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Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has assured Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of full support in achieving revenue collection target of Rs4,013 billion for the fiscal year 2017/2018.

The finance minister chaired meeting at the FBR on Wednesday regarding

the state of tax revenue collection in the current fiscal year. Finance Secretary, Chairman FBR, and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and FBR attended the meeting.

Chairman FBR briefed the Finance Minister on the tax revenue collected during FY 2016-2017.

He said that all efforts are being made to attain the collection target of Rs3,521 billion for the current fiscal year.

The finance minister urged FBR to take all nec-

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essary measure to meet the tax collection target for the current fiscal year. He also assured his full support to FBR for achieving the tax collection targets for FY 2017-2018. The Finance Minister said that the measures included in the budget for FY 2017-2018 will enhance the welfare and prosperity of the general public. He emphasized that the budgetary measures are aimed at enabling Pakistan to achieve higher, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Dar backs FBR to achieve Rs4,013 billion revenue target

Seminar organized in Singapore to attract business in Pakistan

Customs PQ collects Rs 44.12 billion duty, taxes during June

KLIA Customs seize 999kg of shisha tobacco

Software for foreign training of FBR officers inaugurated

Dar has assured FBR of full support in achieving revenue collection target | SEE PagE 01 |

PHC in coordination with the Singapore Business Federation organized a seminar | SEE PagE 02 |

The Customs Collectorate Port Qasim collected Rs 44.12 billion duty in month | SEE PagE 04 |

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department at the KLIA seized 999kg of shisha tobacco | SEE PagE 07 |

FBR chairman Dr Irshad has inaugurated a software to process cases for nomination | SEE PagE 08 |

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About 6,000 falcons smuggled out of Pakistan every year ISLAMABAD: About 6,000 falcons are smuggled out of Pakistan every year and mostly sold in the Middle East. According to sources in the Ministry of Climate Change, these falcons usually migrate after escaping the harsh winters of Siberia to warmer regions in the south. “Thousands of these birds are trapped during their transit through Pakistan, where they stop to rest. The rate at which falcons are trapped is so high that international conferences have been called in the recent past to find solutions to the massive decline in falcon population in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizstan and Turkmenistan,” a senior official of the climate change ministry said.

Monday July 3, 2017

Business

Seminar organized to attract business in Pakistan ISLAMABAD

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akistan High Commission in coordination with the Singapore Business Federation organized a seminar with the title of “Spotlight on Pakistan” to attract Singaporean businesses to invest in Pakistan. While addressing the seminar, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Singapore Nasrullah Khan said that Pakistan’s economy has been growing steadily over the last years and it is expected to become higher middle income country in near future.

He said that with a fast growing middle class, increasing urbanization, a rising number of interna-

govt urged to support horticulture exporters LAHORE

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tional brands, Pakistan is poised to become a major destination for international businesses.

High Commissioner stressed on Pakistan’s strategic location with potential to become Asia’s premier trade, energy and transport corridor. He added that Pakistan has initiated much needed reforms which reinforced our broader macroeconomic policies and led to lower budget deNicits, increased foreign exchange reserves, and reduced spending on energy subsidies.

He informed that upsurge in Pakistan’s economy, the ReclassiNication of the Pakistan stock market in the Emerging Markets (EM) Index by the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), in June 2016.

He told its upgraded Credit Ratings by Fitch Ratings: Rated B, Stable

food group imports rises 15.96 percent in 11 months

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xporters of horticultural products, highly dejected over being neglected in the budget 2017-18, have demanded compensation to the losses to the tune of Rs200 million they faced due to devaluation of Pound following the Brexit. Talking to media persons here on Friday, Regional Committee of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FPCCI) on Horticultural Exports Chairman Ahmad Jawad said that exporters of fruit and vegetables had faced huge losses following the Brexit last year.

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Outlook since 15th September 2015;Moody’s: Rated B3, Stable Outlook since 11th June 2015; Standard & Poor’s (S&P): Raised Pakistan long terms sovereign rating to B from Bon improved economic outlook and

better Niscal and external account with Stable Outlook on 31st October 2016 International economic agencies are upgrading ratings for the Ninancial and economic stability of Pakistan. High Commissioner also informed the participants that Pakistan’s growth rate has exceeded the World Bank’s forecast of a GDP growth of 5.2% for the current year.

