioner and directed them to Qile their respective comments on the next date of hearing. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that above mentioned tax authority issued a show cause notice for enforce recovery of the said amount, therefore, being aggrieved it moved to commissioner Appeals and Qiled appeal along with stay order, which is still pending for disposal, however, during pendency of such appeal, petitioner is being threatening by the tax authorities for enforce recovery of disputed amount including attachment of its bank accounts. Citing Secretary Ministry of Law, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue and Commis-

Saturday July 1, 2017

sioner Inland Revenue Zone-II Large Taxpayers Unit as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may restrain them from taking any action till Qinal decision of its appeal. Meanwhile, An appellate bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan ordered release of consignments while hearing three identical cases separately. In one of the petitions filed Busy Impex and Danial Enter-

prises the bench while suspending the order of the Director General, Valuation, Pakistan Customs ordered that consignments of tiles imported by petitioners be released on payment of duty and taxes as per valuation ruling 874/2016 and not on enhanced value as determined by the respondent DG Valuation. The bench passed same orders in a separate petition filed by Arshad Traders who imported toilet soap.

Appraisement South achieves 20% growth

KARACHI

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he Customs Appraisement South Region has achieved a robust growth of 20 percent over the revenue collection of the financial year 2015-16. This was announced in a statement issued by Customs Appraisement South here on Friday. It said that this includes growth in customs duty of 24 percent, sales tax 19 percent, income tax 13 percent and FED 17 percent. The region led by Chief Collector Abdul Rashid Shaikh, comprises of Model Customs Collectorates of East, West

and Port Qasim surpassed the figure of one trillion rupees by col-

lecting Rs. 1,004 billion in the second week of June with 15 more

days still to go until the end of current financial year. This contributes about a third of the revenue target of FBR which is 3.621 trillion for the current year, the statement added. It said that the feat was achieved by the South Region through concerted efforts by improving the quality of assessments, controlling the `mis-use of exemptions’, maintaining transparency and facilitation of genuine trade and tax payers. The growth in taxes shows the increased efficiency in collection by Appraisement South by controlling revenue leakages and taking preventive measures against revenue loss.

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2 booked for sharing derogatory remarks on social media Saturday July 1, 2017

National Sara-e-Muhajar ASo impounds non duty paid Toyota car

SIALKOT: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against two persons—Haseeb Zahid and Mian Umair Ashraf—for allegedly sharing derogatory remarks against a political leader Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on the social media. Dr Firdous recently joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after parting ways with Pakistan People’s Party. According to FIA oﬃcials, Haseeb Zahid has been arrested while the other accused, Mian Umair Ashraf, has acquired bail before arrest. Further investigation was under way.

Quetta customs foils smuggling attempts of drugs and break oil

FAISALABAD

nAeeM SHeikH

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search, found that the ruck was carrying 20 kilogram narcotics hidden under the carpets. The team seized the drugs and arrested truck driver who was identified as Sofyan Khan. The seized drug is worth Rs2.2 million reportedly. The team took part in the said seizure comprised of Safdar Khan, Shamim Qaiser, Gul Hakim Ali and others. Meanwhile, in another operation, the Customs Anti Smuggling Team followed a tip-off and raided over a local warehouse in Kerani. The team recovered more than 200 boxes of smuggled break oil. The team seized the boxes and no one was arrested in this raid. Sources said that the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Quetta has confiscated items worth Rs6.5 million in June so far.

KARACHI

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he Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Sara-e-Muhajir seized foreign origin used Toyota car in red colour. The market value of the impounded vehicle is Rs10,87,000 involving customs duty to the tune of Rs 537,000. Sources told Customs Today, that Deputy Collector Usman Traiq received information regarding some non duty paid vehicles plying on roads. After receiving the information, he constituted a raiding team comprising Muhammad Umar, (inspector), Muhammad Ashraf Khan (havaldar), Sher Ahmad, Said Rasool and Faiz Ahmad (sepoys). The ASO team intercepted a Toyota car bearing registration no: LEA 14-2650 (Lahore) near Police Station Chowk Saddar district Bhakkar and asked the owner of the vehicle to produce legal documents regarding possession of the vehicles. But the owner failed to show any relevant documents.

