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Karachi, Tue July 4, 2017

HYDERABAD

ASLAM ANJUM

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he Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Hyderabad has generated Rs 1,673.9 million customs duty and taxes during 29 days of June 2017. The department collected Rs 548.240 million customs duty, Rs 1,095.639 million sales tax, Rs 2 million federal excise duty (Special FED) and Rs 28.076 million Withholding Tax

during the abovementioned period. The MCC Hyderabad received Rs 1673.955 million in 29 days of June 2017 and assigned the target with the collection of Rs 539.31 million customs duty (CD), Rs 2.071 million sales tax, Rs 4.2 million federal excise duty and Rs 37 million withholding tax during June so the MCC has fetched a total of Rs 2651.51 million to the national exchanger. The major sources of tax revenue remained Hyderabad Dry Port State Warehouse, SukkurLarkana Division, Huffaz

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Seamless Pipe Industries, Crescent Steel, Omni Polymer Industries, Rema Cooking Oil and Pakistan State Oil. The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) also seized non-duty-paid goods worth millions of rupees. Under the supervision of Hyderabad Customs Collector Akhlaq Ahmad Khattaq, Additional Collector (HQ) Rehmatulah Vistro, Deputy Collector Mushtaq Shahani, Principal Appraiser Mashuq Ali Pahnwar and Statistical Revenue and others played an important role in the revenue collection, ofRicials said.

‘Shaukat performs brilliantly by executing countless anti-smuggling operations’

Two accused held while smuggling worth Rs14.9m of foreign currency

CPEC to strengthen economy, promote industrialization: Yousaf

Customs Intelligence seizes non-customs paid LEDs, DVDs from Hall Road

Multan Customs achieves customs duty collection target of June

DG Customs I&I FBR has showed tremendous and historic performance | See pAge 02 |

Customs ASOTorkham foiled attempts of smugglingofRs14.9mofforeigncurrency | See pAge 03 |

Sardar Yousuf said CPEC will bring massive economic opportunities besides | See pAge 04 |

Customs I&I has impounded NDP LEDs and DVDs from Hall Road and registered | See pAge 14 |

The Customs Collectorate has achieved the assigned customs duty collection target | See pAge 16 |

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NDP smuggled vehicle valued Rs06m taken into possession Tuesday, July 4, 2017

National

ISLAMABAD: Directorate General, Customs Intelligence and Investigation, Federal Board of Revenue Rawalpindi, has impounded a non-duty-paid smuggled used vehicle Mark X car worth Rs06million including duty and taxes. On a tip-off, staff of the Directorate Customs Intelligence, including Intelligence Officers Maqbool Ahmad and Shahid Majeed, signaled the said vehicle to stop. But driver with fake registration No: 268-ICT Islamabad modelled 2006 accelerated the speed of the vehicle. The staff chased the vehicle. The driver abandoned the vehicle on the roadside and fled the scene.

‘Shaukat performs brilliantly by executing anti-smuggling operations’

MIRPUR

ISLAMABAD

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M fAiZAN

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zad Jammu Kashmir Accountability Court rejected the bailafter-arrest plea of Ch. Mushtaq Ahmed, a former Director Works of Mirpur Development Authority, already in the custody of the AJK Ehtesab (Accountability) Bureau in fake educational certificates case, oﬃcial sources said. The accused had filed an application seeking his release on bail from the custody of the AJK Accountability Bureau who had nabbed him in various cases of malpractices and irregularities including for serving MDA and other AJK govt. Departments for decades allegedly on fake educational certificates, according to the AJK Ehtesab Bureau sources. Earlier, he had been arrested by the Accountability Bureau police after the AJK Accountability Court Muzaﬀarabad rejected his bail-before-arrest plea few months back for being involved in various cases. He was charged for securing the job as Overseer in AJK government departments in 1976 including Mirpur Municipal Committee / PWD and later as Assistant Engineer, Town Planner and Director Works in Mirpur Development Authority on fake diploma certificate of civil engineering.

he Directorate General, Customs Intelligence and Investigation, Federal Board of Revenue, has showed tremendous and historic performance in the history of the directorate under the supervision and guidance of Director General Shaukat Ali during the current Financial Year (1st July 2016 to 30th June 2017). He carried out several anti-smuggling operations throughout Pakistan and impounded miscellaneous non-dutypaid goods including NDP smuggled vehicles, petrol, diesel, kerosene oil, cigarettes, electronics, smuggled foreign origin cloths, tyers and tubes, blankets, LCD TVs and many other items in 1647 cases, cost insurance and freight valued Rs7.934billion. According to a fair market value, total worth of the seized items is more than Rs14 billion. Last Financial Year (2015-16), the Directorate General had made seizures of worth Rs5.602billion and lodged 1492 cases. This was stated by Deputy Director Headquarters, Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Islamabad, Khaldun-ul-Haq while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today. He stated the Directorate General has traced many money laundering cases amounting billions of

Accountability court rejects bailafter-arrest plea of ex director MDA

rupees and four of them including M/s Marush International, M/s Sunder Trading Company, M/s MMYZ Lahore and Kontel Technologies are the major cases. He told CT that in the recent antismuggling operations Customs Intelligence has detected smuggling of kerosene oil of over 8,000 MT worth more than Rs2.14billion from Karachi Port during the last four years and three importers have been importing kerosene from M/s

Ravago Landmark Private Ltd of South Korea and clearing it as white spirit on the strength of false description recorded on Bills of Ladings, Goods Declarations and laboratory test reports. He explained anti-smuggling performance and said that in July 2016 we conRiscated smuggled items worth Rs286.72million in 114 cases and in August 2016 Directorate lodged 114 cases and seized miscellaneous goods valued Rs330.93million. In

September Directorate caught 80 cases and seized non-duty-paid goods valued Rs208.47million while in October 2016 Directorate impounded NDP goods of Rs248.04million in 85 cases. He further said in November 2016 Directorate seized smuggled goods worth Rs394.23million in 166 cases while last Rinancial year in the same month directorate had conRiscated smuggled goods valued Rs326.04million in 166 cases.

ANf unearth drug traﬃcking network operating through piA T

RAWALPINDI

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he Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has unearthed a highly organized drugs trafficking network operating through the flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and arrested 14 accused involved in the heinous crime. Addressing a press conference here at the ANF headquarters on Friday, ANF Director General Ma-

jor General Musarrat Nawaz Malik said the arrested accused included both serving and ex-employees of the national flag carrier, who were were arrested from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. The accused were identified as Akbar Alias Badshah, Pervaiz Masih, Pervaiz Alam, Shujat Hussain, Muhammad Saqib, Iqbal Masih, Maqbool Masih, Gopi Darshan, Imran Baig, Waseem Fareedi, Syed Ghulam Yazdani, Saleem Natiq, Saleem Khan and

Syed Anwer Shah, he added The ANF DG said during last three months, four major cases of drug trafficking through PIA flights were unearthed. About 15 kg heroin was found hidden in Boeing 777 at Karachi, 11 kg heroin was recovered from a flight at Heathrow Airport, London, 14.7 kg heroin from another Boeing 777 at Benazir Bhutto Airport and 2.4 kg heroin from yet another Boeing 777 aircraft at Karachi Airport.

