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Karachi, Tue June 13, 2017
PESHAWAR
NADIR KHAN
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odel Customs Collectorate, Peshawar has decided to operate two shifts in Peshawar Cantonment Dry Port to overcome the burden of containers and ensure their timely clearance. Similarly, necessary measures have also been initiated for the operationalising of old dry
port at Aman Ghar instead of Azakhel Dry Port from next week. The decision has been taken in wake of the stranding of hundreds of containers due to the strike of goods carriers in Karachi and after the ending of strike unlimited number of containers had started arriving back to Peshawar Dry Port, besides the starting of the arrival of GITTA trains containers, which had increased the burden of containers on dry port. Keeping in view the situation, Collector Qur-
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ban Ali Khan along with Additional Collectors Customs Syed Fazal Samad and Rashid Habib and their complete teams visited Peshawar Dry Port where they inspected the parked containers and talked to the authorities concerned. On this occasion, Collector Qurban Ali Khan directed that instead of one two shifts will be operated in Cantonment Dry Port to overcome the load of containers on the dry port and also ensure their timely clearance.
Customs Port Qasim collects Rs41.70b customs duty during May
Customs ASO impounds NDP Nokia mobile phones worth Rs 8 million
Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha says Punjab owes Rs568b in debt
Customs Preventive seizes huge quantity of NDP goods from GT Road
Hyderabad Customs recovers smuggled goods in several raids
CustomsCollectoratePQcollectedrevenueof Rs13.6 b under the head of customs duty | See pAge 02 |
The Customs ASO impounded 2310 Nokia NPD mobile handsets of various | See pAge 03 |
DrAyeshaGhausPashahassaidthatPunjab owesRs568bindebt,whichisonly2.5pec | See pAge 04 |
Customs Preventive teams foiled a bid to smuggle a huge quantity of NDP goods | See pAge 14 |
Customs Intelligence has carried out several operations against smugglers | See pAge 16 |
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RTO fails to achieve revenue collection target of Rs2.5b Tuesday, June 13, 2017
GUJRANWALA: The Regional Tax Office (RTO) Gujranwala remained unable to achieve its recovery target of Rs2.5 billion fixed for the month of May 2017 in shape of collection of different taxes (including Rs1.35 billion income tax and Rs.1.15 billion under the head of sales tax). Though the RTO Gujranwala have not yet given the details, but they admitted failure in achieving this recovery target. However, the RTO has formed several more teams to speed up pace of this recovery campaign from the defaulting taxpayers besides making all out sincere efforts to expand the tax net and to bring maximum people under this tax net as well.
National
customs port Qasim collects Rs41.70 billion customs duty
fto puts off case of m/s mansoor paint Industries till next hearing LAHORE
KARACHI
wAQAR AHmeD ANSARI
SAJID NAwAZ
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ederal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) adjourned the hearing of a case filed by M/s Mansoor Paint Industries, Bund Road Lahore, against the Regional Tax Office-II (RTO-II) until the next hearing. Consultant to Federal Tax Ombudsman Tariq Yousaf heard the case 783/LHR/ST(227)1396/2013 FTOLHR/0001396/13 in which counsel for plaintiff contended that the Regional Tax Office-II (RTO-II) has failed to make the payment of tax refund claims to the company since two years. The counsel added that the field formation has been collecting excessive tax from the taxpayer for the last two years. Complainant M/s Mansoor Paint Industries approached the commissioner concerned RTO-II many times for refunds but no action was taken by the Regional Tax Office-II. Finally the appellant decided to approach the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) to direct the RTO-II Lahore to clear the pending refund claims as early as possible. The counsel argued that the Lahore RTO-II should clear refunds at the end of the fiscal year but it did not do the same. On the other side, counsel for Regional Tax Office-II (RTO-II) Lahore contended that the RTO-II is ready to settle the case after assessment.
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ustoms Collectorate Port Qasim collected revenue of Rs13.6 billion under the head of customs duty (CD). Sources told Customs Today that Customs Port Qasim was assigned revenue collection target of Rs41.70 billion while Customs Port Qasim collected Rs23.46 billion under the head of sales tax, Rs4.82 billion under the head of income tax and Rs361 million under the head of federal excise duty (FED). Sources told that Customs Port Qasim collected 37.79 billion revenue during the month of April while the Collectorate was assigned revenue collection target of Rs37.24 billion. Customs Port Qasim collected Rs11.52 billion under the head of customs duty while Rs21.32 billion were collected as sales tax while Rs4.55 billion were collected under the head of income tax. The Collectorate collected Rs380 million under the head of federal excise duty (FED). It is necessary to mention here that Collector Port Qasim Saeed Akram directed all relevant ofRicials to expedite their efforts to use all resources to meet the assigned revenue collection target of current Fiscal Year. Meanwhile, Collectorate of Customs Port Mohammad bin Qasim has foiled an attempt to clear some
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wooden consignments through misdeclaration. Sources told Customs Today that Collector Port Qasim Saeed Akram received credible information that some wooden consignments were being cleared through mis-declaration. He immediately issued necessary instructions to Additional Collector Khalil Yousafani to check all the wooden consignments thoroughly and carefully. Additional Collector Yousafani constituted a customs team com-
prising Deputy Collector Ihsanullah Shah, Principal Appraiser Khalid Umer and others. The above said customs team started checking of wooden consignments which were being imported from Malaysia. During examination it was revealed that M/s Shabbir Wooden Works imported some wooden consignments and tried to clear the same by declaring its less weight. The above said company also tried to cause a loss of Rs8.46,000 to national exchequer. After detecting
the mis-declaration, Customs Port Qasim authorities imposed a Rine of Rs1,00,000 to the above said company. The management of M/s Shabbir Wooden Works deposited the evaded amount of taxes along with Rine in national kitty. It is necessary to mention here that Customs teams deputed at Port Qasim expedited their efforts to curb consignments being cleared through mis-declaration as these practices are causing huge loss to national economy.
customs Appraisement-east initiates scrutiny of auctions at pIct
M KARACHI
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odel Customs Collectorate Appraisement-East has initiated scrutiny of containers auctioned at PICT and Pak Shaheen in the last one year to confirm whether the goods auctioned were actually the goods imported. Collector Appraisement East Ashad Jawwad has tasked Pre-
ventive Officer Malak Hashim to investigate the case and identify the number of containers that were illegally replaced/removed. Sources said goods of some 70 containers were removed/replaced at the terminals. The appraisement has lodged an FIR against several persons including officials of M/s Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) for fraudulent clearance and delivery of fabric consignments by cross shifting of
the cargo after examination by Customs. It may be mentioned here that after three months, if a container is not cleared, it automatically moves for auction. Malak Hashim is assigned to scrutiny the containers auctioned at PICT and Pak Shaheen terminal in the last one year to confirm through the manifests that the goods auctioned were actually the goods imported. Goods including Indian origin
grey fabric had been got cleared fraudulently by stuffing the same in some other containers. GD log reports that the importers held up the consignments by not accepting Order-in-Original generated for non-recovery of invoice from the containers or on the stage of assigned to gate out. When the consignments were re-examined and astonishingly the goods were found replaced with low value and low tariff goods.
Sources said Chief operating officer (COO) of PICT Khurram Aziz Khan was also being investigated. He was CEO of QICT in 2007-08 and at that time around 287 containers went missing from QICT. It may be mentioned here that container terminals including PICT, QICT, Gerrys and Pak Shaheen have so far been found facilitating crimes and frauds and inflicting loss to the national exchequer.
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APCRA lauds new excise slab LAHORE: All Pakistan Cigarettes Retailers Association (APCRA) President Mubeen Yousaf has hailed the government’s decision to announce a new excise slab for tobacco products, as it would help grow the business of retailers dealing in legitimate brands and toughen penalties against anyone in possession of non-compliant cigarettes. He said the retailers had been suffering with the growth of illicit cigarette trade due to weak enforcement. The new excise slab will encourage higher sales of legal brands, which will allow retailers to earn a decent income, he added. The government will also benefit from higher tax collection that can be used to promote trade and agriculture in the country, he added.
Tuesday June 13, 2017
National
Deputy collector Asma orders to seize non duty paid cloth
customs ASo impounds NDp Nokia mobile phones worth Rs 8 million
FAISALABAD
NAeem SHeIKH
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he Customs Adjudication Deputy Collector Asma Hameed has announced the decision in 800 kilograms of smuggled cloth case, declaring the seizure of the cloth lawful. As per details, Faisalabad Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) had seized the cloth when the officials raided at M/s Rana Ishtiaq Goods Forwarding Agency near Lal Mill Chowk Faisalabad during checking. The officials asked the owner of goods agency Rana Muhammad Amjad to produce the documents, showing the legal import of the cloth but they remained failed. Therefore, the cloth was seized considering it smuggled.