ASo impounds vehicles & goods valued rs12.3m he Multan Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization has impounded smuggled vehicles and miscellaneous goods worth Rs12.3million during the first 16 days of June in various actions. The ASO has carried out various antismuggling operations in the jurisdiction of Collector Saud Imran. The ASO has launched rigorous crackdown on smuggled vehicles in the region by adopting an aggressive strategy. The Model Customs Collectorate Multan has enhanced the monitoring of various routes adopted for transportation of smuggled vehicles and goods in the Jurisdiction. The ASO squad has increased the patrolling in Sakhi Sarwar, Rajanpur and its adjoining areas to check the smuggling of non-customspaid vehicles and goods. –CB Report

he Customs Collectorate Quetta foiled a smuggling attempt and seized 20 kilogram narcotics and 200 box of smuggled break oil in two different operations. According to details, Deputy Collector Customs Preventive Junaid Mehmood received a tip-off regarding transportation of smuggled goods. He immediately constituted a team to curb the smuggling attempt. The team, under Junaid’s supervision, started searching vehicles somewhere around Noshki. While searching the team intercepted a truck bearing registration No: BL-7622 and found that there were carpets loaded in it. The team, upon closer

faisalabad customs Dc falik Shair reshuﬄes seven employees M

FAISALABAD

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odel Customs Collectorate Deputy Collector Headquarters Falik Shair has reshufQled seven customs employees including six inspectors and one deputy superintendent with immediate effect. The deputy collector issued a notiQication No: II-A (Admin)/20/2013/1761 and transferred Deputy Superintendent Rab Nawaz to audit the DTRE and Bond section after joining the duty at Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Faisalabad. Inspector Asif Jhakkar was also assigned with the duty at airport and BG/IB. Besides, Inspector Asif Hussain has been transferred from Audit Cell to Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Faisalabad and Investigation and Prosecution (I and P)

Branch and Muhammad Mansha transferred from ASO Faisalabad to State Warehouse (SWH) Dry Port to ASO Sargodha. Inspector Ghulam Murtaza Anjum has been

posted at State Warehouse (SWH) Dry Port in addition to his existing duties from ASO Faisalabad. Similarly, Inspector Muhammad Munir Ahmed has been transferred

from ASO Sargodha to ASO Faisalabad and Inspector Faizi Raza has been transferred from Recovery and Export to ASO Faisalabad with immediate effect.

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Saudi oil giant invests in UCD ﬁrm RIYADH: Saudi oil major Aramco has invested in former UCD campus company OxyMem, adding further to the Irish company’s growing shareholder base. The investment is being made through Aramco’s energy ventures investment vehicle and the size of the spend and the equity stake being taken have not been disclosed. However, both are thought not to be minor. Based in Athlone, Co Westmeath, OxyMem is a leading innovator in energy-efficient wastewater treatment, with its technology having the potential to bring wastewater treatment closer to energy neutrality by reducing energy consumption for aeration by up to 75%.

Thailand police arrested three chinese in click fraud hree Chinese nationals using phone bots to falsely boost page views on websites were arrested when police raided a rented house in Aranyaprathet district. They were arrested on charges including working without work permits. There were hunded of smartphones racked on metal frames and connected to computer monitors. A search found thousands of unused SIM cards. The police raid followed a tip-off that illegal migrants were living there. The Chinese nationals Wang Dong, 33, and Niu Bang, 25, were detained when immigration police searched their house in tambon Ban Mai Nong Sai. During the raid another Chinese man, Ni Wenjin, 32, walked in. He lived next door. A subsequent search of this house also found a large number of SIM cards. Speaking through an Chinese interpreter, Mr Ni said they were not running a call-centre scam, a police initially suspected. –CB Report