He also highlighted that the CPEC was expected to generate massive economic activity in the country which would create opportunities for investments by the private sector and other countries as well. H.E Shamsher Zaman, Singapore’s Nonresident Ambassador to Jordan and Vice Chairman of Singapore Business Federation’s South Asian business Group, played a proactive role in organizing and making the Seminar.

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ISLAMABAD

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he import of food products in to the country increased by 15.96 per cent during the period July-May (2016-17) as compared to same period of last year.

During the period under review, the food group imports were recorded at US $5.650 billion while during the corresponding period of last year, the imports stood at $4.873 billion. Among food products, the import of milk, cream and

milk food declined to $232.802 million in Nirst 11 months of current Niscal year from the import worth of $244.872 million last year, thus showing a decrease of 4.93 per cent.

The import of dry fruits and nuts however increased by 9.25 per cent from $151.134 million last year to $165.114 million during current year.

Similarly, tea import also increased by 3.19 percent as it was recorded at $491 million during July-May 201617 as compared to the import worth $475.821 million. The spices imports went down by 5.11 per cent to $128.152 million in current Niscal year

from $135.063 million in last year, whereas soybean oil import witnessed a sharp decline of 35.35 per cent as its import in July-May (2016-17) stood at $112.531 million while during same period of last year, it was recorded at $174.059 million. The import of palm oil witnessed a growth of 12.76 per cent as it rose from $1.548 billion during Nirst 11 months of last Niscal year to $1.746 billion in same period of current Niscal year. Sugar import declined by 21.32 per cent as its import during the period under review, was recorded at $4.668 million compared to $5.933 million during last year.

Cell sets up at fIa to curb human trafficking LAHORE

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he Interior Ministry has granted approval to 73 International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs) allowing them to operate in the country, while 23 others have been refused permission for their functioning. The cases of 20 INGOs have been deferred and would be decided later. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan. The Interior Minister appreciated the efforts of INGO Committee of the Ministry and concerned NADRA officials for their tireless efforts to finalise the registration process which has taken place for the first time in the history of the country, said the Minister. The Interior Minister said that the registration of the INGOs was critical vis-a-vis security of the state.

He said that framing rules for the INGOs and registering them for the first time is a significant achievement which would not only bring transparency in the entire system of working of various INGOs in the country but would also strengthen partnership between the government and the non-governmental sector putting this equation on solid foundation of trust and spirit to complement each other.

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Multan NaB gets custody of 3 POs in Rs85m housing scam MULTAN

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ational Accountability Bureau (NAB) Multan has secured 10day remand of three proclaimed offenders (POs) arrested in a Rs 85 million housing scheme fraud of Bahawalnagar district.

The NAB Multan spokesman said that accused Shoor Bashir s/o Bashir Ahmed, Ghafoor Ahmed s/o

Bashir Ahmed and Rukhsana Manzoor wife of Manzoor Ahmed, of Bahawalnagar were absconding from process of law, and Accountability Court Multan had declared them proclaimed offenders on March 16, 2016. They had allegedly collected Rs 85 million from the public against plots at Shaoor Town Housing Scheme in Bahawalnagar, a scheme that was not issued NOC by TMA. Later, the accused disappeared and accountability court had de-

clared them proclaimed offenders last year. On Friday, NAB Multan produced the accused before the accountability court seeking their custody for recovery and investigation which was allowed till July 3.

Meanwhile, The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore started recovering Rs 67 million from Land Acquisition Collector (LAC), Punjab Highway Department and accomplices by receiving Nirst installment of Rs 59.84 million

through the plea bargain. Director General NAB Lahore Shahzad Saleem handed over cheque of Rs 6.1 million to an ofNicial of the Punjab government.