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fIA arrests female human trafficker RAWALPINDI
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he Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Cell has arrested a female human trafficker along with two men to be trafficked to South Korea at Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA). The detained human trafficker has been identified as Rabia from Karachi while the two men were identified as Malik Abdul Basit hailing from Abbottabad and Zaryab Khalid, a resident of Haripur, sources added. A case has also been registered against the lady who was later shifted to a lock up for further investigation, sources said. Sources said that the lady along with the two men reached the airport to catch PIA’s Islamabad-Beijing flight scheduled to depart at 10:40pm. Their suspicious activities caught the attention of AHTC staffers who immediately took them.
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LAHORE
m HAYAt
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he Collectorate of Customs Preventive Ant-Smuggling Organization (ASO) on Tuesday impounded 2310 Nokia non- customs paid (NPD) mobile handsets of various types worth millions of rupees. Sources told Customs Today that the Customs Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) has lodged FIR after arresting two suspects who were carrying the mobile phones from Rawalpindi to Lahore. Sources said that on the information of Deputy Collector of customs ASO Moazzam Raza, Customs ASO team consisting of superintendent Nasir Minhas, Inspector Muhammad Aslam Chudhary and others intercepted a van fully loaded with Nokia mobile near Hall Road. The sources said that the quantity of the mobile is valued at Rs 8 million. The sources said that the Customs ASO demanded legal clearance documents from the owners but they failed to produce anything against the heavy quantity of the non duty paid mobiles. Finally, the Customs authorities, on the directions of collector of collector of Customs Preventive ZulRikar Chaudhary, seized the phones. The Customs I&I after lodging FIR has arrested the two accused persons and started further investigations. Another sources said that the
mobiles were to be supplied to some traders on the Hall Road. However, the ASO customs authorities successfully foiled the bid and saved the national exchequer from millions of rupees duty and tax evasion. The sources said that I&I has started further investigations into the case. It was said that the accused persons nominated in the FIR would be produced before the customs judge where the customs officials would seek remands for further in-
It was said that the accused persons nominated in the fIR would be produced before the customs judge where the customs officials would seek remands for further investigations
NAB establishes own forensic Science Lab
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ISLAMABAD
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ational Accountability Bureau Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhary has said the NAB has established its own Forensic Science Lab which has been made operational with an aim to equip the Bureau with latest technology to cater for its emerging needs to eliminate menace of corruption from the society. Enumerating the achieve-
ments and initiatives of the present management of NAB, he said that a concept of combined investigation Team (CIT) has been introduced as investigation ofRicers and prosecution ofRicer were now working as a team to ensure transparency and merit in conduct of investigations. He said that NAB has shown that struggle against corruption was our top priority. NAB was using all its resources to come up to the expectations of the nation as we considered eradication of corruption as our na-
tional duty. He said NAB’s Forensic Science Lab has the facilities of digital forensics, Ringerprint forensics and questioned documents. Establishment of Forensic Science Lab will help in retrieving of documents from electronic devices like Cell Phones, Computers, iPads and networks and its preservation to determine authorship of questioned hand writing, identity questioned typescripts and printed documents to detect forgeries in questioned documents to determine interpolation.
vestigations. Meanwhile, Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has impounded a non-duty paid vehicle from Main Boulevard Gulberg. Sources told Customs Today that the ASO high-ups received secret information that some non-duty paid vehicles are roaming in the city. An ASO raiding team was constituted under the supervision of Deputy Superintendents Agha Qadeer and Sajjad Bukhari.
france invests $1.4b in pakistan rance has made investment of $1.4 billion and the visit of French investors after a gap of 12 years will bring in more investment in the Pakistan, said Philippe FOUET, head of the Economic Department of French Embassy, Islamabad. Addressing the FCCI members here, he said that Pakistan and France enjoyed good relations and there was huge scope of promotion of bilateral trade.
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CPEC to enhance importance of Pakistan’s seaports: Zubair Tuesday June 13, 2017
Business
KARACHI: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would also help enhance the significance of the ports of Pakistan. This was stated by the Governor of Sindh, Muhammad Zubair, here on Friday. He was talking to the Chairman of the Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Agha Jan Akhtar, who called on him at the Governor House here. The Governor was of the view that activation of CPEC would make PQA of vital importance enhancing the commercial activity and generating employment opportunities. He said with CPEC, the future of Pakistan has become even more brighter.
Dr Ayesha says punjab owes Rs568b in debt LAHORE
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unjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that Punjab owes Rs 568 billion in debt, which is only 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The Rinance minister was concluding the budget debate in the Punjab Assembly on Friday. It might be mentioned that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also present in the House in an effort to complete the required quorum, as the Rinance minister remained unsuccessful to conclude the budget debate two days ago due to lack of quorum. Though Dr Ayesha did not
cDwp approves 7 projects ISLAMABAD
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announce any amendment to the proposed budget she clariRied some ambiguities in the budget and conRirmed that the government had not reduced agriculture sector privi-
Anusha says govt, It industry working to increase IteS exports
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he Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved seven development projects worth 61.9 billion rupees. The CDWP meeting, presided over by Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, recommended Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) to consider approval of 4 mega projects in transport communication, water resources and tourism sectors. In transport and communication sector, CDWP recommended two mega projects of Rs43.5 billion to Ecnec.
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leges. She informed the House that the incumbent government had no plan to cut privileges for farmers under the Kissan Package. She said that federal government had with-
drawn the general sales tax on fertilisers and there was no need of any subsidy in this regard. Dr Ayesha said that all stakeholders, including the Lahore Chamber of Commerce (LCCI) and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), were taken into conRidence during the budget preparation – a claim rejected by Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI)-backed legislator Mian Aslam Iqbal, who said the opposition was not taken into conRidence during budget preparations. Anyhow, the Rinance minister went on to say that the government would not impose any extra burden on masses and added that the loans been taken from the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), “on only one percent interest rate”, would be used for education sector.
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ISLAMABAD
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he Rirst meeting of Executive Council Forum to boost Pakistan’s IT and Information Technology enabled Services (ITES) exports was held in the Ministry of Information Technology. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of State for IT Anusha Rehman Khan and attended by Secretary IT & Telecom, MoIT OfRicers, CEOs of top Rive IT exporters, Rinancial/ banking sector organisations,
BPO/call centres, IT consulting, mobile applications, IT industry enthusiasts and multinational companies, State Bank of Pakistan, SECP, academia, Telco’s representatives and CEOs of National ICT R&D Fund and USF Co. The minister welcomed all the participants of the meeting and explained that multi-stakeholder High Level Executive Council Forum (ECF) has been constituted to work on how to increase IT & ITES exports as part of the government economic growth agenda. The minister stated that the private sector will play an important
role in consultative process to formulate a comprehensive short and long term strategy, action plan and recommendations to facilitate and coordinate the growth in IT & ITES exports of Pakistan. She also told the meeting that the Government of Pakistan has unveiled a progressive Budget 201718 especially for the Information Technology sector of the country. One of the highlights of the federal budget is the revelation that the new tech companies will be exempted from income tax for the next three years in Pakistan.
china’s oBoR project bringing world closer: pew ISLAMABAD
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he Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) has said China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) project has so far brought 68 countries together across three continents. Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America are coming closer which is a very good omen for world’s peace and prosperity, it said. Chinese are focused on Asia with Pakistan and Central Asian states getting more benefits than others countries which is not acceptable for some countries, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW. He said that the Silk Road has existed for thousands of years, it enriched the countries it passed through and now it is being revived. He said that China has produced over 25 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since centuries but the industrial revolution in the west slowed it down. Now, she is regaining lost glory. US, India, Japan and some other countries have joined hands to counter Chinese influence, especially in Asia but it seems difficult. Dr Murtaza Mughal said that India is eying oil and gas and minerals in Afghanistan and Central Asia since long, therefore, she cannot see increasing Chinese influence in that region.
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ADB extends $86.41 million for irrigation project in Kp ISLAMABAD
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sian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Pakistan Friday signed a loan agreement of $86.41 million for the extension of the Pehur High Level Canal in the Swabi and Nowshehra districts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Finance Minister Mohammad
Ishaq Dar witnessed signing by Xiaohong Yang, ADB’s Country Director for Pakistan, and Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Tariq Mahmood Pasha for the government of Pakistan. Tariq Rashid, KP’s Irrigation Department Secretary, signed the project agreement. The project would be completed by 2023 at a cost of US$ 96.6 million. The Rinance minister appreciated ADB’s assistance for the Pehur High Level Canal Extension Project, and their contin-
ued support and partnership for development projects in Pakistan, including in the agriculture sector. He congratulated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, EAD, and ADB on successful negotiations and signing of the agreement. The Rinance minister said the project will target three major agriculture domains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the project will enable increase of water available for agriculture, increase of water-use skill
and farm management capacity, and facilitate project management support and capacity building. He emphasized that the project is expected to result in increase in farm incomes and incomes of nonfarm households engaged in agriculture in arid areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He highlighted that the agriculture sector registered 3.46% growth during FY 2016-17, as a result of the prime minister’s agriculture pack-
age and extraordinary measures approved in the budget for FY 201617. He said the government’s support for the agriculture sector will continue during the current Riscal year. Country Director ADB said she was pleased to sign her Rirst agreement since assuming her responsibilities in Pakistan. She said enabling effective water resource management was an important step towards increasing farm productivity across Pakistan.