World Customs

Shanghai customs finds 1 ton of cocaine hidden inside shipment

outh Africa’s steel production fell by 3.5% year-on-year in May to 561,000 tonnes, according to the World Steel Association. Steel production is an important indicator of a country’s economic health, so that SA’s fell by only 0.8% in the first five months of 2017, after a 4.2% drop last year, is good news. It means overall economic growth should be above last year’s 0.3% increase. SA, however, lags global growth as global steel production increased by 4.7% in first five months of the year. The recovery in steel production indicates that the increase in global economic growth forecasts for 2017 by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have substance, based on evidence, such as the highest annual growth in world trade volumes since April 2011 being recorded in March 2017. –CB Report

5,000 tons of sesame seeds imported in 1 month total of 5,000 tons of sesame seeds worth close to 216.5 billion rials (nearly $5.8 million) were imported during the first month of the current Iranian year (started March 21), according to data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Nigeria and India were the main countries from where the imports were made, Mizan Online reported. In Iran, about 95% of domestic demand (1.5 million tons) for vegetable oils is met through imports while the government is planning to meet 70% of domestic demand from local production. A wide range of oilseeds are cultivated in Iran, including sesame and cotton seeds as well as colza, soybeans and saﬄower. Their production is expected to reach 250,000 tons, 200,000 tons, 135,000 tons and 15,000 tons respectively this year. Meanwhile, Iran has begun exporting gas through a pipeline to Baghdad under a deal set to make Iraq the Islamic republic’s top customer, the oil ministry said.”Iran’s natural gas exports to Baghdad began Wednesday evening,” Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia said late Wednesday in comments carried by the ministry’s Shana website.”The exports have started with a volume of seven million cubic metres a day and will eventually reach 35 million cubic metres,” he said. –CB Report

South African steel production drops 3.5 percent

Saturday July 1, 2017

SHANGHAI

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hen a shipment of 20 tons of “PaciQic mackerel” arrived in Shanghai last November, customs ofQicers thought that they smelled something Qishy. Packed in the container along with the frozen Qish was more than 1.1 tons of cocaine stuffed inside 276 cartons. The bust, which was only announced recently, is the biggest cocaine smuggling haul found by Chinese customs ofQicers in recent years, Shanghai Daily reports.

The goods were on their way from South America to Cambodia, stopping in Shanghai to be transferred. In order to catch the criminals receiving this illicit shipment, authorities repackaged the cartons and allowed the mackerel to go on to Cambodia. Once it reached Phnom Penh, a Chinese unit cooperated with Cambodian police to arrest four suspects two Vietnamese-Canadians and two Vietnamese. Three other suspects were able to escape and are on the run. Shanghai customs ofQicials have really been on their game recently, managing to catch one drug mule earlier this year who was smuggling cocaine, not inside her suitcases, but literally in them.

Meanwhile, Shanghai customs said that Chinese and Cambodian law enforcement authorities jointly seized 1.1 tons of cocaine and detained four drug trafQicking suspects late last year. It is the largest amount of cocaine seized in recent years, they said. They said the case was not made public earlier because it was quite complicated and there were international drug trafQickers involved. In November last year, customs staff at Shanghai Yangshan Port were suspicious of a shipment marked as Qish. The shipment had been sent from Ecuador, was transiting through Yangshan, and its destination was Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

philippines customs raid fake goods warehouse MANILA

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peratives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) conQiscated billions of pesos worth of fake products during a raid at a warehouse in Guiguinto, Bulacan. According to a report, the BOC conQiscated fake shoes, shampoo, soap, cigarettes, and medicines. BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon led the inspection at the ware-

house. Authorities are still investigating the people behind the fake products, who may face charges of violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs, has warned the Bureau of Customs to prevent the possible surge in car smuggling when additional excise taxes are imposed on the sale of luxury vehicles. Gatchalian said some players in the automobile industry are likely

to engage in the underground trading of high-end vehicles to dodge paying exorbitant excise taxes. “In my view, the incidence of smuggling will also go up when higher excise taxes are imposed on luxury cars. If this happens, it should not be ‘business-as-usual’ for the BOC,” the senators said during the recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on the proposed new excise tax on automobiles. Importers and distributors of high-end ultra-luxury vehi-

cles told the Senate panel that an estimated 20 percent of cars sold in the market are smuggled by unscrupulous traders through the country’s various ports. The estimate, Gatchalian said, could grow bigger when car dealers and traders use backdoor channels to bring in their products to elude paying proper duties and taxes. He said the BOC needs a strong strategy to make sure the increase in the tax on luxury vehicles will not result in unabated smuggling.