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FTO adjourns hearing in M/s LE-Topical case LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed the hearing of a case filed by M/s LE Topical Lahore against the Corporate Regional Tax Office-II (CRTO) Lahore until the next hearing. FTO Consultant Tariq Yousaf heard the case 41/LHR (31)/106/2015 FTOLHR0000650/15 filed by Naseer Ahmed, M/s LE Topical in which the counsel for the appellant argued that the CRTO has not released the refund to the appellant since three years. He said the CRTO has been collecting excessive tax from the company for the last three years. The company approached the officer concerned many times for release of refunds but the department did not pay it even after the passage of a reasonable time.

e & t Dept teams recover rs2b tax from habitual defaulters

Tuesday July 4, 2017

National

two accused held while smuggling worth rs14.9m of foreign currency

SIALKOT

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bout 100 special recovery teams of the Excise and Taxation Department have recovered Rs2billion from the habitual defaulters in the forms of property, entertainment, motor registration , professional , luxury taxes and excise duties, during an ongoing vigorous recovery campaign in Gujranwala Division’s all six districts of Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahaud Din, Hafizabad and Gujranwala. According to the senior oﬃcials, the E&T Department has also issued the arrest warrants for about 3,000 habitual defaulters for the prolonged non-payment of their outstanding arrears.

fBr reintroduces income tax circle system ISLAMABAD

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reintroduced income tax circle system to identify potential taxpayers and enhance facilitation for existing taxpayers at district level. The FBR issued an oﬃce order inviting inputs on the concept of district taxation oﬃcer introduced through Finance Bill 2017. The FBR said that the initiate is not only merely revival of old/defunct Income Tax Circle System at Mufassals/Districts, rather it entails an altogether new, innovative and composite field formation, which, within in its territorial jurisdiction would be responsible for all Inland Revenue field operations. “Facilitating the taxpayers at their doorstep, this IR field formation would also be representing the Federal Tax Regime at the level of each district,” the FBR said.

TORKHAM

tAriQ DerYA

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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Torkham foiled attempts of smuggling of Rs14.9million of foreign currency into Afghanistan on Monday evening and arrested two accused Shamel Shinwari and Jaidadullah Shinwari for criminal proceedings under the provisions of the Customs Act-1969. According to Deputy Collector Torkham Fazle Shakoor, during a routine checking the ASO staff seized foreign currency including three lac Saudi Riyals recovered from a person during the body search of an accused while proceeding to Afghanistan. The Deputy Collector told CT that during 2nd attempt, the ASO seized one lac Saudi Riyals and one lac of UAE Dirham recovered from a passenger named Jaidadullah during a body search of the accused while proceeding to Afghanistan. The value of the seized foreign currency is estimated in Pak Rs14.9million in both cases. Deputy Collector told CT that customs’ checking of the outgoing and incoming passengers and vehicles has been tightened on the directions of Collector Customs Qurban Ali Khan under the supervision of DC Torkham which is leading to seizures of contraband goods including currency, gold, narcotics, fertilizers and other items worth bil-

lions of rupees. The seizures are marked to be unprecedented in the history of Customs Station Torkham. The DC Torkham further told CT that ASO Torkham is efRiciently working 24/7 making the international border more secure. Meanwhile, The Torkham Station, Model Customs Collectorate Peshawar, has foiled an attempt of smuggling a big amount of currency from Pakistan into Afghanistan on Torkham border with the help of political Khasa Dar

NAB arrests an accused T

KARACHI

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he NAB Karachi has arrested an accused identiRied as Aleem uddin s/o Zia Uddin, wanted in Reference No. 35/2015, State vs Haroon Panjwani and Others. A NAB Karachi statement issued here on Thursday said that he was charged along with other accused persons namely Mansoor Ahmed and Asad Abbasi for `fraudulently

selling out Government Land to another accused member of their group namely Haroon Panjwani against sale consideration of Rs 39.7 million who further fraudulently sold out the same land to general public showing it as regularised Gothabad land’. The NAB statement said that the racket of above mentioned accused persons cheated more than 500 innocent members of general public by selling approximately 582 plots of various categories in Hassan Brohi

During 2nd attempt, the ASo seized one lac Saudi riyals and one lac of UAe Dirham recovered from a passenger named Jaidadullah during a body search of the accused while proceeding to Afghanistan

Goth, Deh Nagan District West Karachi. They further established Memon colony over that land within Hassan Brohi Goth and sold out the plots and constructed houses to innocent people and cheated the public for an amount of Rs 187 million. They handed over fake and fictitious Sannads of Gothabad Scheme to the public mala fidely showing the land is regularized by Government under Gothabad Housing Scheme Act 1987.

Force and seized 160,000 Saudi Riyals equivalent to Pakistani currency of Rs4.496million. One person named Khalil Ullah son of Farid Ullah, a resident of Landi Kotal, has been arrested on the charge of currency smuggling. An FIR No:19 was also lodged against him and further investigation is underway. Deputy Collector Customs Torkham had received a tip-off that said currency would be smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan through Torkahm Border.

fiA arrests human traﬃcker ederal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a notorious human trafficker Asim Shehzad from village Begowala, tehsil Sambrial. Khalid Anees (Divisional Deputy Director FIA) told CT that accused was also involved in border crossings and fake-visa making for Iran and Turkey.

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SBP to hold training programme for coaches LAHORE: Director General Sports Board Punjab, Zulﬁqar Ahmed Ghumman said on Friday that SBP will hold modern training programme in due course of time to train its coaches to contribute in the overall development of sports in the province. “We have already conducted a similar activity under the supervision of foreign physical education coaching experts to impart latest coaching techniques to our coaches and we will continue it to raise the overall standards of our games”, he told APP here. He said SBP under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister has taken a number of steps for the revival and development of the games.

Tuesday July 4, 2017

Business

‘cpec to strengthen economy industrialization’ MANSEHRA

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ederal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring massive economic opportunities besides expediting pace of economic development in the country. He said this while addressing stonelying ceremony of the Karmang road here. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan is progressing fast and by 2020 it would become one of the developed country of the world. Sardar Muahmmad Yousuf said

ptDc upgradation of motels in full swing ISLAMABAD

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the Government have started scores of developmental projects Hazara division besides carpeting of Jagli road with the cost of millions of rupees. The minister disclosed that PM Nawaz Sharif would soon inau-

rs5177.305 million released for communications Division projects

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anaging Director Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Abdul Ghafoor said renovation, new paint and replacement of linen and napery work at all motels in northern areas was in progress. He said soon visitors would witness fresh outlook of motels with renovated rooms with an objective to introduce Pakistani culture and tourist attractions on international level. PTDC has been working hard to promote beautiful picnic spots situated in farflung areas of Pakistan, especially where the private sector is shy away to invest.

gurate 860 megawatts Saki Kinari dam and will also announce several mega developmental projects including sui gas provision projects in the area. He said work on 60 kilometers long Hazara motorway was

in fast pace and would be completed ahead of the schedule time, adding he said Hazara motorway was a gift of Prime Minister for people of Hazara that after completion would bring economic revolution in the country besides reducing space between Islamabad and Hazara.He said PML-N had make country an atomic power and will also make it an economic power of the world. The Minister criticized the negative attitude of the PTI, saying PTI Chief was hungry for premiership and are trying to use any method to become in power. He said PTI leadership would have to answer about their unfulRilled promises to masses in 2018 general elections. He said PMLN has delivered to uplift the masses and will win the forthcoming elections on the basis of performance.

ISLAMABAD

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he government has released Rs 5177.305 million for Communications Division projects excluding National Highway Authority (NHA) schemes under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) so far. An official source Friday told APP that a total of 5285.265 million had been allocated for the Communications Division projects other than NHA in the PSDP of on-

going fiscal year. For construction of Central Police Office of Motorway Police at G-11/1, Rs 222.196 was allocated out of which Rs 120.661 million has been released so far. For construction of Green Line Bus Transit System in Karachi, Rs 5,000 million was allocated which has been released too. The Rs 23.403 million allocated under PSDP for enhancement of Training capabilities of Construction Machinery Training Capabilities (Phase-IV) at Islamabad has been released. He said out of Rs 34. 748 million allocated for con-

struction of complex for NH&MP at Rahim Yar Khan, 28.235 million has been released. Meanwhile, The government has released over Rs 3,229.643 million for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) till June 16 against the total allocation of Rs 4249.043 million during the fiscal year 2016-17. According to official data, Rs 415.8 million have been released for acquisition of four drilling rigs with accessories for the Geological Survey of Pakistan.