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resident Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Khalid Iqbal Malik has said that though the present government is making efforts to stimulate commercial activities, but still a lot has to be done to improve business-friendly environment. High tax rates and a large number of taxes in Pakistan are putting much burden on common man and reducing his purchasing power due to which business activities are also suffering. He demanded the government provide level playing Rield to the private sector to actively take part in CPEC projects. During an exclusive Interview with Customs Today, he said that complicated taxation system and high tax rates are promoting the culture of tax evasion while the genuine taxpayers are also facing problems. He emphasized that the FBR should focus on simpliRication of tax system that would help in promoting tax culture and improving tax revenue of the country. He advised that FBR should adopt friendly approaches to bring potential taxpayers into the tax net and avoid coercive tactics that would be counterproductive for tax collection. We welcomed FBR move to improve tax collection from non-
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
taxpayers, non-Rilers and low tax payers. He said we have plans to establish new departments in the Chamber to facilitate our members in different aspects. Incubation Centre will be set up to support the startups. We would give more focus to women entrepreneurship development as well as youth which is a great asset of our country. He welcomed CPEC proj-
ect and said it will open new horizons of long term cooperation between China and Pakistan and urged that Chinese investors to bring technology and machinery to Pakistan to set up industrial units. He stressed that Chinese investors should explore maximum joint ventures with Pakistani counterparts in CPEC projects, many sectors of Pakistan’s economy including real estate, construction, building materials, energy and infrastructure development offered lucrative investment opportunities to foreign investors. He said Pakistan needed huge local and foreign investment to execute CPEC projects. He further said that an efRicient, simple and transparent tax system is the need of the hour to attract more investment in the country and emphasized that government should develop a new mecht p o d ld a u o anism to ensure full protech s BR ing that f tion of the interests of law r d b e o s t i v ches a abiding investors who He ad o x r a p et ly ap have made investment in into th s friend r e t y tha xpa s a c t i Pakistan fulRilling all legal l t c a i a t et poten r requirements. He called oerciv o c f d e i v i o t d av upon the government to roduc net an nter p u o c address the key issues of e b n d l o i wou llect exporters on priority basis tax co and evolve a comprehensive new strategy in consultation with private sector to boost exports through diversiRication and value addition of products.
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Issue of circular debt
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ccording to newspaper reports, the government has decided to acquire Rs41 billion from commercial banks to partially retire the circular debt which has been piled up to Rs 402 billion during the last four years. The current government had cleared around Rs 480 billion in circular debt after coming to power in June 2013 which was accumulated during the Pakistan People’s Party government. Experts believe the government will collect the money in billions from the electricity consumers to pay it to the independent power producers, Pakistan State Oil and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government. The country has been facing 10 to 12 hours load-shedding a day, affecting not only industrial sector, but also domestic consumers. However, the government is still trying to feed its nationals on false promises and tall claims for the last four years. A vendor’s shop cannot be managed in a way the government is managing the country’s affairs in this fast era of trade, finance and development. It is unfortunate that the country doesn’t have full time finance minister, foreign minister or even the prime minister. All the official cadre is busy in personal affairs, and the whole show is being run on ad-hoc basis, leading the country to mismanagement and administrative failure.The government hopes the injection of fresh money will push the independent power producers to enhance their electricity generation and fill the gap between demand and supply. The circular debt is a new phenomenon introduced by the official cadre in recent years to bring further complications in the financial management. According to the finance ministry, it will issue sovereign guarantees to arrange the money for the power sector and it will bring down the circular debt to Rs360 billion. Ironically, the circular debt will come down to Rs360 billion, but the stock of debt would reach Rs415 billion.A simple solution to the problem is that to generate more electricity through alternative means. Pakistan has abundant renewable energy resources and there is a need to make concerted efforts for it. But the government authorities are too busy in personal matters that they do not have time to utilize their energies on the projects of public interests. There is no doubt in the notion that the ruling elite lacks vision and programme to even manage the day to day affairs of the country.
India’s warning on foreign investment T
LAHORE
DR AftAB AfZAL
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he Indian media is buzzed with news reports these days that Pakistan is likely to be turned into a client state of China in the near future. On another note, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor is being seen as a game changer in the region and lifeline of the Pakistan’s economy which will transfigure the lot the nation. An alleged report of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission has warned the nations over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s One Belt, One Road initiative, calling the large Chinese investments in Pakistan,
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and elsewhere as unsustainable. It says that $15 billion ChinaUzbekistan investment agreement is equal to 25 percent of the Uzbek economy which could turn the country into a commercial colony. China has promised $37 billion investment in Kazakhstan, which is around 20 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. According to the Indian media, a debt trap is looming large for Sri Lanka which owes over $6 billion to the Chinese government and has a total debt of $60 billion on its shoulders. Pakistan is facing the same situation as $46 billion Chinese investment is one-fifth of the country’s GDP. The investment
has been increased to $62 billion, covering various power and infrastructure projects in Pakistan. China has planned $24 billion investment in Bangladesh which is a fifth of the country’s economy. No doubt all these countries are already facing huge debt burden and repayment problems. The Indian media is regarding Chinese investment as a trap to convert the whole region into client states. However, it is yet to be seen who is behind these kinds of reports, analysis and disinformation about the regional connectivity projects. With regard to Pakistan, the nation is hoping that the Chinese investment will open vistas of opportunities and other coun-
tries too will invest in Pakistan. However, the government should seriously work on the negative reports appearing in the Indian media about the Chinese investment plans and brief the nation on the issue. The world is turning into a global village and the age of colonialism is over. Now trade, business and investment are the important issues which must be dealt in proper manners. The growth prospects of the Pakistan’s economy are bright and cooperation with China should be based on the principles of mutual respect and fair play. The Indian fears are apparently baseless, but there is a need to take the nation into confidence on the issue.
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Iran property tax overhaul approved TEHRAN: The Cabinet has approved new tax regulations concerning a host of housing activities during its latest meeting on Wednesday, which replace the old tax laws with more pragmatic and precise ones, making life more difficult for tax evaders. According to the new measures, private builders (both small and large-scale) need to pay 15-25% of their profit from the sale of a new house in taxes, Mehr News Agency reported. Construction companies, which are licensed by the Planning and Budget Organization and housing cooperative companies, will have to pay 25% and 18.75% of their profit as tax, respectively. This is while previous laws obligated builders to pay 10% of the total value of the property in taxes, which were hard to pinpoint but now since the costs of construction and land prices are obvious, it is easy to calculate the profit and set the proportionate tax.
LccI holds post-budget seminar 2017-18 LAHORE
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here is a dire need to maintain balance between revenues and expenditures as budget deficit forces the government to depend on borrowing that eats up major part of Federal Budget. Tax and structural reforms and broadening of tax net are the most appropriate solutions to this issue. These views were expressed by the experts from trade, industry and academia while speaking at a brainstorming Post Budget Seminar 201718, jointly organize by the LCCI and Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA), here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The LCCI President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali
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Jawa, Awais Yasin, Abdul Razzaq, Asim Zulfiqar, Saeed A. Sheikh, Dr. Nadia Tahir, Zia Mustafa Awan and Qamar Uz Zaman were prominent among the others. The experts said that businesses require incentives and facilitation for growth. Industries in Pakistan are facing multifarious challenges include stiff competition from the regional countries, power outages and stability in economic conditions. But the major bottleneck is unfriendly taxation system. They said that industry contributes 76 per cent to the tax revenues while agriculture contributes only 2 percent and the rest is from services sector. They said that according to the latest tax directory, the number of personal income taxpayers has increased from 752,695 in 2000 to over 1,074,418 in 2015 but it remains small compared to 40 million people employed outside the agriculture sector.