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ANF arrests Nigerian couple for smuggling drugs to Sialkot Saturday July 1, 2017

Lahore

LAHORE: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has arrested two foreigners, including a woman, on Wazirabad Road for allegedly smuggling drugs to Sialkot. The agency said the Nigerian couple had contraband, which contained 3.6kg hashish and 300g heroin. Meanwhile, The Pakistan Customs Preventive and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) at the Allama Iqbal International Airport aborted an attempt of smuggling of heroin from Lahore into Saudi Arabia. The accused was identiﬁed as Mubashir Hussain. He had concealed ﬁne heroin in his luggage. The ANF has shifted him to an unknown place for further investigation.

customs tribunal orders reassessment of value of seized goods LAHORE

SAJiD nAwAZ

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he Customs Appellate Tribunal has disposed of a case of Nadeem Ahmed versus Additional Collector of Customs (Adjudication) Lahore with an order to reassess the value of the impugned goods in accordance with Section 25 of Customs Act-1969. Omer Arshed Hakeem, Member Judicial Bench-II, heard the case in detail and passed the order that the tribunal had seen that value of the impugned merchandise assessed in an ofQhand manner we therefore direct that prior to release the value, duties and taxes of the impugned scrape shall be reassessed by the appraisement concerned staff of collectrate of customs Sambrial shall be re-determined in ac-

govt asked to bring down cD to control smuggling ahore Traders Rights Forum President Azhar Sultan has urged the government to bring down customs duty (CD) ensuring control over smuggling mafia. He said this while talking to the media persons here the other day. He said that in the next budget the government should reduce duty on imported goods so that smuggling and under invoicing could be controlled. He said that customs raids in the market have played havoc with the good will and business of the businessmen. He said that already business activities are equal to nothing and such tactics including raids on godowns would further damage the business activities. He said that customs duty should be reduced to cope with the menace of smuggling and under invoicing. He urged the government to reduced customs duty especially on agricultural sector. –CB Report

cordance with the law. The staff of Customs Intelligence and InvestigationFBR visited the godown owned by Malik Shabir, Wazirabad. With the power of search warrant, search was conducted in the presence of owner who recovered 39,695 kilograms of foreign origin Acrylic Sheet Scrap. On demand, the owner failed to produce legal documents showing lawful import the goods. The goods were conQiscated under section 2(kk) of the Customs Act-1969. After the Show Cause notice, adjudication authority heard the case and passed the order to release goods on the payment of redemption Qine equal to 35 percent of value of goods and also impose Qive percent penalty. Being aggrieved from the other, Complainant Qiled the case before the Customs Appellate Tribunal on the grounds that the impugned order was passed in a mechanical fashion and without judicious mind which is liable to set aside.

customs preventive collects rs 4,395m duty, taxes

LAHORE

M HAYAT

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ollectorate of Customs Preventive Lahore has collected Rs 4,395 million in all duty

and taxes during the Qirst 15 days of June 2017. As per details, the Collectorate of Customs Preventive under the supervision of Collector Chaudhary ZulQiqar collected Rs 1,666 million on account of customs duty (CD) during period under review against the proposed target of Rs 2,016 million.