3g, 4g subscription touches 41.8 million mark ISLAMABAD

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he mobile broadband users (3G & 4G Internet) have almost touched 41.8 million mark till May 2017, registering an increase of 1.16 million subscribers during one month. The number of mobile broadband users which was 40.57 million till April this year has reached 41.8 million. Statistics issued by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Thursday revealed that since launch of such services three years back, the number of such subscribers is showing a reasonable growth with each passing month. In January this year, the number of 3G and 4G users was 38.3 million while nearly 37.574 million mobile internet users were found to have been using data connections in December 2016. As per statistics, Jazz subscribers stood at 12.5 million 3G users and Jazz LTE 895,483 users by end of May 2017. The 3G subscribers of Zong have now extended to 8.67 million and 3.82 4G users by end of May 2017. The number of Telenor 3G subscribers was 10.473 million and 519,788 4G users till the period mentioned above. An increase has also been observed in Ufone subscribers base, reaching 4.83 million 3G users by May 2017 from 4.74 million till April this year.

real gDp maintains its growth momentum: central Bank KARACHI

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he growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) remained at its upward trajectory, and increased to a decade-high of 5.3 percent in FY17, noted by State Bank of Pakistan’s third quarterly report on the State of Pakistan’s Economy released Friday. Economic indicators like private

sector credit and investment also posted encouraging picture, whereas inRlation remained below the target. The Report also highlighted the revival in the agriculture sector during FY17, which was supported by favorable policy measures, including subsidy on fertilizer, reduction in sales tax on tractors, and increased access to Rinance. Better agriculture had, in turn, positive spillover for trade and manufacturing sectors, argued by the Report.

Further, public sector development spending (PSDP) and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related activities also continued to boost construction related industries. The overall improvement in business sentiments along with supportive policies (historic low interest rate, high infrastructure spending and better law and order) has encouraged a number of Rirms to pursue expansion plans, as observed by the SBP Report. This was

reRlected in a signiRicant surge in private sector credit off-take during FY17, with a sizable share of Rixed investment loans. At the same time, an increase in machinery imports was also noted. The Report also mentions the decline in exports and worker remittances, which along with the increase in imports led to a higher current account deRicit as compared to the last year. On the Rinancing side, the ofRicial external inRlows in

Jul-Mar FY17 stood around the same level as last year, while both foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI) inRlows increased. Although SBP’s foreign exchange (FX) reserves declined during this period, these are sufRicient to comfortably Rinance more than four months of imports. Regarding Riscal situation, the Report observes an increase in the Riscal deRicit to 3.9 percent of GDP during Jul-Mar FY17.

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ISLAMABAD

M fAiZAN

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he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has missed the revenue collection target of the Riscal year 2016-17. According to the FBR sources, the FBR has collected Rs 3,420 billion against the revised target of Rs 3,521 billion, which shows only 9 percent increase in tax revenue collections as compared to the Rinancial year 2015-16. In the budget 2016-17, the revenue collection target was set at Rs 3,621 billion. The collection shows a Rs 100 billion shortfall in the revised target of Rs 3,521 billion set by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on May 26. It is expected that the Rinal revenue Rigures will come out on July 3 (today). During the Rinancial year 2015-17, the FBR surpassed the revenue collection target of Rs 3,104 billion by collecting more than Rs 3,130 billion. However, the government has set a tax collection target of Rs 4.013 trillion for the current Rinancial year (2017-18) which, under current circumstances, seems unrealistic. Sources at the Finance Ministry told Customs Today that the government could face difRicult situation and adverse reaction or questions from international donor agencies, especially the International Mone-

tary Fund due to low tax to GDP ratio in the country. The FBR has worked out the negative revenue impact of the decisions that the government took after setting the annual target. Failing to increase petrol prices resulted in a shortfall while the revision in the duty on fertilizers, abolition of zero-rating on Rive sectors and lower rates on pestic i d e s

also led to a loss in revenues. Meanwhile, The government has decided to extend another ‘job-contract’ to Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Dr. Muhammad Irshad for further two months (till 31st of August 2017). It may be remembered that jobextension is disallowed in the light of Supreme Court’s decision therefore ‘job-contract’ has been given to Dr Irshad Khan. A notiRication, in this regard, is likely to be issued on of Friday’s evening, of June. It is pertinent to mention here that Dr. Muhammad Irshad is serving in the Federal Board of Revenue as Chairman on contract basis. He had been retired on 23rd of April 2017. After his retirement, government had rehired him as chairman on the contract of two months. According to the sources, government has ue taken this decision with the n e v e he r t n approval of the Finance d o e i l s bil urpas Minister on the recom3,104 s fBr s r f 30 et o 1 , g mendation of Special Asr 3 a s t r tion e than sistant to Prime Minister r t o n collec e m ting ernm c v for Revenue Haroon e o l l g o e by c of rs ver, th Akhter. The summary for t e e w g o r a .h rehiring of Dr. Muhamtion t billion collec x a t mad Irshad has been fora n t o e i l s tril has warded to Prime Minister 4.013 for Rinal approval.

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Tuesday, July 4, 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

favourable outlook of economy

he International Monetary Fund has termed Pakistan’s economic outlook favourable thanks to stepped-up Chinese investment in infrastructure projects, estimated growth of 5.3 percent in gross domestic product in 2016-17, improvement in energy supply and introduction of structural reforms. However, economists believe the lending agency has allegedly dented its credibility by quoting wrong figures about the foreign currency reserves of the country. They allege that the fund has overstated the reserves by $3 billion during the outgoing fiscal year and a huge disparity between real and projected growth has marred its own credibility.According to the IMF report, Pakistan’s external financing requirements will rise up to $17 billion during the next fiscal year, but the fund has failed to show any negative effects of loans on the official forex reserves.The State Bank of Pakistan has admitted that the foreign exchange reserves have come down to $15.3 billion and it will be difficult for the government to prop them up to $18.5 billion. Reports suggest the foreign currency reserves are $5.5 billion less than they are projected by the IMF in its 12th review of the Pakistan’s economy.It clearly shows the government as well as the fund are hiding the actual figures of the external accounts. The government has maintained the foreign exchange reserves by taking expensive loans from everywhere and it will cost heavily to the national economy at the end.During the three-year $6.2 billion extending facility programme,the lending agency projected real picture of the economic performance, including imports, exports, external loans and current account deficit. However, a huge disparity in figures exposed many risks faced by the country. The fund had initially projected the current account deficit at 1.5 percent or $4.5 billion but the revised deficit projection is raised to $9 billion, putting pressure on the foreign currency reserves. Now the federal budget has been announced and only one week of the current fiscal year is left, many targets have not been achieved. As the country will need nearly $17 billion financial assistance for the next fiscal year, the current account deficit could reach 3.2 percent of the GDP or $10.6 billion.