Tuesday June 13, 2017
Chambers
IccI signs mou with china council for promotion of international trade T
PESHAWAR
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he Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has signed an agreement of cooperation with China Council for the promotion of international trade, Tianjin Sub-Council to promote business linkages between the private sectors of Pakistan and China. The agreement was signed by Khalid Malik, Senior Vice President, ICCI and Zhao Feng, Vice Chairman, China Council for the promotion of international trade in Tianjin during the visit of Khalid Malik to China, said a statement issued here on Saturday by the chamber.Khalid Malik visited China to attend some important forums related to CPEC where he was the key note speaker. By signing this agreement, both sides have agreed cooperate with each other for enhancing exchange of trade missions in order to explore new areas of mutual collaboration between Pakistan and China. Both sides will make efforts for developing understanding among the private sectors of both coun-
tries with the aim of promoting trade, joint ventures and investment. Both sides will coordinate for holding seminars on trade policies and regional development. Speaking at the occasion, Khalid Malik said that Pakistan and China have
tremendous potential to improve bilateral trade and economic relations.He said there was a great need to develop direct interactions between the entrepreneurs of both countries to explore untapped areas of mutual collaboration.
SccI urges industry-academia linkages SIALKOT
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resident Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Majid Raza Bhutta on Sunday urged the government to formulate a strategy for developing industryacademia linkages.Talking to APP he said that industry-academia linkages had become more vital not only for modernisation of industrial sector but also for bringing innovation in products. Majid said that the government should take step for making it mandatory for universities to involve in research projects for development of new technologies and products and diversiRication of export basket, he said. Majid urged the government to take step for setting up a Leather Promotion Council and tannery
zones in leather clusters of Pakistan. He said that with the introduction of new standards by REACH and Leather Working Group (LWG), it is now being made mandatory for any business involved in leather products to ensure that necessary compliance is made right from the start of value chain which seems impossible to implement given the present scenario of our country. He warned that failure to comply with such standards by 2020 would result in a major blow to the exports of leather industry of Pakistan, as all the market share would be lost to the competitors. Meanwhile, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has urged the government to abolish the penalties imposed on Export Refinance Schemes pertaining to inability to achieve the targets. Talking to the newsmen here today,
the SCCI President Majid Raza Bhutta expressed grave concern over the 30 percent decline in overall exports of Pakistan. He said that the government should facilitate the exporters by providing essential relief in terms of waving off penalties on the Export Refinance Schemes. SCCI President Majid Raza Bhutta added that due to the prevailing decline in national exports of Pakistan the exporters despite all efforts were unable to meet the projected export targets which would add in the woes and troubles of the Export Industry. He revealed that the export-oriented industry of Sialkot was striving to increase the exports but yet lacking essential facilitation and patronage by the government in such difficult times. Anticipating significant reliefs ahead of Federal Budget for the Financial Year 2017-18.
He said business community of Pakistan was looking at CPEC with positive mind, however, he stressed that CPEC should provide levelplaying field to the private sectors of China and Pakistan to gain mutually beneficial outcomes.
careDx Q1 revenues up 76% areDx reported today that its first quarter revenues grew 76 percent year over year, amid growing sales of its AlloMap heart transplant test. For the three months ended March 31, CareDx’s revenues rose to $11.6 million from $6.6 million in the same period last year, topping analysts’ consensus revenues estimate of $11.3 million. AlloMap revenues were up 22 percent to $7.9 million from $6.5 million, while revenues from the company’s Olerup line of HLA typing products which CareDx picked up through its 2016 acquisition of Allenex AB came in at $3.7 million. CareDx’s net loss in the quarter narrowed to $5.6 million, or $.26 per share, from $9.8 million, or $.81 per share, a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company’s loss per share was $.32. –CB Report
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Preventive Officer Iqbal to retire on Sept 19 Tuesday June 13, 2017
Islamabad fBR mourns death of young appraising officer Afrasiab
ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Iqbal, 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 posted as Preventive Officer at Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Karachi, will stand retired from the government service on September 19.
Dy commissioner-IR Naheed Akhtar relinquishes charge
ISLAMABAD
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he Federal Board of Revenue has expressed deep sorrow over the sad demise of Afrasiab Khan, a BS-16 officer of Customs Department. The officer was born on July 25, 1987 and joined the government services on March 1, 2017. At the time of his death, the officer was posted as Appraising Officer at Model Customs Collectorate Exports, Karachi. The FBR appreciated the dedicated services rendered by the deceased. In expressing its sense of the grief at his death, the Board conveyed its commiseration to the member of the bereaved family, praying, “May his soul rest in eternal peace and may Allah give patience and fortitude to the family members to bear this irreparable loss.”
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Superintendent muhammad Ishaq to retire on July 31 uhammad Ishaq, 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 posted as Superintendent at Model Customs Collectorate, Peshawar, will stand retired from the government service on July 31, 2017. Meanwhile, Shahid Imran, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-16, has resigned from the government service. The competent authority accepted the resignation from government service tendered by the officer, posted as Preventive Officer at Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Karachi with immediate effect. –CB Report
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aheed Akhtar Durrani, Inland Revenue Service ofRicers of BS-18, has relinquished the charge of the post of Deputy Commissioner-IR. The ofRicer, in pursuance of Board’s NotiRication No.1447-IR-II/2017 dated 09-052017, relinquished the charge of the post of Deputy Commissioner-IR, Large Taxpayers Unit, Islamabad on June 1, 2017. Meanwhile, Muzaffar Ali Soomro, a BS-19 ofRicer of Inland Revenue Service, has assumed the charge as Commissioner-IR (OPS) (WHT), Regional Tax OfRice, Sukkur. The ofRicer, in pursuance of Board’s NotiRication No. 1502-IR-I/2017, dated 17.05.2017, relinquished the charge of the post of Commissioner-
IR (OPS) (IP/TFD/HRM), Regional Tax OfRice III, Karachi with effect
from May 22, 2017 and took the charge of the post of Commissioner-
IR (OPS) (WHT), RTO, Sukkur on May 23.
peshawar customs gets Rs1686.51 million T
PESHAWAR
NADIR KHAN
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he Model Customs Collectorate Peshawar (MCCP) collected a total of Rs1686.51million All Duty Taxes while it received Rs1670.86million revenue during the month of May 2016-17 with a difference of Rs16.25 million. According to ofRicial Rigures of the Peshawar Customs House, it generated Rs413.17million during May 2017 under the head of Customs Duty against Rs441.45million during May2016. The total difference in this sector was recorded minus Rs28.38million while the difference in percentage was minus 5.14 percent. Under the head of Sales Tax on Import, the house received Rs373.41million during May 2017 as compared to Rs377.73million of May 2016 having a difference of minus Rs4.34million while the difference in percentage is minus 1.11 percent. Under the head of Sales Tax levied as Federal Excise Duty on
palm oil, the house earned Rs172.52million in May 2017 against Rs163.22million of May 2016. The difference in percentage is 4.45 percent while the difference in rupees noticed is Rs7.30million. In term of Federal Excise Duty on Im-
ports, the house collected Rs14.55million in May 2017 against the previous year of this month which is Rs21.34million with a difference of minus Rs5.79million and the difference in percentage is minus 27.1`3 percent. Under the head of
Withholding Tax, the Custom House received Rs282.11million against the previous year of this months which is Rs1124.70million with a total difference of minus Rs842million while the difference in percentage is minus 74.92 percent.
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Govt grants 5% duty concession on import of LED lights parts KARACHI: The federal government has granted duty concession at five percent on import of parts and components for manufacturing of LED lights. The concession has been allowed through Fifth Schedule of Customs Act, 1969 with conditions, included: If imported by LED light manufacturers registered under the Sales Tax Act, 1990 subject to annual quota determination by the Input Output Co-efficient Organization (IOCO). The following parts and components have been allowed on concessionary duty rate: (i). Aluminum Housing/ Shell for LED (LED Light Fixture) under HS Code 9405.1090 (ii). Metal Clad Printed Circuit Boards (MCPCB) for LED under HS Code 8534. 0000.
Appraisement east lodges fIR against pIct officials, others KARACHI
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ustoms Appraisement East has lodged an FIR against M/s Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) officials and other people involved in fraudulent clearance and delivery of fabric consignments by cross shifting of the cargo after examination by Customs. M/s Esso Co. International imported four consignments of grey fabric from UAE and filed goods declaration. The collectorate in persuasion of credible information that Indian-origin banned grey fabric was being imported from UAE kept surveillance on consignments reaching from UAE. Later, it was known the grey fabric imported by M/s Esso Co. International had
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been got cleared fraudulently by stuffing the same in some other containers. GD log reports of above GDs reflected that the importer held up the consignments by not accepting Order-in-Original generated for nonrecovery of invoice from the containers or on the stage of assigned to gate out. To check the veracity of the information all the four containers mentioned on GDs of M/s Esso Co. International were re-examined and astonishingly the goods were found replaced with jumbo plastic dustbins in three containers and mattresses in fourth. On further perusal of the matter it was found that the goods found in those containers were actually imported by M/s Uzair Enterprises, Lahore. The goods imported by M/s Uzair Enterprises, Lahore were examined and processed accordingly and the same were released on payment of leviable duty and taxes.