Similarly, the Collectorate collected Rs 479 million on account of withholding tax (WHT) during the period under review against the assigned target of Rs 372 million. While on the other hand the Collectorate collected an amount of Rs 2,248 million under the head of sales tax against the assigned target of Rs 2,878 million during the Qirst 15 days June 2017. Likewise, the Collectoarte collected Rs 1.23 million on account of federal excise duty (FED) during the period under review against Rs 9.80 millions of proposed target for the period. Overall the Collectorate collected Rs 4,395 million duty and taxes during the first 15 days of the month of June 2017. It is necessary to mention here that all the Collectorates which are falling under the jurisdiction of Customs Central Region are using all available legal resources to recover outstanding tax amount from defaulters.

court extends judicial remand of accused fBr recovers rs3.5m from wildlife Dept in mobile-phone smuggling case he Federal Board of Revenue ter attaching the bank account of

he Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling has extended a judicial remand of an accused arrested in mobile smuggling case. Earlier, the Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Court rejected his post-arrest bail plea as well. Now the customs court has approved a 14-day judicial remand of the accused arrested from Faisalabad. According to Customs Today, an accused Tayab Manzoor was booked by the Customs Preventive

at the Faisalabad International Airport after arriving from Bahrain. Accused Tayab was travelling by a Qlight of Gulf airways. During a search, the Customs Preventives found mobile phones which were being smuggled into Faisalabad. About 60 cell phones were hidden in his bag. The value of the smuggled mobile phones is Rs500million. The customs has registered a case against accused Tayqb and launched an investigation. –CB Report

has frozen the bank account of the Punjab Wildlife Department and recovered Rs3.5million. According to sources of Customs Today, the FBR had issued many notices to Punjab Wildlife Department for payment of income tax for the year 2015 but its management did not pay any attention towards the said notices. Now FBR has deducted the amount from the bank accounts of the Highway Department. The action was taken by Deputy Commissioner Abdul Rauf Mayo and Inspector Muzafar Ali af-

Punjab Phase-6, Defence Housing Authority Lahore. In another action, the FBR has also recovered Rs450000 from the bank account of a citizen Iqra Ghazi against the income tax. The FBR sources said Iqra Ghazi has been a defaulter of income tax since 2014. She was served many notices but she did not submit her wealth statements. Iqra Ghazi is a resident of Sabza Zar Lahore and the FBR has taken this action after attaching her account in NIB Allama Iqbal Town branch. –CB Report

fTo adjourns hearing of case filed by M/s Mughal iron

LAHORE

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he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed the hearing of a case Qiled by M/s Mughal Iron and Steel Industries against the Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) Lahore until the next date. According to the details, FTO

Consultant Tariq Yousaf heard the case of Mirza Javaid Iqba, owner of M/s Mughal Iron and Steel Industries in which the counsel for the appellant argued that Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) had failed to release the refund to the appellant of the last three years. He said that the LTU collected excessive tax from M/s Mughal Iron and Steel Industries during the last

three years. He approached the ofQicer concerned many time for issuance of the refunds but the LTU ofQicials 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.

The counsel further said that the delay in issuance of refunds 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 office on which basis it is claiming for refunds.

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Port of Charleston terminal evacuated over ‘potential threat’ WASHINGTON: Authorities investigated a “potential threat” in a container on a ship at the Port of Charleston in South Carolina early Thursday, the Coast Guard said. The ship, Maersk Memphis, is at the Wando terminal, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The terminal is used for container cargo, and has been evacuated to allow federal, state and local bomb detection units to investigate. The threat came in about 8 p.m. ET, according to the Coast Guard. It later tweeted that a “safety zone has been established around the vessel while law enforcement authorities investigate the threat.”

Six ships take berth at port Qasim ix ships C.V Mehun, C.V MSC Veronique, M.T Chemroad Hope, M.T Umm Bab, M.T Sun Ploeg and M.T Shalamar carrying containers, Phosphoric Acid, LNG, Palm oil and Furnace oil were arranged berthing Qasim International Container Terminal, Engro Terminal, Elengy Terminal, Liquid Cargo Terminal and FOTCO Oil Terminal respectively during last 24 hours, said a report issued by Port Qasim Authority. Meanwhile two more ships Sun Francisca and Fidias with Containers and Soya Bean Seeds also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim during last 24 hours. Berth occupancy remained on high side at the port at 75% on Thursday where a total of twelve ships namely, Mehun, MSC Veronqiue, APL Charleston, Maersk Chicago, Nord Leader, Anthemis, Calipso, Tiamat Gas, Chemroad Hope,