According to NAB spokesman, the NAB Lahore received a complaint from a departmental source regarding misappropriation of Rs 67 million whereas the amount was fraudulently withdrawn on account of land acquisition compensation without awarding and acquisition

of land from the affectees of road expansion and construction.

VeriNications launched in 2016 and subsequently, Mian Abdul Rauf Ex-(LAC) and other accomplices Zahoor Ahmed (Girdawar) Muhammad Sharif, Nasim Abbas, Ali Abbas, Muhammad Ali were arrested. Later, further investigations from the accused lead to arrest of Muhammad Amjad on June 2017. Furthermore, NAB Nield a reference against the accused in Accountability Court.

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KARACHI

waQaR ahMED aNSaRI www.customstoday.com

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he Customs Collectorate Port Qasim collected Rs 44.12 billion duty during the month of June and Rs 398 million under the head of federal excise duty. The collectorate has collected Rs 14.4 billion under the head of customs duty.

Sources told Customs Today that the collectorate was assigned a revenue collection target of Rs 43.62 billion while the Customs Port Qasim collected Rs 24.29 billion under the head of sales tax, Rs 5.69 billion as income tax and Rs 398 million under the head of federal excise duty.

Sources said that the Customs Port Qasim collected 41.70 billion customs duty during May, Rs 23.46 billion under the head of sales tax, Rs 4.82 billion under the head of income tax and Rs 361 million under the head of federal excise duty. While during the month of April the Customs Port Qasim collected Rs 37.79 billion against the assigned target of Rs 37.24 billion. It collected Rs 11.52 billion under the head of customs duty, Rs 21.32 billion as sales tax and Rs 4.55 billion under the head of income tax.

The collectorate collected Rs 380 million under the head of federal excise duty. It is necessary to mention here that Collector

Port Qasim Saeed Akram directed all the relevant ofNicials to use all resources to meet the assigned revenue collection target.

Meanwhile, Collector Port Qasim Saeed Akram and Additional Collector Khalil Tousafani are keeping strict vigilance on clearance of goods prone to mis-declaration and under-invoicing. Additional Collector Yasin Murtaza detected the fraud wherein the accused inNlicted a loss of Rs9 million to the national ex-

chequer through presenting fake and forged documents.

According to the details, the R&D team comprising PA Shahid Rizvi and AO Amir Shuja received information that M/s J.L Enterprises clearing agent got cleared eight Hino trucks in favor of various importers declaring the year of manufacture as 2012 by presenting the forged pre-shipment inspection reports and Vehicle Registration Document (VRD) issued by the Government of Hong Kong to substantiate the year of manufacture. As per the undertaking of the importer that all the particulars declared are true, the vehicles were released. However, post clearance scrutiny was initiated to conNirm the year of manufacture of the vehicles.

Accordingly, Commercial AttachĂŠ, Consulate General of Pakistan, Hong Kong was requested for veriNication of the particulars of vehicles. Ini.70 1 4 d lecte l tially, a letter purporto c im illion edly issued by rt Qas b o 6 P 4 . s om s 23 t R s Consulate General of u y C 2 t 8 . du The x, Rs 4 Pakistan, Hong Kong stoms a t u c s e n d l billio was received in the tax an d of sa e hea come h n i t f r l Collectorate, which o e a r d e a d und e the h conNirmed the particud of fe e hea under h n t o r i l e lars, the year of manul i d b n u n facture and registration millio duty Rs 361 excise certiNicate of the vehicle.

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Monday, July 3, 2017

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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

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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.

Construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam T

LAHORE

DR afTaB afZaL

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he latest offer of China to include the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam in China Pakistan Economic Corridor project is a blow of fresh air and the work on this mega project will start from next year.The government has been planning for years to build a host of dams along the Indus River which is flowing down from the Himalayas across the country, but the opposition from India and lack of interest of the international financial institutions came as hurdles in start of the construction.

However, China’s Belt and

Road infrastructure plan has infused a new hope for the construction of the dam which will cost the nation $14 billion over a period of 10 years and will generate 4,500 megawatts of electricity. A new water reservoir built at the dam will regulate the flow of water to irrigate lands across the plains and will ensure food security of the country. Pakistan and China have already signed a memorandum of understanding in December last year to generate fund for the Indus basin dams.