Karachi
SHc adjourns ItRA moved by cIR against m/s Arabian Sea enterprises T
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he Sindh High Court (SHC) has adjourned the hearing of an income tax reference filed by commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-V, challenging impugned verdict of the Customs Appellate Tribunal Karachi for recovery of disputed amount of Rs 2,604,090,956 from M/s Arabian Sea Enterprises. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Nazar Akbar, heard the appeal. Earlier, counsel for the applicant stated that the above mentioned taxpayer is engaged in the business of hotel management in the name and style of Arabian Sea Enterprises. The taxpayer’s case was selected for audit under section 2 14C of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and the audit was completed by the Deputy Commissioner Inland Revenue Audit-IV, Zone-IV, LTU Karachi while amending the deemed assessment order and assessing taxable income and creating tax demand at Rs 1,871,038,120 and Rs 733,052,836 respectively.
According to the applicant, being aggrieved taxpayer Riled an appeal before commissioner Inland Revenue Appeals-I Karachi which deleted the additions made by the tax department, however, being aggrieved and dissatisRied with the decision of the Commissioner Inland Revenue Appeals-I, Karachi the
Tuesday June 13, 2017
tax department Riled an appeal before Appellate Tribunal which vacated the order of the Commissioner Inland Revenue. Citing M/s Arabian Sea Enterprises as respondent, counsel pleaded the court may set aside impugned judgment of the concern authority and restore it order for recovery of said amount.
cD rates on import of medical equipment, machinery issued KARACHI
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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued rate of customs duty for machinery, equipment, apparatus, and medical, surgical, dental and veterinary furniture, materials, fixtures and fittings imported by hospitals and medical or diagnostic institutes. The import of such equipment is subject to conditions under Fifth Schedule of Customs Act, 1969 that it shall be approved by the Board of Investment (BOI). The Authorized Officer of BOI shall certify the item wise requirement of the project in the prescribed format and manner as per Annex-B and shall furnish all relevant information Online to Pakistan Customs Computerized System against a specific user ID and password obtained under Section 155D of the Customs Act, 1969. The goods shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of without prior approval of the FBR and the payment of customs-duties and taxes at statutory rates be leviable at the time of import. Breach of this condition shall be construed as a criminal offence under the Customs Act, 1969. For sub-entry at serial A (6) and sub-entry at serial D (2) Condition (iv) of the preamble.
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fBR allows 3-5% concession on import of machinery
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KARACHI
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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed duty concessions at 3 percent and Rive percent on import of machinery and vehicles for new and under construction power projects. According to Fifth Schedule of Customs Act, 1969 updated by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the following goods are allowed concessionary rate of 3 percent and Rive percent of customs duty. Machinery, equipment and spares meant for initial installation, balancing, modernization, replace-
ment or expansion of projects for power generation through gas, coal, hydel and oil including under construction projects. Construction machinery, equipment and specialized vehicles, excluding passenger vehicles, imported on temporary basis as required for the construction of project. Machinery, equipment and spares meant for initial installation, balancing, modernization, replacement or expansion of projects for power generation through oil, gas, coal, wind and wave energy including under construction projects, which entered into an implementation agreement with the Govern-
ment of Pakistan. Construction machinery, equipment and specialized vehicles, excluding passenger vehicles, imported on temporary basis as required for the construction of project. This concession shall also be available to primary contractors of the project upon fulRillment of the following conditions, namely:(a) the contractor shall submit a copy of the contract or agreement under which he intends to import the goods for the project; (b) the chief executive or head of the contracting company shall certify in the prescribed manner and format as per Annex-A that the im-
ported goods are the project’s bona Ride requirements; and (c) the goods shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of without prior approval of the FBR on payment of customs-duties and taxes leviable at the time of import; Temporarily imported goods shall be cleared against a security in the form of a post-dated cheque for the differential amount between the statutory rate of customs duty and sales tax and the amount payable under this Schedule, along with an undertaking to pay the customs duty and sales tax at the statutory rates in case such goods are not re-exported on conclusion of the project.
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South African economy to slow down even more: World Bank Tuesday June 13, 2017
World
CAPE TOWN: The World Bank has lowered its estimates for South Africa’s economic growth between 2017 and 2019, it revealed in a report. It said South Africa’s economy, which grew by 0.5% in 2016 (2017 Budget Review), would not show much improvement with 0.6% growth in 2017 and 1.1% in 2018, before showing more gains in 2019 of 2%. The projections for 2017 and 2018 are 0.5 and 0.7 percentage points less respectively than its January 2017 figures. The figures paint a far gloomier picture than the SA Reserve Bank’s latest economic projections. It said on that it had revised growth projections down to 1.0% (2017), 1.5% (2018) and 1.7% (2019).
customs hits back after watch Seizure of 168 kg opium smugglers turn to social media by customs officers TEHRAN
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he Customs Department explained why officials took legal action against two Thai women wearing luxury wristwatches at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Chaiyuth Kamkhun, deputy director of the department, said Customs officials spotted two Thai women travelling from Hong Kong on May 10. They were wearing watches of the Swiss luxury brands Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe and were pretending that they were personal belongings, and not being brought into the country for commercial purposes. But the Customs officials suspected that they were smuggling the watches into the country and trying to evade the 5-per-cent tariff. Chaiyuth said the two women had confessed and were subject to
Russia lifts ban on imports of turkish food ussia has lifted a ban on imports of Turkish food, imposed after a Russian bomber was shot down on the Syria-Turkey border in November 2015, BBC News reports. But Russia is keeping seasonal limits on Turkish tomatoes, to help its own producers of sauces and juices. Before the ban, Turkey exported food to Russia worth more than €1bn ($1.1bn) annually. Russia is also lifting a ban on Turkish workers in the construction sector, in tourism and in hotel businesses. The food ban affected many items, including fresh Turkish cucumbers, apples, pears, grapes, strawberries and chicken and turkey offal. Russia continues to ban imports of most Western food and drink, in retaliation for wide-ranging Western sanctions in place over Crimea. –CB Report
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legal charges, but later they posted their stories on social media, accusing ofRicials of exceeding their duties. The market value of the two watches was Bt1.3 million before tax or Bt1.5 million after import and value-added taxes. According to cur-
rent Customs regulations, a traveller can bring in goods worth no more than Bt20,000. Customs ofRicials at Suvarnabhumi Airport over the past two years have caught 239 smugglers with goods worth a combined Bt233 million, Chaiyuth said.
thai customs department cracking down on import tax evasion
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he Customs Department is keeping an eye on illicit businesses circumventing taxation such as travelers that return with goods for commercial purposes and shipping companies with fraudulent manifests while also considering cooperation with companies such as Alibaba, EBay and Amazon to combat non-regulated e-commerce. Customs Department DirectorGeneral Kulis Sombatsiri said the of-
Rice is working to improve its efRiciency in collecting intelligence, letting on it is connecting with domestic and foreign agencies and utilizing technology to better handle importers and shipping companies circumventing customs payments. The department is especially focusing on blacklisted shipping companies and individuals that are carrying goods in to Thailand from their travels. –CB Report
his amount of opium was detected by ofRicers of West Tehran Customs by means of modern technologies and information and use of detecting dogs. According to the reports , the opium with weight of 168 kilograms was hidden inside of large building Rlowerpots. For the present time, some 21 detecting dogs are active in Iran Customs, 10 of them were purchased and trained during the previous year. Moreover, the number of existing truck X-ray machines in the Iran customs reached 12 and 19 more machines will be added to the controlling equipments of customs soon. Meanwhile, Iran plans to raise its annual cement production to 120 million tons in eight years as per the strategic planning document incor-
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porating the country’s 20-Year Vision Plan (2005-25). According to the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade, the targets set in the vision plan will make Iran the third biggest cement producer in the world by the deadline, the ministry’s ofRicial news service Shata reported. The strategic document also sees Iran as the number one exporter of cement globally and the biggest producer in the region by 2015. Iran will be able to cash in on exports, as the global cement per capita consumption is expected to see a 4.9% increase by 2018 i.e. from 539 kg to 640 kg, ILNA reported. Iran was the world’s seventh largest cement producer in 2016 after it dropped three steps the year before. Production reached 58.6 million tons in 2015, down 12% year-on-year, according to Cement Employers Association. Last Iranian year’s (ended March 20, 2017) output stood at 57 million tons. Iranian cement exports are stipulated to rise to 32 million tons by 2025.