Umm Bab, Sun Ploeg and Shalamar were occupied PQA berths to load/offload Containers, Coal, Canola Seeds, Soay Bean Seeds Phosphoric Acid, LPG, LNG, Palm oil and Furnace oil respectively. A record cargo handling was achieved at the port on Thursday where a cargo volume of 188,329 tonnes, comprising 149,281 tonnes import cargo and 39,045 tonnes export cargo inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 3,629 Containers TUEs) 1,574 imports TUEs and 2,055 TUEs exports) was handled at the port. Containers ship, MSC Veronique and Gas carrier Tiamat Gas Tiger sailed out to sea on Friday morning, while three more ships Mehun, Nord Leader and Chemroad Hope are expected to sail on same day. –CB Report

Ports & Shipping

Adani ports to raise at least $500m by selling dollar bonds

Southern ports break records as 1-year panama canal anniversary nears outhern US ports are experiencing a record foreign trade boom thanks in part to an expanded Panama Canal that permits Asian cargo ships to reach them more easily. Georgia Ports Authority and the Port of Virginia, which include the nation’s fourth and fifth largest ranked by volume, respectively, each moved the most cargo they have ever handled in May. The two ports posted more than 10 percent year-over-year volume growth for the month. They aren’t alone. South Carolina State Ports Authority, which includes the Port of Charleston, had its best ever month in March, April and May and overall volume from last July through May is up 9.4 percent compared to a year earlier. “We’ve candidly been surprised by the strength of the volume growth for the first part of this calendar year. January through April has been very strong,” said Jim Newsome, the SPA’s president and chief executive officer. –CB Report

WASHINGTON

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Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), India’s largest ports operator is planning to raise at least $500 million by selling bonds to global investors to reQinance some existing loans and for capital expenditure, two people familiar with the sale said. This sale, if it goes through, will be the second bond sale by the company after it raised $500 million in January and could be at a yield lower than the company paid six months ago. Investor roadshows for this bond have started in Asia and London on Tuesday. “These bonds are also open to US investors. It is likely that investor demand will allow the company to raise more than $500 million,” said one of the persons cited above. The yield on the Adani bond issued in January 2017 has come off from 3.99 per cent to 3.40 per cent as demand for Indian paper re-

Saturday July 1, 2017

mains strong globally.“The spread on Adani’s bonds has come down and we are confident that the latest bonds will be priced at a tighter yield. It remains to be seen how much the company decides to keep finally,” said the second person cited above. Global rating agency Moody’s has assigned a Baa3 rating to the bonds in line with the company’s previous bonds. “The rating primarily reflects the company’s strong market position as the

largest port developer and operator in India by cargo volume, and the strength of its landmark Mundra PortBSE 0.54 % concession in Gujarat,” Moody’s said. APSEZ could not be immediately reached for comment. On Monday, Moody’s had changed the company’s ratings outlook to stable from negative citing the stabilization in the company’s operating performance and a decline in its Qinancial leverage.

port opens additions at wiri depot WASHINGTON

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orts of Auckland and Move Logistics is due today to begin operating a new container facility at the Wiri depot in south Auckland. Reinhold Goeschl, the port’s supply chain general manager, said a new building had been developed at the existing south Auckland freight hub between Wiri Station Rd and the Southern Motorway. The warehouse-style development is for freight to go in and out of, he said. The building is just over a third of a hectare or 3500sq m with a 1150sq m yard and a 200sq m ofQice. “This completes the principle develoment of a one-stop freight hub at Wiri,” he said. It will speed up freight processing into and of New Zealand. Meanwhile, The Saudi-led embargo on Qatar means that container