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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Tehran, Zagreb to boost ties in 16 industries TEHRAN: Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei said Iran and Croatia have agreed to develop cooperation in 16 industries. The Iranian labor minister, who is visiting Croatia, made the remarks at a joint meeting with Martina Dalić, Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and Minister of Economy, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship and Crafts, as well as Minister of Labor and Pension System of the European Eastern European country Marko Pavić. “Nowadays, trade has turned into a means of peace, friendship and expansion cultural ties between countries,” Rabiei underlined. He pointed to ageold history of relations between the two countries saying “Iran has always remained beside Croatia and has fortunately passed tough sanction years.”

fpcci chairman for value addition in horticulture sector ISLAMABAD

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Tuesday July 4, 2017

Chambers

kcci demands reduction in sales tax on mobile phones

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ederation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Chairman on Horticulture Exports Committee Ahmad Jawad Wednesday underlined the need for value addition in the horticulture sector. He was of the view that the horticulture sector did not perform well as value-addition dropped from 14.50 percent (in 2005-06) to 11.30 percent (in 2015-16), a press release said. He said “transformation from subsistence to commercial agriculture can only be achieved by fully availing the synergy among pre-production and post-production cycles. That can only come by adding value at each stage.” He said the strategic thrust, thus, needed to be on value-addition and value-chain in-

vestment and only then, agriculture could become the engine of economic growth and poverty alleviation. Listing international examples, Jawad said that Chile, China and India reaped rich dividends through investment on value-addition in agriculture, especially in horticulture products. Tanzania, a poor country, was able to make massive economic strides through investment on value-addition, he added. The FPCCI Panel Chief mentioned that Bangladesh earned $6 billion by adding value to one million bales of cotton, whereas Pakistan earned only $1.5 billion from the same amount of cotton. To ensure quality, he said elaborate standardsystems are being used across the world like Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary measures, traceability of agrochemicals residues, good agricultural practices, quarantine treatments and food packaging safety materials.

KARACHI

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resident of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Shamim Ahmed Firpo has requested Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar to reduce sales tax on feature phones (Category-A) to Rs150 per phone which has been raised to Rs650 in Federal Budget 2017-18 as compared to Rs300 of Federal Budget 2016-17. He further asked the Rinance minister that sales tax imposed on all three categories of mobile phones should be restored to the same level where it was in Federal Budget 2016-17. In a letter to Finance Minister, President KCCI said that a delegation comprising importers and wholesalers of mobile phones which was led by Former President Karachi Electronic Dealers Association (KEDA) Muhammad Idrees expressed deep concern over the increase in sales tax on imported mobile phones which has been raised to an unrealistic and exorbitant level in the recently announced Federal Budget 2017-18.

He said that sales tax on mobile phone (Feature Category), which is comparatively a basic and cheaper phone, has been raised from Rs300 to Rs650 per phone along with an additional Regulatory Duty of Rs250, which means that the total taxes and duties have been raised by around 112 percent on an imported phone of Rs800 only which is a sheer injustice not only to the concerned traders

but also to the poor and down trodden segment of society. According to rough estimates, the government may not be able to earn much revenue by imposing exorbitant taxes and regulatory duties on mobile phones. In fact, this step will prove counterproductive as it will discourage legal imports and encourage smuggling which will not only affect the local business activities and raise

Lcci hails forces for maintaining peace LAHORE

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cting President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan has hailed the sacrifices of the security forces for maintaining peace in the country and said that entire business community is standing with the armed forces to tackle the ugly conspiracies of the anti-Pakistan elements. “General Qamar Bahjwa has made an important move to get rid of the sectarianism. In a statement issued here, the LCCI acting president said that antiPakistan elements want to destroy the country economically but business community, government and security forces are united and committed to tackle these ugly conspiracies. He said

that the business community is satisRied on timely and strict measures against the terrorists. He said that their precious blood would not go waste. He said that whole nation stands united behind the armed forces and would not hesitate in offering any sacriRice to remove the menace of terrorism. He said that armed forces have made it clear to the world that they have all abilities to confront any sort of challenge. He said that security forces, government and masses are ready to defend every inch of the country. The LCCI acting president stressed the need of unveiling those who are helping the terrorists and all segment of society should play their role to this regard. Meanwhile, The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has expressed grave concern on the news of closure Engineering Development Board (EDB) and termed it a bad proposal. Government

should shelve the idea for the sake of engineering sector of Pakistan. In a statement issued here Friday, the LCCI Acting President Amjad Ali Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said that reportedly this decision has been taken without taking the stakeholders on board. They said that Engineering Development Board is playing a fundamental role in promotion of engineering sector. “EDB was established to oversee multiple areas related to the engineering sector. An important area where EDB has contributed the most is the Automobile Sector. It oversees the implementation of the Auto Policy, based on predeRined policy document guidelines. It supports the vendor industry by handling various SRO’s, by assuring local content enhancement and curtailment of rollback, based on the government’s policy guidelines”, they said.

unemployment but will also result in loss of revenue to the national exchequer, he added. He hoped that keeping in view the hardships being faced by concerned traders, the government will pay attention to this serious issue by restoring Sales Tax of Federal Budget 2016-17 on all three categories whereas the Sales Tax on Feature Phone (Category A) will also be reduced to Rs150 per phone.

Singapore boosts ties with chengdu ingapore was Chengdu’s second largest foreign investor in 2016. In continuous efforts to strengthen Singapore-Sichuan economic ties, International Enterprise (IE) Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Commission of Commerce of Chengdu today to help Singapore companies expand their presence in Sichuan (Chengdu) Free Trade Zone (FTZ), specifically in Trade and Logistics, Financial and Professional Services, and Information Technology (IT) and Innovation. According to IE Singapore, the deal is the result of close consultation with the Chengdu local authorities, further enhancing the strong economic relations established by the Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee. –CB Report

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Superintendent-IR Shakil to retire on July 14 ISLAMABAD: Shakil Ahmed Khan, an Inland Revenue Service officer of BS-16, is going to retire from the government service on attaining the age of superannuation. The officer, presently posted as Superintendent at Regional Tax Office-III, Karachi, will stand retired from the government service on July 14, 2017.

Tuesday July 4, 2017

Islamabad customs Dy Superintendent Arif punished for ineﬃciency

customs inspector Saleem Akhtar given minor penalty

ISLAMABAD

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uhammad Arif, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-16, has been given minor penalty for inefficiency. Disciplinary proceedings under Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 were initiated against the officer, presently posted as Deputy Superintendent at Model Customs Collectorate, Quetta vide charge sheet dated 21.12.2015. Amanullah Tareen, the then Deputy Director (BS-18), Directorate of Transit Trade, Quetta 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 charges of “inefficiency” and “misconduct” were established against the accused officer. A show-cause notice dated 04.01.2017 was issued to the accused officer and he was also called for personal hearing by the authorized officer on 14.03.2017.

Appraising officer Nouman khalil resigns ouman Khalil, a Pakistan Customs Service office of BS-16, has resigned from the government service. The competent authority has accepted the resignation from government service tendered by. Nouman, Appraising Officer at Model Customs Collectorate, AppraisementWest, Karachi with immediate effect. Meanwhile, Muhammad Musheer, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-16, 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. –CB Report

ISLAMABAD

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aleem Akhtar, a Pakistan Customs Service ofRicer of BS-16, has been given minor penalty for inefRiciency. Disciplinary proceedings under Government Servants (EfRiciency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 were initiated against the ofRicer, presently posted as Inspector at Model Customs Collectorate, Quetta vide charge sheet dated 21.12.2015. Amanullah Tareen, the then Deputy Director (BS-18), Directorate of Transit Trade, Quetta was appointed as inquiry ofRicer to conduct inquiry on account of various acts of omission and commission committed by the accused ofRicer constituting “inefRiciency”, and