philippines’ NfA oKs private rice imports ational Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Y. Aquino has moved to allow the entry of private-sector rice imports until June 30, extending the previous deadline of Feb. 28 and ending a months-long squabble within the NFA Council. Through NFA Memorandum No. 05-39, Aquino said the deadline was extended “in accordance with NFA Council Resolution No. 84-2017-C dated March 28.” Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco said the NFA had been ordered to allow a total of 54,000 tons of additional milled rice shipments until June as the government moves
to shore up its buffer stock. The order, given out by the NFA Council, the food agency’s highest decisionmaking body, means an extension of the deadline for incoming shipments imported through the minimum access volume (MAV), which was originally set for Feb. 28, 2017. The MAV is a mechanism of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that suspended the implementation of tariffs on rice for countries where trade of the staple grain is socially sensitive while committing the concerned country to ensure a minimum volume of guaranteed importation. –CB Report
china-Built Brunei oil refinery to launch in 2019
A BEIJING
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160,000-bpd crude oil reRinery that Chinese Hengyi is building in Brunei should start operating in 2019, source close to the project told Reuters. The reRinery, worth US$3.4 billion, will supply feedstock to Hengyi a major Chinese
synthetic Riber manufacturer. Besides feedstock for the Chinese company’s operations, however, the Brunei reRinery will also produce fuels, which will turn it into a rival to Singapore currently the biggest regional fuel producer. Competition in fuels in Southeast Asia is about to intensify further as new reRineries come online in Vietnam and Malaysia as well, Reuters
notes. The Malaysia reRinery, dubbed RAPID, on which state oil company Petronas is partnering with Saudi Aramco, is valued at US$7 billion. Aramco will supply 70 percent of the crude that the reRinery will process, beginning in 2019, like the Brunei facility. In Vietnam, the Nghi Son reRinery, valued at US$7.5 billion with a capacity of 200,000 bpd, is scheduled to start operating next year, a
delay from the initial launch date that was set for the third quarter of this year. Hengyi’s Brunei project also ran into delays, which the Chinese company attributed to, among other things, problems with the local infrastructure. However, construction should be completed in 2018. The reRinery will be the largest oil processing facility managed by a Chinese company abroad.
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Japan oil sales fall to lowest in at least 28 years for April
World Customs
TOKYO: Japan’s oil sales were 13.92 million kilolitres (2.92 million barrels per day) last month, down 2.3 percent from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Wednesday, the lowest volume for April in at least 28 years. Oil demand in the world’s third-biggest economy has been declining gradually for more than a decade, reflecting a falling population and a shift to more efficient vehicles and equipment. Japan’s crude oil imports in April rose 1.8 percent from a year earlier to 3.53 million barrels per day (16.84 million kilolitres), marking the first year-on-year gain in three months, the data showed.
Koreans caught smuggling 2,348kg of gold in ‘private parts’ ozens of Korean citizens were caught smuggling 2,348 kilograms of gold hidden in their “private parts,” the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said. It was the nation’s biggest smuggling bust. Fifty-one people, including several housewives, were apprehended at Incheon International Airport early last month. The smuggling had been happening for about two years. Male smugglers were hiding five or six gold bars (3cm x 3cm), each weighting 200 grams, in their rectums while the women hid the gold in their rectums or vaginas. The value of the gold was about 113.5 billion won ($100 million) the highest value of gold confiscated in a single smuggling case. The smuggling happened from March 2015 and the gold came from Tokyo and China’s Yantai. Korea’s gold price is usually higher than many countries because of a 15 percent additional tax imposed on gold products, according to the KCS. –CB Report
thai police seize 12kg of cocaine from Hong Kong tourists
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two held for smuggling forex worth Rs 3.8 million wo men have been arrested from the airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle Rs 3.8 million in foreign currency out of the country. The accused were intercepted yesterday at the departure hall when they were proceeding to board a flight to Bangkok. “A detailed personal search and baggage examination of the passengers resulted in the recovery of foreign currency which was concealed inside the packets of cookies, mobile charger and power bank kept in a false cavity made in trolley bags carried by them,” a press release issued by the customs said. The forex, USD 60,000 equivalent to Rs 3.8 million has been seized and both the passengers have been arrested, it said. –CB Report
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hree Hong Kong tourists, aged 19 to 24, found the Land of Smiles rather less friendly than advertised after they were caught red white-handed smuggling 12.3 kilograms of cocaine into the country. According to Apple Daily, Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Customs intercepted the trio at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday,
acting on a tip from Hong Kong police. The suspects, a 19-year-old woman surnamed Fong, a 22year-old woman surnamed Tung, and a 24-year-old man surnamed Yau, are all Hong Kong passport holders. A combined 12.3 kilograms of cocaine, worth around HKD11 million, was found stashed away in secret compartments in their suitcases. Fong, Tung, and Yau said they were each paid HKD8,000 by a Hongkonger called “Sister Ming” to collect the drugs which had been sent from Brazil in Hong Kong and smuggle them into Thailand. The group was scheduled to de-
liver the drugs to Sister Ming in a Bangkok hotel, but Thai police believe she received a tip-off and fled to Hong Kong, the Bangkok Post reports. Thai and Hong Kong authorities are now working together to arrest the “mastermind”. As for the three suspects, they have been charged with bringing a Category II drug into the country without a permit and conspiring to possess said drugs with intent to sell. Those convicted of offenses involving Category II substances in Thailand are liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a THB5 million (HKD1.1 million) fine.
Tuesday June 13, 2017
turkey’s exports up 7 months in a row, 15.8% in may urkey’s exports increased by 15.8 percent in May compared to the same month of the previous year, according to data released by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Thursday. The monthly export volume stood at around $12.5 billion, increasing for the seventh consecutive month. In the first five months of 2017, Turkey’s exports have recovered, marking a 10 percent increase in total. The TİM announced the numbers during a press conference attended by Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci. The minister was quite hopeful about the 2017 numbers, saying that exports might even exceed the $153-billion target for the year, which was previously announced by the government as part of its medium-term economic program. The government’s primary aim is to close the gap between exports and imports. Zeybekci said that the government is focused on increasing the rate of exports meeting imports to 90 percent this year.Speaking at the press conference, TİM head Mehmet Büyükekşi underlined that Turkey’s exports have followed an upward trend and increased in the last seven months. Büyükekşi said that they expect the net foreign trade volume to contribute by 2 points to the growth rate in the first quarter of the year. On the other hand, this contribution will be around 1.5 points, according to Zeybekci. –CB Report
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S Arabia’s oil price hike to Asia may be self-harming RIYADH
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audi Arabia’s dilemma is shown quite neatly by its decision to raise crude oil prices for Asian refiners even though the kingdom is steadily surrendering market share in China, its biggest customer. Saudi Aramco, the stateowned oil company, lifted the official selling price (OSP) for its benchmark Arab Light grade to
Asian refiners by 60 cents a barrel for July shipments, according to a statement released on Sunday. Arab Light cargoes for July will now be sold at a discount of 25 cents a barrel to the Oman-Dubai crude price, up from a discount of 85 cents for June shipments. The increase in the OSP had been expected by the market, although it was by a wider margin than forecast in a Reuters survey of six Asian refiners and traders, with the increase of 60 cents beating even the top estimate
of 50 cents in the poll. Saudi Aramco sets the OSP based on recommendations from customers and after calculating the change in the value of its oil over the past month, based on yields and product prices. It also takes into account the market structure, and some narrowing of the OmanDubai contango at times in May from April was also a pointer to an increase in the price. A contango market refers to prompt prices that are lower than those in future
months, while a narrowing contango signals increased demand or tightening supply. The difference between front-month Dubai crude <DUBSGSWMc1> and third-month <DUBSGSWMc3> stood at 54 cents a barrel on June 2, which is down from 62 cents on May 29 but is actually wider than the 44 cents that prevailed on the last trading day in April. What this means is that part of the Saudi price hike for July was attributable to technical factors and was an expected response.