lines can longer use deepwater terminals in the UAE for Qatari transshipment cargo, causing disruption to supply chains and forcing carriers to reroute cargo through Omani ports on the Arabian Sea. But the suspension of transshipment at the UAE’s giant Jebel Ali and Khalifa ports may also be an opportunity for Qatar’s biggest seaport, Hamad Port. “It’s a blessing in disguise,” a Hamad Port ofQicial told Reuters Wednesday. “We’re looking at signing agreements with shipping companies that can improve direct services instead of having to come through Jebel Ali.” The port has already added four new services, two from India and two feeder routes from Oman. And the port’s operations manager suggested that more deals may be in the works soon. With all of the new trade lanes, ofQicials say that business is already back up to normal levels despite the embargo. An ofQicial with knowledge of the diplomatic

situation told Bloomberg on Thursday that Saudi and UAE leaders will relay a full list of demands to mediators over the weekend – a starting point for negotiations between the two sides. Qatar contends that Saudi Arabia’s public statements, which call for the suspension of Qatari support for Hamas and Hezbollah and an end to Qatar’s warming relations with Iran, are not speciQic enough to form a basis for discussion. Once the detailed demands are delivered, ofQicials say, the crisis may be resolved in short order. “I am sure this storm will pass peacefully to the beneQit of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” said Kuwaiti Sheikh Salem al-Ali al-Sabah, speaking to Al-Seyassah. al-Sabah credited the Emir of Kuwait for his efforts to mediate between the parties. In social media posts, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for the Saudi-led sanctions, and on Friday he accused Qatar of sponsoring terror-

ism “at a very high level.” However, despite Trump’s apparent concerns, his Department of Defense Qinalized a landmark $12 billion arms deal with Qatar on Thursday. The agreement, signed by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis at a meeting with Qatari ofQicials in Washington, will allow Boeing to sell the strategically important ally a total of up to 36 F-15 Qighter jets. The Pentagon suggests that the sale will increase interoperability between Qatari and American air units. Qatar hosts the largest and busiest American air base in the Middle East, Al Udeid, which is the main launching point for the air campaign against Islamic State. Shortly after the Saudiled alliance denounced Qatar for supporting terrorist groups, the U.S. Department of Defense thanked Qatar for its “enduring commitment to regional security”; Secretary Mattis has refrained from taking sides, describing the situation as “very complex.”

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Hyderabad ASO seizes tyres & tubes valued Rs750000 HYDERABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Hyderabad Customs Preventive has confiscated 100 Nos foreign origin tubes & tyres worth Rs750000 involving customs duty and taxes of Rs360000 during a recent action at Hyderabad Bypass. Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Hyderabad Ikhlaq Ahmed Khattaq directed his staff to curb the smuggling attempts in the region. Additional Collector Rehmatulah Vistro received a tip-off regarding the smuggling of foreign origin smuggled and non-custom-duty-paid tubes & tyres.

Saturday, July 1, 2017

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

gilgit-Baltistan customs earns rs2669.131 million all duty taxes GILGIT-BALTISTAN TAriQ DerYA

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he Model Customs Collectorate Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) generates All Duty Taxes worth Rs2669.131million during 11 month and 19th days of June (1st July to 19 June) of Financial Year (FY) 2016-17. According to Akbar Jan, Assistant Collector GB while talking to Customs Today, said the GB already exceeded its assigned revenue collection target for running Financial Year 2016-17 under all the heads. During 11 months and 19 days of Financial Year 201617, the GB received Rs1082.348million of Customs Duty (CD) whereas it did Rs176.293million of Redemption Duty. During above said period, the GB collected Rs7.727million of Redemption Fine (RF) while it did Rs869.141million of Sales Tax (ST) and the AC said the GB got Rs136.876million of Additional Sales Tax. He said the MCC GB generated Rs264.708million of CD, ST, RD, IT and FED on Imports during May FY2016-17. The GB got Rs92.144million of CD while it did Rs32.855million of RD and it also generated Rs1.272million of Redemption Fine. During above said pe-

riod, the GB earned Rs126.271million of total CD.