Reports suggest Pakistan has the potential to generate 40,000 megawatt hydro potential annually. Pakistan and China are also considering constructing Bunji hydro power

project which will stretch down to Tarbela Dam and will produce 7,100 per annum.

Earlier, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had refused to fund the project as they sought a no objection certificate from the Indian government. It is the irony and hypocrisy of the world institutions that they accept Kashmir as a disputed territory, but have failed to convince India to discuss the issue with Pakistan.

Now China is entering the arena and several Chinese companies are interested in funding and participating in the project.

It is good omen that the government is now concentrating on Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which will not only provide electricity

and water for irrigation, but will also supply drinking water to various cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The country has been enduring energy crisis for the last many years and the people are currently facing power outages for up to 12 hours per day. Though poor governance,lack of planning and corruption have their share of troubles in the energy crisis,the hostile attitude of some neighbours is also contributing to the problems. However, the construction of the dam will fulfill the energy needs of the country to some extent.

The government should also take into account a viable electricity distribution system before embarking on the venture.

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Operation of Nepali LPG bullets in limbo Monday July 3, 2017

World

KHATMANDU: The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) of India has refused to issue ‘Explosive Certificate’ to Nepali liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bullets, hindering the government’s plan to substitute Indian LPG bullets to supply cooking gas to the country. Despite repeated appeal from the Ministry of Supplies (MoS), Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and Nepali LPG industry, PESO had refused to issue such certificates to Nepali bullets citing that it can issue explosive certificates only to Indian LPG bullets.

Explosive certificate is a mandatory document that the Indian fuel refineries seek while providing petroleum loads to fuel tankers.

kLIa Customs seize 999kg of shisha tobacco

hong kong gazettes funds tax exemption bill HONG KONG

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EPANG

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he Royal Malaysian Customs Department at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) seized 999kg of shisha tobacco worth RM215,784 at the air cargo warehouse in the KLIA Free Trade Zone last Saturday.

Its Enforcement and Compliance deputy director, Abdull Wahid Sulong said the contraband tobacco, packed in 37 boxes involving unpaid duty of RM109,458.83, arrived at KLIA via Oman Air Nlight from Dubai.

“The initial investigation revealed that the tobacco had been declared as molasses and the (recipient’s) address being used in Klang was a fake one,” he told a press conference here today. Abdull Wahid said the investigation also revealed that no permit was submitted by the importer to trade the item. “This was the eighth

Smuggled cigarette suppliers sentenced hree men, who were caught supplying or receiving almost half a million smuggled cigarettes in Surrey, have been sentenced for evading more than £115,000 in excise duty. One of the men, DominikMrzyglod, 38, was jailed for four years earlier this year for his role in this crime, and for a separate offence of smuggling 1.2 million cigarettes inside table tops. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigators saw Mrzyglod and Sebastian Swiezy, 36, supplying non-UK duty paid cigarettes to Abdul Faki, 52, at a car park in Dorking, Surrey, on 16 December 2015. Officers arrested Faki at the scene and found 486,700 B&B cigarettes in the white van he was helping to load. The two other men fled before officers could apprehend them. Mrzyglod was arrested at his home in Walton-on-Thames the following day. –CB Report

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seizure involving shisha tobacco this year, bringing the total amount seized to 9,000kg so far, valued at RM500,000 and the unpaid tax at RM700,000,” he said. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.

Meanwhile, The Royal Malaysian

Customs Department has cancelled a plan that would have seen more than 60 food items being slapped with the goods and services tax (GST) from July 1. The decision was made after referring the matter to the Ninance ministry, Customs said in a statement yesterday, without providing any reason.