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Customs ASO impounds non-customs paid vehicle from Gulberg Tuesday June 13, 2017
Lahore
LAHORE: Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) has impounded a non-duty paid vehicle from Main Boulevard Gulberg. Sources told Customs Today that the ASO high-ups received secret information that some non-duty paid vehicles are roaming in the city. An ASO raiding team was constituted under the supervision of Deputy Superintendents Agha Qadeer and Sajjad Bukhari. The team intercepted a Toyota Crown vehicle bearing registration no: IDB-2878 model 1993 from main Gulberg Road. The ASO team asked the driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as Zahoor, to produce legal documents of the vehicle but he remained failed.
three sent to jail on judicial remand for smuggling electronics LAHORE
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pecial federal court of customs taxation and antismuggling has sent three accused to jail on a judicial remand of 14 days in a case of smuggling of electronic items. Three accused Afzal Khan, Raheem Shah and Gulab Khan were arrested by the customs intelligence. Customs intelligence has also recovered huge quantity of smuggled electronic goods from their possession. Intelligence has told the court that accused were involved in smuggling of such goods from Afghanistan to Lahore via different routes. They had caused a huge loss to national kitty in the wake of taxes and duties. Amount of the recovered items was Rs9mil-
ANf seizes over 22-tonne drugs he Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) seized 22.45 tonnes of drugs during operations against drug mafia besides arresting 24 smugglers across the country, informed ANF Headquarters spokesman. ANF also impounded six vehicles that were being used for transportation of the drugs, he said. According to him, ANF seized a mega quantity of narcotics and prohibited chemical weighing 22.45 and 4.35 tons respectively during 21 counter-narcotics operations conducted across the country. He said the seized drugs comprised 21.853 ton hashish, 310.33kg heroin, 385kg opium, 1.11kg amphetamine, 4,250 litres of acetic anhydride, 103 litres of suspected chemical and 1,775 litres of liquor. The operations also resulted in the apprehension of 24 persons including two ladies involved in smuggling of narcotics and impounding of six vehicles. –CB Report
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lion, customs investigation has told the court. Customs investigation team presented them before the customs court and asked for their physical remand in the last month to dig out a network behind this smuggling maRia. On the request, special federal court of customs taxation and antismuggling approved their physical remand for two days and handed them over to the investigation team. After the completion of the remand, they were sent to jail and now the court has extended their judicial remand for further 14 days. Meanwhile, Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has asked the investigation team of Pakistan Customs to complete an investigation challan of the case of 14 kg gold smuggling. Earlier, the court has extended a 14-day judicial remand of an accused Muhammad Riaz in a case of 14 kilogram gold smuggling.
customs preventive seizes huge quantity of NDp goods LAHORE
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ollectorate of Customs Preventive teams foiled a bid to smuggle a huge quantity of non-duty paid goods from GT Road. Sources told Customs Today that Collector Preventive Chaudhary ZulRiqar Ali received credible information that some smugglers were planning to smuggle a huge quantity of non-duty paid goods through a vehicle. He immediately constituted a customs team comprising Superintendent Nasir Minhas Agha Qadeer, Mazhar Abbas Butter, Deputy Superintendents, Gulzar Bhatti, Tariq Baig inspectors and others. The team established different check posts and started checking of vehicles. During the checking the customs team intercepted a Suzuki pickup bearing registration no
customs seizes beer, mobiles, other items at Allama Iqbal Airport
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ustoms ofRicials have conRiscated about 17 cans of beer from passengers travelling by different Rlights to Lahore during different actions at the Allama Iqbal International Airport. Sources told Customs Today that ofRicers conducted operations in different Rlights coming from Dubai to Lahore, Turkey to Lahore, Jeddah to Lahore and Muscat to Lahore. Customs took action against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Rlights, Turkish Airways, Gulf Air 790 and
Saudi Air Rlight. During the abovementioned actions in these Rlights, customs staff recovered 17 bottles of bear. Customs allowed all the passengers to go after conRiscation of bear from their possession. Customs has also impounded 73 mobile phones in different actions on Rlights coming from Saudi Arabia, China, Hong Kong and Korea to Lahore. One LED from a passenger was also seized by the customs. Mobil accessories were also recovered from a passenger at the Lahore airport. –CB Report
LWN-4531 which was coming from Rawalpindi and was heading towards Lahore. The team detained the vehicle and recovered 32 dry batteries, 15 numbers of split air conditioners, multi purpose grease, and 125 kilograms ball bearing worth Rs 320,000. The team asked the driver
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of the vehicle who was identiRied as Mushtaq Ahmed to produce legal documents regarding possession and transportation of the above said goods. The sources told that the driver of the vehicle remained failed to produce any relevant documents in the regard.
AIIA Afu earns Rs848m only in may akistan Customs Air Freight Unit at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore has generated Rs848million taxes and duties only in May 2017. The air freight unit has recovered Rs848million in the wake of taxes and duties on import of different goods from different countries to Lahore through air cargo. The recoveries in May are Rs36million less than the given target. Target for air freight unit stood at Rs884.8million. Air freight unit failed to meet its given target. It is pertinent to mention here that if we see the same period of
the Riscal year of 2015-16, the AFU had collected Rs542.6million in May. Recoveries in May are Rs306million less than the same tenure of the Fiscal Year 2015-16. Air Freight Unit of Allama Iqbal International Airport has a big share of collections through taxes on electronic items, mobile phones and other relevant articles. On contact to higher authorities of the AFU by Customs Today, they said the recoveries in the last month are no doubt very alarming. OfRicial told CT that most of the importers prefer Karachi to import their consignments due to some issues at Lahore airport. –CB Report
LHc seeks reply from fBR in china company tax case
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LAHORE
SAJID NAwAZ
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ahore High Court (LHC) seeks a reply from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in a case of imposition of taxes on the power company of China. Justice Aisha A Malik heard the appeal Riled by the Power China Joint Ven-
ture in which counsel for the appellant argued that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is not authorized to impose taxes on the foreign companies which are exempted from taxation. He also prayed the court to kindly declare null and void the tax notice to the foreign company. After hearing the arguments, the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeks reply from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) within two weeks. The case has
been adjourned till next date of hearing. Meanwhile, Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected over 100 applications against the Anti-Dumping Duty on imports of different items from different countries. Justice Aisha A Malik heard the case in which counsel for appellant argued that the importers are already paying tax on different imported items but the government also imposed the Anti-Dumping Duty and put the extra
burden on importers. So the government cannot collect two taxes in one time. He also prayed the court to declare null and void the Anti-Dumping Duty. After hearing the arguments, Justice Aisha A Malik of the Lahore High Court (LHC) remarked that taxes or duties are imposed on behalf of the government on anything and the court cannot intervene in the policy matters of the government.
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Port of Thunder Bay reports strong May THUNDER BAY: The Port of Thunder Bay saw its largest monthly shipment of potash since April 2007 during the month of May. The Port Authority is seeing some of the highest export totals in decades as 134,000 metric tonnes of potash were shipped in May to international ports in Brazil and Europe. Grain shipments also spiked last month. The 920,000 metric tonnes that left the port is 100,000 more than the monthly average and is mainly driven by record levels of canola. The Port Authority also noted increases in dry bulk shipments and in the number of vessels docking.
container ship poised to set port of charleston record he title for largest container ship to visit the Port of Charleston is about to change hands under the cover of darkness. The OOCL France is set to to take that accolade this weekend, supplanting the COSCO Development which sailed into Charleston Harbor on the Saturday morning of Mother’s Day weekend. The 1,202-foot-long France can carry up to 13,926 cargo boxes about 830 more than the Development’s maximum load. The France is scheduled to arrive at Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant around 11 p.m. Saturday, with workers moving cargo on and off starting at 7 a.m. Sunday. The ship is expected to leave the Port of Charleston later that night, also in the dark. Owned by Orient Overseas
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Container Line, the France is part of the weekly South Atlantic Express service by Ocean Alliance vessels that represent the largest now traveling through the expanded Panama Canal. Those ships, carrying between 11,550 and 13,000 containers per trip, originate in Hong Kong and visit ports in Norfolk, Va., and Savannah before a last stop in Charleston before heading back overseas. Shipping lines are using bigger vessels, like the France, so they can move more cargo on fewer ships. And maritime ports along the East Coast are investing enormous sums to accommodate them. Meanwhile, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, one of India’s leading port developers, has just announced impressive operational and financial results for the financial year ending March 31st 2017. –CB Report
Ports & Shipping
Nagoya, Yokkaichi ports form joint venture WASHINGTON
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he container terminals in the ports of Nagoya and Yokkaichi are the latest Japanese ports to create a joint venture as part of a national program to make Japan’s ports more competitive for international transshipment cargo. Through their operational integration, the ports of Nagoya and Yokkaichi will work to cut costs and boost their international competitiveness against major rival ports in Asia, such as the Port of Busan. Nagoya is Japan’s third-largest port and Yokkaichi ranks tenth. The Nagoya-Yokkaichi International Port Corp has an initial capitalization of 30 million yen ($270,000), and seeks to raise 2 million yen more by selling shares to private investors through a third party allotment scheme. Of the initial 30 million yen, 19.5 million came from Nagoya Port Authority and the remainder from the Yokkaichi Port Authority. Eiichi Ishigaki, the former vice
governor of the Mie prefecture where Yokkaichi is located, will be chairman of the new entity and former MOL chairman and former president of Japan Post Eiichi Ishigaki will hold the position of president. In 2015 the latest year for which Ministry of Transport Rigures are available, the Port of Nagoya handled 2.5 million TEU: 1.3 million TEU in exports and 1.2 million TEU in imports. The Port of Yokkaichi handled about 172,000 TEU in for-
eign trade in 2015: 93,000 TEU in exports and 79,000 TEU in imports. Nagoya and Yokkaichi join the ports of Kobe and Osaka, which formed a joint venture in October 2014, and Yokohama and Kawasaki, which followed suit in January 2016. These joint ventures are part of a Japanese government policy of enhancing major domestic container ports’ international competitiveness as part of its economic growth strategy.