The GB received Rs83.130million of ST whereas it did Rs14.677mil-

lion of Additional ST. The GB generated Rs97.807million of total ST and

it collected Rs40.630 million of Income Tax during May FY16-17. Meanwhile, The Model Customs Collectorate Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) earned Rs2453.541million during July to May of Financial Year FY2016-17. The collectorate has been assigned Rs104millions of all duty taxes for June FY16-17 but GB has earned more revenue to meet the shortfall of North Region. Few days back, Sost dry port’s working has been slow due to visa issues from Chinese side. This was stated by Assistant Collector GB Akbar Jan while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today. During the last few days, GB dry port Sost was functioning slowly because of Chinese visa processing but now again imports have become normal and GB is excepting handsome amount on imports during the month of June FY16-17. During this season, the import of apple was high due to seal of Torkham and Chaman borders. During the current month, most of imports came from China through Sost border which comprised heavy machinery and parts and food items for Chinese workers who are working in our country on different projects. He told Customs Today that the federal government has released allocated funds of Rs21.625million in the budget of FY17-18 for construction of boundary wall around customs land at Chimash Das Gilgit.

Anf seizes 6.164 ton narcotics in 18 operations, arrests 22 RAWALPINDI

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nti Narcotics Force (ANF) Pakistan has seized huge quantity of narcotics weighing 6.164 ton valuing Rs 14.5 billion in international market during 18 counternarcotics operations conducted across the country. The seized drugs comprised 5043 kilogram opium, 957 kg heroin, 157 kg hashish, 3.2

kg amphetamine, 3.64 kg methamphetamine and 30 grams cocaine. The operations also resulted in apprehension of 22 persons allegedly involved in narcotics smuggling. Eight vehicles were also impounded. According to an ANF spokesman, ANF Quetta in an intelligence based operation carried out at District Qilla Abdullah seized 5,043 kg opium and 947 kg heroin. ANF Quetta in an intelligence based operation conducted at District Chagi seized 50 kg hashish. Yet in another operation, ANF Quetta intercepted a Suzuki Mehran car near FC

Hospital, Quetta and recovered 80 kg hashish from secret cavities of the car. Two persons on board identiQied as Shah Nawaz resident of Benazirabad and Aziz Ahmed resident of Quetta were arrested. Moreover, ANF Quetta captured a motorcyclist namely Faiz-ul-Haq r/o Quetta near Yasir Irfan Petroleum Service, Quetta and recovered three kg hashish. ANF Rawalpindi apprehended a local drug peddler namely Rahimdad r/o Attock while he was riding on a motorcycle near Shaheed Fahim Abbas Naqvi Chowk, Attock city and recovered 1.1 kg

hashish.ANF Lahore recovered 500 gram heroin from Saeed Ahmed r/o Khanewal who was rounded up near Pull Mola Pur, Tehsil Kabirwala, District Khanewal. In another operation, ANF Lahore during routine checking intercepted a suspected Toyota Hiace near Namal College, Rikhi Mor, Talagang Road, Mianwali and recovered 8.4 kg hashish during search of the vehicle.Two persons on board identiQied as Said Alam and Khaista Rehman were netted. Yet in another operation, ANF Lahore arrested Azeem Gul on recovery of 300 gram

Published by M S Raza Oﬀ# 42, 3rd Flr Gull Plaza M.A Road Karachi, Printed by (Ibne Hassan Oﬀset Printing Press, Shop No. 33 to 36 , Hockey Stadium, Karachi).

heroin and 3.2 kg amphetamine. He was arrested near Lasani Pul, Sargodha Road, Faisalabad. In fourth operation, ANF Lahore intercepted a Toyota Corolla car near Civil Hospital, Railway Road, Tehsil Shakargarh and seized six kg Hashish. Sadiqullah,d Ismail Khan and Muhammad Kabir were also apprehended. In Qifth operation, ANF Lahore intercepted a Suzuki Vitz near Shell Petrol Pump, Wazirabad Road, Sialkot, recovering 3.6 kg hashish and 300 gram heroin. Two Nigerian nationals on board identiQied as Juslin Chukwuemeka and Grace Nnewna were also apprehended.