“misconduct”. According to the inquiry report, the charges of “inefRiciency” and “misconduct” were established against the accused

ofRicer. A show-cause notice dated 04.01.2017 was issued to the accused ofRicer and he was also called for personal hearing by the author-

ized ofRicer on 22.02.2017. After considering the charges framed in the charge sheet, inquiry report, personal hearing and other available record, the accused ofRicer was found guilty of “inefRiciency” under rule 3(a) of the Government Servants (EfRiciency and Discipline) Rules, 1973. The Authorized OfRicer has therefore, imposed minor penalty of “withholding of four increments without cumulative effect” upon Saleem Akhtar falling on 1st December, 2017 under rule 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Govt. Servants (EfRiciency & Discipline) Rules, 1973. His period of suspension from 30.04.2015 till his provisionally re-instatement into service i.e. 13.01.2016 will be treated as leave of kind due as admissible under the rules.

customs fetches rs149.795m at 4 auctions T

ISLAMABAD

cUStoMS BULLetiN report www.customsbulletin.com

he Auction Cell of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad fetched Rs149.795 million from Holding Tax (WHT) and Customs Duty (CD) during the month of June Financial Year 201617. The collectorate held four auctions during June FY16-17. According to details told by Assistant Collector Auction Cell Majid Hussain Gadd that during said period, the Auction Cell held three auctions here at State warehouse G-11 and the other one was held at the State Warehouse Islamabad Airport. During the Rirst public auction, the Auction Cell earned Rs49.7million by selling various kinds of conRiscated goods and impounding Non-Duty-Paid (NDP) offending (vehicles used for carrying smuggled goods) vehicles on June 8 of Financial Year 2016-17. He said the second auction was held at the State Warehouse (SW) Airport Islamabad during June which received Rs7.15million of

revenue through open public auction of various conRiscated goods held on the premises of the Air Freight Unit (AFU) building on 15th of June’s Financial Year 201617. He said through 3rd auction held during June FY16-17, the Cus-

toms Auction Cell Islamabad got Rs49.825million through said public auctions of impounded vehicles and seized smuggled goods. During 4thauction, the Auction Cell generated Rs43.12million in the same month of June FY16-17.

During the last month of Financial Year 2016-17, the Auction Cell contributed a handsome amount to the CD and WHT which provided a big support to meet the assigned revenue collection target for June FY16-17.

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Port Qasim collects Rs18.23 billion in first 15 days KARACHI: The Model Customs Collectorate Port Qasim collected Rs18.23 billion in duty and taxes in first 15 days of June 2017. Sources said that the Collectorate collected Rs5.25 billion customs duty, Rs10.67 billion sales tax, Rs2.14 billion income tax and Rs170 million federal excise duty in the above said period. The Port Qasim Collectorate collected Rs41.70 billion against the assigned target of Rs41.24 billion in May 2017. Officials at Port Qasim Collectorate said that the Collectorate’s performance is not affected by Ramzan and they will achieve the assigned target .

Accused tax evaders exempted from appearing before court till next hearing KARACHI

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cting Judge of the Customs (Taxation & Anti-Smuggling) Court, Syed Arshad Noor Khan, accepted the medical certificates and granted exemption to accused named Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Rafiq and Irfan-ur-Rehman from appearing before the court. They were booked in different cases of mis-declaration and tax evasion. During the hearing, counsel for abovementioned accused appeared before the court and informed it that due to illness their clients could not appear before the court. He also submitted their medical certificates to the court and pleaded it to kindly grant them exemption. The court also directed them to appear before the court

on the next date of hearing. It needs to be mentioned here that the court had issued several notices and warrants for arrest to accused due to their non-appearance. Meanwhile, Acting Judge of the Customs (Taxation & Anti-Smuggling) Court, Syed Arshad Noor Khan, extended the physical remand of the suspect, Asif Iqbal s/o Muhmmad Iqbal, and sent him back to customs department lockup. He was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 181 contraband mobile phones from Dubai into Karachi. The court also directed the Investigation Officer to produce him on the next date of hearing along with his progress report. During the hearing, Investigation Officer produced him before the court and informed the it that during the search, staff of the Preventive, Model Customs Collectorate, intercepted abovementioned accused, coming from Dubai.

Karachi

Shc bars tax dept from taking action against M/s Lakson Money Market fund

Appraisement east asks Multi-tech to file gD for cosmetics consignment KARACHI

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n direction of Sindh High Court, Customs Appraisement East has asked M/s Multi Tech Corporation to file goods declaration (GD) for their cosmetics and toiletries consignment for transporting it to bonded warehouse. M/s Multi-Tech had filed a petition before the SHC seeking re-export of a consignment of cosmetics and toiletries worth $6.61 million. The company imported a consignment of cosmetics, toiletries, etc from UAE at declared invoice value of $6.61 million and filed their GD for clearance of goods for home consumption. The GD was processed and handed over to the authorized customs agent of the importer/petitioner for the payment of assessed amount duties and taxes, which is about Rs60 million. Subsequently, instead of clearing the goods after payment of the duties and taxes, as assessed, nearly after a month the petitioner/importer, approached the authorities for re-export of the goods as per Para-10(g) of the Export Policy Order, 2004 without giving any cogent reason.

KARACHI

M B rANA

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he 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 Rile their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing. Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it always fulRils all the legal requirement and pays liabilities properly. However, the respondent passed an order for recovery of the disputed amount. Being aggrieved, the petitioner Riled 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 OfRice (RTO) Karachi and others as re-

Tuesday July 4, 2017

spondents, he pleaded the court may restrain them from taking any action against the petitioner till Rinal decision of its appeal. Meanwhile, The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought comments from tax authorities on a constitutional petition Riled 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 Rile

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 Riled 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.

M/s regal colour & Varnish company moves Shc

KARACHI

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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 twomember 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 Rev-

enue Zone-I, Regional Tax OfficeII 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 authority. 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.

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FIA recover fake bonds, arrest six Tuesday July 4, 2017

National customs intelligence seizes smuggled dry batteries cell during raid

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) raided shops here at Aabpara Market and recovered several fake American and Pakistani prize bonds. Six persons were also arrested, who were being investigated to bust the gang involved in the business, a source said. Meanwhile, 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.

fto to hear rakhsana Ashraf case until next date of hearing

FAISALABAD

NAeeM Sheikh

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LAHORE

SAJiD NAwAZ

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he Customs Intelligence and Investigation has seized smuggled foreign origin led acid rechargeable dry batteries (cells), 5600 kilograms worth Rs14,00,000 involving duty and taxes to the tune of Rs8,15,752 during a successful raid. Sources told to Customs Today, that Assistant Director Syed ittrat Hussain received information regarding smuggling of rechargeable dry batteries cell on which he formed a team comprising Intelligence Oﬃcers Muhammad Saleem, Mansoor Nasir, Muhammad Siddique and Sepoys Muhammad Iqbal, Israr Ahmed, Mukhtar Ahmed, Muhammad Rafique and Muhammad Tariq to foil the attempt. The customs team intercepted Mazda truck bearing registration no: MNQ-9886 loaded with foreign origin led acid rechargeable dry batteries of diﬀerent brands and models which includes Shoto brand (48), Narada brand (48), Sacred Sun brand (24), BSB brand (24).

hyderabad ASo seizes tyres & tubes he 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. He formed a team, comprising ASO Customs Preventive Hyderabad Superintendent Ghulam Shabbier Phalpoto, Inspectors Imdad Ali Abro, Abdul Majeed Barich, Muhammad Iqbal, Abid Ahmad Khan. –CB Report

he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has adjourned the hearing of a case Riled by Rukhsana Ashraf against the Regional Tax OfRice-II (RTO-II) until the next hearing. FTO Advisor Mian Munawar Ghafoor heard the case of Rukhsana Ashraf in which counsel for appellant argued that the RTO had failed to release the sales tax refund since two years claimed by the company. He said the RTO-II had been collecting excessive tax from the company for the last two years. They approached the commissioner concerned many times for release of refunds but the RTO-II ofRicials did not pay the refund even after the passage of a reasonable time. Fi-

nally, appellant approached the FTO to intervene in the case.