Ryan gives tax-overhaul pep talk amid growing doubts in gOP

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our days before the one-year anniversary of the release of his tax blueprint, House Speaker Paul Ryan delivered a pep talk seeking to assuage growing doubts about the prospects for a major tax overhaul. “We’re going to stick the landing because we know we’ve got to,” Ryan said in a CNBC interview after an address to manufacturers billed as his Nirst major speech on taxes. “I’m really conNident at the end of the day

we’re going to agree on how to do this.” In his speech Tuesday, Ryan steered clear of the controversial border-adjusted tax concept in his tax plan, which he has said would help pay for the steep rate cuts all Republicans want. In his television interview just minutes later, he said the BAT isn’t dead but congressional tax writers are working on alternative proposals to come up with “the best one we can pass.” –CB Report

ong Kong has enacted legislation to introduce a profits tax exemption for privately offered open-ended fund companies (OFCs) if their central management and control exercised in Hong Kong.

The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill 2017 implements the measure, which was announced at the 2017-18 Budget. A government spokesman said, “The Bill seeks to create a level playing Nield for all kinds of OFCs by allowing onshore privately offered ones, like the offshore ones, to enjoy proNits tax exemption. We hope that the Bill would be conducive to enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in respect of the domiciliation of privately offered funds in the form of an OFC, thereby generating demand

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for services along the whole fund service chain. This would help strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international asset management centre and foster the further development of our Ninancial services industry as a whole.”

“As this is the Nirst time that Hong Kong is granting tax exemption to onshore funds which are privately offered, we have borne in mind the need to prevent tax abuse and have put in place a series of anti-avoidance measures. The exemption conditions are to ensure that the OFC is non-closely held and that the transactions must be carried out through or arranged by a qualiNied person in permissible asset classes. The proposal balances the aim of strengthening our asset management industry on the one end and the need to prevent tax avoidance on the other.” Meanwhile, Billionaire Li Ka-shing, for decades one of the world’s wealthiest tycoons, has told associates he plans to step down as chairman of his global conglomerate, CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

fallout continues over Sa bank tax plan ankSA has put a plan to create 150 jobs on hold in response to South Australia’s new bank tax but Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis says he won’t walk away from the budget measure. As the fallout from the new levy gathers pace, BankSA chief executive Nick Reade has labelled the impost a disgrace.

He says a plan to create a new backroom processing centre has been put on hold and there is a real chance the expansion will now move interstate. But Mr Koutsantonis Nired back, calling the bank’s response a political stunt.

“These banks are making super

proNits yet every year they close more branches, they charge us more fees and they make more proNits,” he said. “All of a sudden, the moment governments want them to pay their fair share of tax, they start claiming they’re not going to hire people.”

The new tax was announced in Thursday’s state budget and is expected to raise $370 million over four years. It has prompted a chorus of criticism from the banks and business groups, who believe it will discourage investment, with analysts also warning it will lead to higher mortgage rates in SA. –CB Report

former Navy SEaL arrested for drug smuggling

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BAGHDAD

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former Navy SEAL is facing federal criminal charges for his ties to a major marijuana drug smuggling operation.

This arrest comes on a heels of an April CBS News investigation that revealed widespread drug use

among Navy SEALs. James Dennis “JD” Smith Jr. was arrested Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina. He’s charged with conspiracy to distribute andpossession with intent to distribute at least 700 kilograms (over 1,540 pounds) of marijuana, according to a criminal complaint Niled Friday.

Smith, who served 16 years as a Navy SEAL, was awarded a bronze

star during his tour in Iraq and a Special Operations Medic of the Year Award, according to the website of a global security and crisis management consulting Nirm where he was listed as a Principal Associate of Security Operations. A company ofNicial told CBS News that the Nirm had not heard from or employed Smith for the past Nive years. In an afNidavit, DEA Special Agent Doug McElwain

describes Smith supplying marijuana via aircraft to Bryon Rye, 43, and Carl Rye, 40, of Columbia, South Carolina.

The plane landed in Columbia multiple times at the Jim Hamilton-L.B. Owens Airport, according to McElwain. Smith said he purchased the aircraft to support medical humanitarian missions in Central America during a 2014 document check at the Manassas Airport in Virginia.