Tuesday June 13, 2017
Adani port’s revenues rise dani Ports and Special Economic Zone, one of India’s leading port developers, has just announced impressive operational and financial results for the financial year ending March 31st 2017. Revenues were up by 19% compared to the 2016 financial year, while after-tax profits jumped by 35%. During the last financial year, the group’s ports handled 169 million tonnes of cargo, a growth rate of 11% compared with the previous 12 months. This is well above the average for all Indian ports of 8%. Adani Ports’ container business in particular performed exceptionally well last year, passing 4 million teu for the first time. This represents a growth rate of 27% year-on-year, outperforming the combined Indian ports growth rate of 10%. Karan Adani, group chief executive, described the results as “one of our best all round performances.” He continued: “Our strategy to diversify our cargo mix and focus on high value cargo continues to yield positive results. Our EBITDA margins have been improving year on year and this is likely to continue given our focus on operational efficiencies, technology and cost control.”–CB Report
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Beauty of co-ordinated port calls A
WASHINGTON
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captain of one of the world’s largest container vessels recently told me that he typically arrives at a port according to schedule, but too often the port is not ready to handle his ship. This means either anchoring until the port is ready, taking a detour, or choosing to go to another port. However, due to contractual rules, some with clauses that have been in place for centuries, he is frequently legally required to arrive at a speciRied time, regardless of the port’s readiness. This is not an uncommon situation: our data analysis of arrivals to a medium size port indicates that 20% of all vessels anchored an average 18 hours. Fuel consumption, and the resulting environmental impact, is highly impacted by speed. For example, a large container vessel consumes
around 240 tonnes of fuel daily at a full speed of 23 knots and just 40 tonnes at 10 knots. Arriving before a port is ready is a waste of energy and thus, the optimisation of a complete voyage, including port handling, is essential for efRicient shipping, and can result in improved proRitability and reduced environmental footprint. In this optimisation, ports play an essential part. Ports are part of a self-organised ecosystem of autonomous actors. Each actor needs to manage its operations – time and space – in cooperation with affected actors’ plans and performance. Examples of port call actors are the port authority, pilots, tug operators, stevedores, and diverse service providers. However, due to limited co-ordination currently, predictability of time of departure is insufRicient, creating enormous domino effects. It results in increased charges for the port visit, enhanced stress for the captain to
reach the time slot in the next port (i.e. chasing), lacking basis (and intime) in giving advice to arriving ships, lowered capacity utilisation within ports and more. To overcome this challenge and inspired by the aviation sector, the concept of Port Collaborative Decision Making (PortCDM) was launched as one aspect of the European Commissionfunded Sea TrafRic Management (STM) concept, focusing on efRicient, safe, and environmentally sound sea voyages, berth to berth. Here, PortCDM was developed to increase situational awareness for present and forthcoming port calls. PortCDM is an event-based system in which standardised time-stamped messages are shared and consumed in real-time among the involved port call actors. These messages reRlect the progress of all aspects of a port call. There are different co-ordination points for actors and associated re-
sources, such as: pilotage commenced, requiring a vessel and a pilot; arrival berth, requiring a vessel, linesmen and an available quay; cargo operations commenced, requiring a vessel, stowage personnel, and loading/unloading equipment; and departure berth, requiring the readiness of a vessel, linesmen, tugs, and pilot. Too many ports are a mosaic of non-interoperable information systems, often dated, that are unable to meet the speciRic demands of individual autonomous actor in a timely fashion. In some cases, the same system is used in multiple ports, but with different set-up. A reasonable way forward is therefore to enable interoperability through standardised interfaces between current systems for two purposes; (1) to instantly share port call actors’ plans and (2) to ensure that involved port call actors have shared understanding of current and projected states.
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ASO impounds mobiles, laptops, Viagra, truck on tip-off ISLAMABAD: Following a tip-off shared by collector model customs collectorate Islamabad, Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) impounded foreign origin mobile phones, laptops and a huge quantity of Viagra (sex medicine) along with an offending vehicle (vehicle used for smuggling purpose). According to Superintend ASO Zargham Dil, ASO squad set up a picket on GT Road and impounded a Mazda truck with registration No: FDS-1537. After the interception, the ASO squad asked the possessors of the smuggled goods to produce the legal documents but they failed to do so.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
CUSTOMS BULLETIN
Hyderabad customs Intelligence recovers smuggled goods in several raids HYDERABAD ASLAm ANJum QuReSHI www.customsbulletin.com
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ustoms Intelligence has carried out several operations against smugglers and seized huge quantity of smuggled items in the month of May. Karachi Anti-Smuggling Organisation Director Tahir Qureshi, on the directives of Director General Shaukat Ali, formed a special team headed by Deputy Director Haroon Malik. The team carried on several operations against the movement of smuggled and non-duty-paid goods into the country and seized goods including vehicles, black tea, beverages, cloth and lubricants. Local industry has said the continued smuggling of goods into the country through porous ports of entry is hurting the country’s economy at the same time working against government’s policies to promote domestic products. Despite tightening of security measures at the country’s border posts and international airports, some goods still find their way into the country due to rampant corruption. The smuggling of goods has got a
negative impact on those people who want to do business in a proper and ethical way – paying duties and so forth – in that those who smuggle have lesser costs and therefore enjoy an unfair advantage.
According to Deputy Director Haroon Malik, the staff of Customs Intelligence & Investigation on the basis of authentic information conducted successful operations and recovered mobile phone bat-
teries worth Rs7.2 million, foreign origin cloth worth Rs3.3 million,. Similarly in other operation detergent smuggled from Afghanistan was recovered worth Rs7.5 million. The staff of Customs Intelligence
Hyderabad also seized non-duty paid vehicles and huge quantity of black tea. Several trade associations have appreciated the Customs Intelligence & Investigation for their efforts against smuggling.
Duty concession granted on import of marble machinery, equipment KARACHI
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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has granted concessionary duty on import of machinery and equipment for marble, granite and gemstone extraction and processing industries. The FBR issued Fifth Schedule of Customs Act, 1969 to allow the concessionary duty between 3-5
percent on the import of following machinery and equipment for marble, granite and gem stone extraction and processing industries. 1) Polishing cream or material under HS Code 3405.4000 & 3405.9000 at 3 percent and 5 percent 2) Fiber glass mesh under HS Code 7019.5190 at 5 percent 3) Chain saw/diamond wire saw in all sizes and dimensions and spares thereof, diamond wire joints all types and dimensions, chain for chain saw and diamond wires for wire saw and spare widia under HS Code 8202.4000 & 8202.9100 at 5 percent.
4) Gin saw blades under HS Code 8202.9910 at 5 percent 5) Gang saw blades/ diamond saw blades/ multiple blades or all types and dimensions under HS Code 8202.9990 at 5 percent 6) Air compressor (27cft and above) under HS Code 8414.8010 at 5 percent 7) Machine and tool for stone work; sand blasting machines; tungsten carbide tools; diamond tools & segments (all type & dimensions), hydraulic jacking machines, hydraulic manual press machines, air/hydro pillows, compressed air rubber pipes, hydraulic
drilling machines, manual and power drilling machines, steel drill rods and spring (all sizes and dimensions), whole Rinding system with accessories, manual portable rock drills, cross cutter and bridge cutters under HS Code 8464.9000 & Respective headings at 3 percent & 5 percent 8) Integral drilling steel for horizontal and vertical drilling, extension thread rods for pneumatic super long drills, tools and accessories for rock drills under HS Code 8466.9100 at 5 percent. The duty concession has been allowed with conditions included:
Published by M S Raza Off# 42, 3rd Flr Gull Plaza M.A Road Karachi, Printed by Dhoom Printing Building No RY/A, 11/6,11/7, Mashoor Mahal,off I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi
For the projects of Gem Stone & Jewelry Industry, CEO/COO, Pakistan Gem and Jewelry Company shall certify in the prescribed format and manner as per Annex-B that the imported goods are bona Ride project requirement. The authorized person of the Company shall furnish all relevant information online to Pakistan Customs Computerized System against a speciRic user ID and password obtained under section 155D of the Customs Act, 1969. For the projects of Marble & Granite Industry, CEO/COO, Pakistan Stone Development Company.