The counsel further said the RTO should refund the excessive collec-

tion in the wake of taxes by the end of Rinancial year but the situation is quite otherwise. Delay in release of refund puts the burden on the taxpayer, he said, adding that the RTO should make audit of the case and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer. On the other hand, counsel for RTO argued that appellant Rukhsana Ashraf has not submitted all the record in the office on which basis she is claiming refund. If appellant provides accurate recordthen the RTO will release refund, if any, after a proper assessment. After hearing the arguments from both sides, Adviser Mian Munawar Ghafoor adjourned the case till for further hearing and directed the parties to appear on the next date to present arguments in the case.

customs team seizes NDp auto-parts worth rs3.5 million from McLeod road D LAHORE

M hAYAt

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irectorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation anti-smuggling team has seized non-customs paid autospare parts of motorbikes worth millions of rupees. Sources told Customs Today that Customs I&I, on the directions of Director Customs Intelligence & Investigation Rubab Sikandar, raided a godown located on Mcleod Road and seized non-duty paid auto parts worth over Rs 3.5 million. The sources said that auto-parts, including pistons, handles, engines, slanders and other parts of bike were discovered from the godown. The sources told that the customs authorities impounded the non-customs paid auto parts following the owners failed to produce any

legal clearance documents. The sources told that the customs authorities after impounding the non-duty paid items have started further investigations in

to the case. The sources told that market is abounding in non-customs paid items and the customs authorities were doing their best to crack-

down the nexus of the smugglers. Sources told Customs Intelligence and Investigations teams are using all available resources to curb smuggling attempts.

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Iran oil output beats 3.8 million bpd, eyes 4 million TEHRAN: Iran’s crude oil production has surpassed 3.8 million barrels per day (bpd), Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying on adding that Tehran expects output to reach 4 million bpd by March 2018. “Oil production has exceeded 3.8 million barrels. The country’s oil output will reach 4 million barrels by the end of the year,” Zanganeh told Fars news agency, referring to the Iranian year which ends on March 20. In mid-June, Zanganeh said output had reached 3.8 million bpd.

china, New Zealand to implement Aeo customs agreement in July hina and New Zealand announced Tuesday a customs agreement on mutual Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status to be implemented on July 1. The agreement will further boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Under the agreement, companies that obtain the AEO status in the two countries will enjoy simplified customs procedures, such as reduced examination or prioritized clearance, when they export products to the other country. After the agreement becomes operational, the customs clearance time is expected to be halved, which will help reduce logistics costs. China and New Zealand signed the AEO agreement in March. About 4,000 Chinese companies have been given AEO status. According to the World Customs Organization (WCO), an AEO is an organization or company involved in the international movement of goods that has been certified by, or on behalf of, a national customs administration and complies with WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards. –CB Report

World Customs

Tuesday July 4, 2017

philippinese, chinese in talks to enforce anti-smuggling accord

outh Korea’s exports jumped 24.4 percent in the first 20 days of June from a year earlier on robust overseas demand for semiconductors and ships, customs data showed Total outbound shipments reached $31.9 billion in the June 1-20 period, up from $25.7 billion tallied over the same period last year, according to numbers compiled by the Korea Customs Service. The increase was led by a 111.4 percent on-year surge in exports of vessels and a 51.1 percent gain in semiconductors. Exports to China rose 7.4 percent over the 20-day period from a year earlier despite Beijing’s move to restrict imports of South Korean goods in retaliation for Seoul’s plan to deploy a US missile defense system on its soil. –CB Report

ry one coming to the UK via the port of Duba enter the amount of grain Captagon reached (219.408) two hundred and nineteen thousand four hundred and eight beads, so hidden within the mission received the Kingdom, the Customs port of Duba foiled this attempt. Ali said Atawi Director General of Customs Duba port provided that the customs consignment is a “gas ovens” mounted on a truck, and during the termination of its customs and cargo procedures, found that amount of grain hidden inside the furnaces in an artistic way. Atawi confirmed that the employees of the Saudi Customs are making utmost eﬀorts in all customs ports land, air and sea, in order to prevent the entry of all kinds of drugs and other contraband. It is worth mentioning that the Customs port of Duba foiled over the past two weeks, two attempts to smuggle a large amount of pills Captagon amounted to approximately (3,300,000) three million three hundred thousand tablets Captagon. Meanwhile, Try a number of arrivals to the Kingdom for Umrah through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah smuggling amount of subjects heroin and cocaine amounted to (1.720) kg and 720 grams, but customs oﬃcers thwarted their attempts. –CB Report

South korea’s exports soar 24.4% so far in June

port of Duba reveals attempt to smuggle over 219,000 captagon tablets

MANILA

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he Bureau of Customs (BoC) has started talks with its Chinese counterparts to enforce an agreement to streamline the exchange of trade information, in a bid to deter smuggling, amid multiple seizures of counterfeit products from China. According to BoC spokesperson and OfRice of the Commissioner Chief of Staff Mandy Therese M. Anderson, the agreement was to streamline information exchange on

the proRile of traders and their trading activity, as well as best practices on both countries to discourage illicit trade. “This agreement with China has been in place for a few years, but never really implemented because of lack of cooperation with China. But the Commissioner has been setting up meetings, with China, to implement the agreement and to possibly amend it, that’s why we’re having discussions,” she said in a phone interview yesterday “The agreement is more on enforcement of anti-smuggling and infosharing. So if China can’t stop it at their borders, then they can give it to us so we can stop it here,” she added. The agreement was signed in April

2010, under which both countries agreed to assist each other in preventing and investigating smuggling. “Upon request, the Customs administration shall provide assistance in the form of information necessary to ensure the enforcement of Customs laws and accurate assessment of Customs duties and taxes by the Customs administration,” the agreement read. Moreover, Ms. Anderson added that it could also curb rampant misdeclaration. “A lot of the smuggled goods actually come from China, so this data sharing will also include export values of Chinese commodities, so we can check it here if what the importers have been reporting to us is not undervalued,” said Ms. Anderson.

russia sticks to conservative $40 oil forecast MOSCOW

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he Russian government is sticking to its conservative assumptions for oil prices as it drafts the budget for the next three years, relying mainly on domestic borrowing to Rinance the deRicit in order to preserve its rainy-day funds. Oil prices are running above the government’s $40/bbl forecast, but growing supply from Libya,

Nigeria and the U.S. “presents very serious risks,” Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin said Thursday at a government meeting discussing the outlines of the three-year Riscal plan. “Keeping the level of $40/bbl in real terms over the next three years looks more than reasonable,” he said. For next year, revenues are expected to be 630 billion rubles ($10.6 billion) higher that originally planned, but the government expects to use the bulk of that to reduce the deRicit, which is targeted

at 1.6% of gross domestic product, down from 2.1% forecast this year, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the session. Spending in 2018 is set at 16.2 trillion rubles, with revenues at 14.7 trillion. The budget gap is forecast to narrow further to 0.9% in 2019 and 0.8% in 2020. Siluanov said the government also aims to minimize the use of the rainy-day funds for deRicit Rinancing. Next year, spending from the funds will be half this year’s level, he said. In place of that funding, net do-

mestic borrowing will run at “a little more” than 1 trillion rubles a year in 2018-2020, while external debt issuance will remain at $3 billion annually, according to Siluanov. For 2018, another 623 billion rubles in deRicit funding will come from extra oil-and-gas revenues carried over from this year, he said. As a rule, any increases in spending will have to come from non-oil revenues, Siluanov said. Extra crude-related revenues will be saved in the government’s rainy-day funds.