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Mianwali ASO impounds non customs paid Toyota MIANWALI: The Customs Collectorate ASO Mainwali has seized a NDP Toyota Corolla. The market value of the seized vehicle is Rs14,64,096 involving customs duty and taxes of Rs7,64,096. Sources told Customs Today, that the ASO team comprising Superintendents Muhammad Javed, Azhar Hussain Jafri, Amir Mumtaz Bajwa (inspector), and Sher Ahmad, Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Yousaf (sepoys) and Riasat Hussain driver during their routine checking found a Toyota car bearing registration no: AAH-082 (Quetta), model 2006 as per seat belt and automatic transmission manual gear system.

Monday, July 3, 2017

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Software for foreign training of fBR officers inaugurated ISLAMABAD CUSTOMS BULLETIN REPORT www.customsbulletin.com

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ederal Board of Revenue’s outgoing chairman Dr Irshad has inaugurated a software to process cases for nomination of ofNicers for foreign courses. Memebr HRM Rozi Khan Burki, Member BTB Tasneem Rehman, Member IR Operations Rehmat Ullah Khan Wazir, and Member Customs Muhammad Zahid were also present. While inaugurating the soft ware, the FBR chairman stated that a transparent and merit based system for nomination of ofNicers for foreign trainings was the need of the hour.

Under the web based system, not only all courses would be uploaded for the information of Nield formations but names of the ofNicers nominated would also be available on web. The procedure for processing the cases had also been circulated vide HRM Circular 1/2017 dated 22.06.2017 which also had the approval of Board in Council. He further tasked the Member HRM to plan Chinese language courses for the ofNicers of which would be of immense value in the near future.

Dr Irshad also appreciated the

software development team in HRM for materializing the concept and advised to obtain feedback from the Nield to further improve the system.

Member HRM Rozi Khan Burki thanked the FBR chairman for his support and keen interest in devel-

oping the system to ensure transparency and merit in selection of ofNicers for foreign trainings. He emphasised that the successful implementation of the system largely depended upon implementation of HRM circular 1/2017 and

hoped that the Nield formation would provide its feedback to further improve the system. Rozi Khan also expected positive use of the complaint cell which was under his direct supervision. He explained that the foreign courses available with HRM, IR

Operations and Customs wings would be available under the tab “Training and Development” in HRM portion of the FBR web page. The ofNicers would continue to apply online for the course of their choice to the respective wing of FBR.

Court approves bail of suspects involved in import of kerosene oil KARACHI

M B RaNa

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he Acting Judge of the Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Court Syed Arshad Noor Khan has granted interim pre-arrest bail to suspects namely Muhammad Shahid, Abdul Samad and Sher Ameen who were allegedly involved in mis-declaration and imported restricted kerosene

oil under the garb of white spirit. During the hearing, counsel for the suspects informed the court that their clients were innocent and were falsely been booked in this case.

He said that they are ready to face trail, however, they have apprehension of arrest from the customs department, therefore, the court may granted them bails. After the arguments, the court granted bail against the surety of Rs 500,000 each and issued notices to the investigation officer and special prosecutor for customs

department. The court also directed the accused to appear before the court on the next date of hearing. It needs to be pertained here that on last week, investigation officer had produced a suspect namely Irfan Ahmed, being import manager and had informed that on credible information, was received in the Directorate General to the effect that SMD Sons North Karachi, have been involved in the fraudulent clearance of kerosene oil under the garb of import of while sprit shipped from Singapore with

your active connivance at their other compliance by violating import restrictions imposed vide import policy order 2016, officials of the Directorate General intercepted several oil tankers bearing registration numbers TUB-122, LOK-7437 and others and recovered the said mis-declared goods.

According to the investigation officer, after formalities, said goods were seized and were sent for verification, he submitted that examination report confirmed that chemical analysis through lab test it

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transpired that instead of white sprit the importer had imported kerosene oil and it has also been found that importer have earlier illegally cleared huge quantity of restricted said oil under the garb of white sprit. He had argued that prosecution needs further investigation of this matter; therefore, court may send him back to customs department on physical remand.

After his arguments, court had sent him back to customs department and directed the investigation officer to produce him on next date of hearing.