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Govt asked to lower duties to discourage smuggling Tuesday July 4, 2017

Lahore

LAHORE: Pakistan FMCG Importers Association has urged Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to bring down customs duties on different consumer goods as higher rates are contributing to an increased influx of smuggled goods. Talking to Customs Today, Patron-in-Chief of the Association Naseem Chawla and President Anjum Nisar urged the government to curb smuggling by lowering duty tariff on items which are heavily smuggled. They said that smuggling had emerged as a menace to economic growth and not only was local industry suffering at its hands but also the law abiding importers while it causes a loss of billions to the national exchequer.

customs court receives probe challan of mobile phones smuggler LAHORE

M iMrAN MehAr

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he Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling has received an investigation challan of a case of an accused booked by the customs authorities at the Allama Iqbal International Airport while making an attempt to smuggle cell phones from China into Lahore. Naveed Bhatti was arrested by the Customs Preventive when they seized 170 android mobile phones from his luggage at the Lahore Airport. The passenger was coming from China, sources told Customs Today. On suspicion, the customs authorities intercepted accused Naveed Bhatti while he was using green channel and was asked if he

ASo impounds Ncp dry batteries, welding rods ollectorate of Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization has impounded millions of rupees non-customs paid welding rods and dry batteries. Sources told Customs Today that the ASO team seized illegally imported Rs7 million welding rods from a godown located at Brandrath Road. The sources said that the authorities seized the rods as the owners failed to produce any legal documents against the 126 cartons of the non customs paid rods. During another raid the Anti Smuggling Organization seized 72 dry batteries worth Rs1.2 million. The sources said that the owners of the batteries failed to produce any legal documents against the batteries and were finally seized. The sources said that the customs authorities impounding the goods have registered cases against the accused parties. –CB Report

had anything illegal. The mobile phones were hidden in bottles of water which the passenger claimed that he had brought from Saudi Arabia. The total value of the mobile phones has been estimated at Rso5million. Meanwhile, the Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has extended a judicial remand of an accused arrested from Lahore with a truck loaded with costly tyres. The accused was booked when customs intelligence intercepted a truck coming from Quetta near Thokar Niaz Baig. During the searching of the truck, the customs intelligence ofRicials found a big quantity of smuggled tyres. Sources said almost Rive tyres were packed in one tyre. The tyres were costly and of Pajero, Mazada trucks and other vehicles. The market value of seized tyres is Rs05million which were being carried to Lahore for a businessman Matiur Rehman.

customs intelligence seizes NDp LeDs, DVDs from hall road

LAHORE

M hAYAt

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he Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations has impounded non-

customs i&i impounds non-customs paid Mark-X from Johar town

irectorate of Customs Intelligence and investigation team impounded a Mark-X car bearing fake number plate AQX 444 from Johar Town, sources told Customs Today. Sources told Customs Today that the director car cell formed a team under the supervision of additional director and raided to seize the car. The sources said that the team intercepted the car in Q Black which was being driven by on property dealer

Akhtar Awan, The car cell team demanded documents from the driver but he failed to produce anything, the source said, adding that the vehicle was non-customs paid and had fake plate no AQX 444. The team finally seized the car. The car’s value has been determined at Rs 2 million and was in white color. The sources said that the car would be auctioned in following the completion of customs formalities at the directorate. –CB Report

customs paid LEDs and DVDs from Hall Road and registered a first information report (FIR) against suspects. Sources told Customs Today that in a raid the customs authorities intercepted a Suzuki pickup bearing registration no: LED 3872 and recovered illegally imported

govt to bring 5-marla houses into tax net he Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control Department (ETCD) has planned to propose a property tax on Rive-marla houses. Sources said that since the government wanted to avoid imposing new taxes in the budget, it turned the proposal down. The excise department, however, has decided to send a fresh proposal to the government. Initially, the excise department had kept Rive-marla houses out of the tax net due to their low revenue generation, although owners of Rive-marla houses in some upscale areas were being taxed. Now, the excise depart-

fto puts oﬀ M/s pakistan pipe industries case

LAHORE

SAJiD NAwAZ

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he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has heard an appeal filed by M/s Pakistan Pipe Industries (Private) Limited against the Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO Lahore until the next date.

The FTO heard the case in which counsel for the appellant argued that the Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO) had failed to resolve the tax refund since two years claimed by the company. He said the RTO had been collecting excessive tax from M/s Pakistan Pipe Industries (Private) Limited for the last two years. He

LEDs, DVDs and other such items worth millions of rupees. The sources said that LEDs, DVDs and other electronic items were being smuggled to Hall Road electronics goods market when the customs authorities intercepted the van and recovered the goods. The sources said that the owner of the goods and article were demanded legal clearance documents but they failed and eventually the customs authorities seized the LEDs, DVDs and other goods. The sources said that the van was loaded with 74 LEDs, 40 TV kits and other items. It was said that the operation was undertaken on the directions of director Customs Intelligence and Investigation led by Deputy Collector Ali Zeb Khan. The sources said that the custom authorities registering a case against the accused has started investigations.

approached the commissioner concerned many times for the release of refund but the CRTO officials did not pay it even after the passage of a reasonable time. At the end, the company decided to approach the FTO seeking intervention in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the CRTO to clear the refund claims.

ment plans to increase its annual revenue by Rs800 million by bringing all Rive-marla houses into the tax net. A senior government ofRicial said that the excise department should not put a further burden on low-income people as people were already paying a lot of direct and indirect taxes. –CB Report

The counsel further said that the CRTO should refund the excessive collection following taxes by the end of financial year but the situation is quite otherwise. After hearing the arguments from both sides, FTO Advisor adjourned the case until next date for further hearing and directed the parties to appear on said date to present arguments in the case.

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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.”

five ships take berth at port Qasim ive ships C.V MSC Algeciras, C.V Prosper, M.T Othoni, M.T Cerulean and M.T NCC Maha carrying containers, LPG and Palm Oil were allotted berths at Qasim International Container Terminal, Engro Vopak Terminal, Multi Purpose Terminal and Liquid Cargo Terminal respectively during last 24 hours, said a report issued by Port Qasim Authority (PQA). Meanwhile four more ships C.V Sea Con-6, C.V New Ark, M.T Maran Gas Asclepious and M.V Golden Cat Harine with Steel Coil, Containers, LNG and Canola Seeds also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim during last 24 hours. Berth occupancy remained at the Port at 63% on Tuesday where a total of ten ships namely, C.V MSC Algeciras, C.V Prosper, Mol Partner, Eternal Trumph, Almyros, Calipso, Othoni, Cerulean, NCC Maha and M.T New Naxos were occupied PQA berths to load/oﬄoad Containers, Coal, Soya

Bean Seeds, Chemicals, Palm oil and Furnace oil respectively. Cargo throughput during last 24 hours stood at 143,405 tonnes, comprising 137,097 tonnes import cargo and 6,308 tonnes export cargo inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 1,681 Containers TUEs) 185 imports TUEs and 3,208 TUEs exports) was handled at the Port. Three ships, C.V Prosper, M.V Almyros and M.T Othoni sailed out to sea on Tuesday morning, while another ship New Naxos is expected to sail on same day. A total of five ships C.V New Ark, C.V Northern Monument, M.T Pacific Panama, Mid Nature and M.T Maran Gas Asclepius carrying Containers, Furnace oil, Phosphoric Acid and LNG are expected to take berths at QICT, FOTCO, EVTL and EETL respectively on Tuesday. –CB Report

Ports & Shipping

Abu Dhabi ports inks deal to manage fujairah port DUBAI

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he UAE’s Abu Dhabi Ports and Port of Fujairah have signed a concession agreement granting Abu Dhabi Ports exclusive right to develop and manage the port. As part of the agreement, the entities have established Fujairah Terminals, a new operational arm wholly owned by Abu Dhabi Ports. Under the 35-year deal, Fujairah Terminals seek to build the capacity of Fujairah Port to reach 1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and 700,000 tonnes of general cargo by 2030, Abu Dhabi Ports said in a statement. Fujairah Terminals will develop a one kilometre quay at Fujairah and deepen berths to 16.5 metres to increase capacity and accommodate larger vessels. The Port of Fujairah is the only multi-purpose port on the Eastern coast of the UAE and strategically located on the UAE’s Indian Ocean coast, close to the east-west ship-

ping routes. It offers a platform to serve the entire Gulf region, the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan, the Red Sea, East Africa and neighbouring countries, according to the statement. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, UAE Cabinet Member, Minister of State and chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “This concession agreement reRlects Abu Dhabi Port’s and Port of Fujairah’s efforts to develop infra-

structure in the UAE in line with the leadership’s vision to help drive economic and trade growth across all sectors. “Abu Dhabi Ports will utilise all its capabilities and expertise to enable Fujairah Ports to achieve its objectives…including developing this geographically strategic port that will contribute to the development of the UAE’s commercial and tourism sectors.”

Tuesday July 4, 2017

Shipping activity at port Qasim wo ships M.T Ginag Cheetah and M.T New Naxos carrying Chemicals and Furnace oil took berths at Engro Vopak Terminal and FOTCO Oil Terminal respectively during last 24 hours, said a report issued by Port Qasim Authority (PQA) here on Monday. Berth occupancy remained at the port a 63% on Sunday where a total of ten ships namely, Hermes, Mol Partner, Hansa America, Yuan Hai, Eternal Trumph, Almyros, Colipso, Ginag Cheetah, YM Jupiter and M.T New Naxos occupied PQA berths to load/oﬄoad Containers, General Cargo, Coal, Soya Bean Seeds, Chemicals, Palm oil and Furnace oil respectively. A cargo volume of 134,952 tonnes, comprising 74,000 tonnes import cargo and 60,952 tonnes export cargo inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 3,393 Containers TUEs) 185 imports TUEs and 3,208 TUEs exports) was handled at the Port. Four ships, Hermes, Ginag Cheetah, YM Jupiter and Yuan Hai sailed out to sea on Monday morning, while another Mol Partner is expected to sail on same day. –CB Report

port of rosyth welcomes Viking Star’s first call WASHINGTON

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apital Cruising, which runs several UK cruise terminals, including Edinburgh and London Tilbury, welcomed Viking Star to Port of Rosyth for a maiden visit. The Viking Cruises’ vessel sailed underneath the iconic Forth Bridges before docking at Rosyth, as passengers spent the day exploring Edinburgh, Fife and the surrounding area. A traditional plaque exchange took place with Viking Star’s Captain Lockling; head of cruise for Capital Cruising, Robert Mason; and Helen Law, chair of the CruiseForth Project. Mason said: ‘Maiden visits are becoming regular events for Capital Cruising’s terminals across the UK and we’re very excited to welcome Viking Star, at the Port of Rosyth. Our teams at the ports

around Edinburgh, and at London and Dundee, are seeing more cruise calls than ever before. 2017 is set to be our busiest yet with around 190 calls.’ Meanwhile, 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 ofRice. “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 ofRicial 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, ofRicials say that business is already back up to normal levels despite the embargo. An ofRicial 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 speciRic enough to form a basis for discussion. Once the detailed demands are delivered, ofRicials say, the crisis may be resolved in short order. “I am sure this storm will pass peacefully to the beneRit of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” said Kuwaiti Sheikh Salem al-Ali alSabah, speaking to Al-Seyassah. alSabah 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 terrorism “at a very high level.” However, despite Trump’s apparent concerns, his Department of Defense Rinalized a landmark $12 billion arms deal with Qatar.

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Mianwali ASO impounds non customs paid Toyota MIANWALI: The Customs Collectorate ASO Mainwali has seized a non duty paid 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.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

Multan customs achieves customs duty collection target of June MULTAN iMrAN ALi

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he Customs Collectorate has achieved the assigned customs duty collection target of Rs8705.42 million for the month of June in the on-going Riscal year 2016-17. Sources told Customs Today, the Collectorate of the Multan Customs collected Rs8705.42 million customs duties in the Rirst 22 days of the Month of June. The Federal Board of Revenue has assigned Customs duty revenue collection target of Rs.8705.42 million to the Multan Customs Collectorate for the month of June. The Customs Collectorate Multan has attained the strenuous revenue collection task of the Customs duty during in the Rirst 22 days of the June due to their extra efforts. Multan Customs is facing serious challenge of fall in their clearance of import consignments from Dry Port after the imposition of Punjab Infrastructure Cess but the Collectorate has managed to complete their task magniRicently in the Rirst twenty two days of June. The Customs Collectorate Multan has made collection of sales taxes of Rs1930.442 million in the Rirst twenty

two days of June against the set monthly target of Rs.6676 million. Multan Customs is facing huge short fall in the revenue collection of sales tax due to multiple factors including decrease in the import clearances at the Multan Dry Port and decrease in

the tax ratio of sales taxes on High Speed Diesel (HSD). The collection of sales tax is also reducing day by day due to drop in the international prices of HSD products. Multan Customs has collected Rs.12.002 million under the head of federal excise duty (FED) in

the Rirst 22 days of the month of June against the given revenue task of Rs11 million for the whole month of June. The Customs Collectorate Multan has collected Rs5.229 million of Withholding Taxes (WHT) against the assigned task of Rs103 million for the

month of June in the Rirst 22 days of June of the on-going Rinancial year 2016-17. The Customs Collectorate Multan has accelerated the revenue collection in the last month of economic year to achieve collection task assigned by Federal Board of Revenue.

ihc concludes hearing of various complaints filed against fBr ISLAMABAD

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earing a plenty of service matters being persuaded by employees of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) during third week of June, the tribunal reserved a decision of an implementation matter and issued directives in other cases to the board.

The FST FST Division Bench, comprising of Member, Rafique Shah and Dr Nazir, heard the case of implementation filed by M Akhtar. Another bench of the FST, comprising Member Rafique Shah and Dr Nazir also heard cases filed by Attique Ahmed Abbasi, Zeeshan Zafar, Mian Muhammad Shahzad, Mian Asif Mehmood, Ch. Muhammad Sajid, Ahmad Din, Rizwan Jillani, Muhammad Younas, Muhammad Hussain, and Muhammad Rafique. The bench adjourned the hearing of these cases for coming days.

The appellants had submitted complaints about their due promotion which was not yet granted by the department. They have prayed the tribunal to issue necessary directives to the board in this regard. Members, Ishtiaq Ahmed and Muhammad Javed Iqbal Kasi heard cases of three recently filed cases carrying complaints about ‘dismissal from services’, ‘withholding of two annual ‘increment’. The bench had dated in office the hearing of these cases during last hearing and had asked the board to submit

reply in the cases filed by Muhammad Arshad Rahim, Muhammad Arshad Rahim and Ejaz Ahmed Bajwa. Federal Service Tribunal issued fresh directives submit relating record before the bench in cases pending before the tribunal since months. Another bench heard three cases filed by M Sulaman Javed, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Shakeel Akhtar and others. Muhammad Sulaman Javed had prayed to tribunal in ensure implementation over its already given decision; Muhammad

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Nawaz had challenged dismissal from services, and Muhammad Shakeel Akhtar had challenged removal from services. Tribunal’s bench had recently also reserved decision on promotion cases filed by M Iqbal and Habib Ahmed. Both employees of FBR had submitted complaints regarding their promotion and had asked the tribunal to direct the department on awarding their meritorious scale at the department. Same bench also heard couple of other cases carrying dismissal matter and adjourned hearing.