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Karachi, Sat March 25, 2017

ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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irectorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Federal Board of Revenue Rawalpindi has detected a case of tax evasion and mis-declaration at Air Freight Unit, Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad, allegedly

by M/s Zain Enterprises, 50 Aurangzaib Block, New Garden Town, Lahore.

According to sources, Customs I&I has detained

the consignment of goods on charges of tax evasion and mis-declaration under Section 25, 32 (1) & (2), 79 and 80 of the Customs Act, 1969 read with rule 108 0f the Customs rules, 2001 notiRied vide notiRication S.R.O. No. 450 (1) / 2001 dated 18.06.2001 punishable under clause (14) of section 156 (1) of the Customs Act 1969 read with SRO 499 (1) / 2009 dated 13.06.2009.

The consignment was loaded with 1,228 sets of men’s pant coats, 300 sets of boy pant coats, 52kg buttons for pants coats, 200 scarfs for gents and 25 garments labels (charcoal)

Vol 2, Issue No. 108

Price Rs. 14.00

worth Rs 2.09 million. The Customs Intelligence and Investigation has started investigations against the importer and owner of the M/s Zain Enterprises, Abid Mehmood Defence Housing Authority, Lahore Cantt and clearing agent M/s International Business Linkers, Jillaniabad, Oppsite Shaheen Cargo, Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad.

The evaded amount of duty and taxes (recoverable) is Rs 1.20 million which includes customs duty Rs 418,718, research and development Rs 104,680, sales tax Rs 444,888, additional sales tax Rs 42,340, income tax Rs 186,853.

DG Valuation revises customs values of USB data traveler vide VR 1082/2017

TFA to simplify customs procedures among WTO member states: Dastgir

PM directs completion of road projects on time

Customs Intelligence impounds Rs5.5m non-duty paid Land Cruiser

PCA unearths another tax scam of Rs 3.09m by M/s Rising Sun Construction

DG of Customs Valuation has revised the customs value of USB Data Traveler/USB | See pAge 02 |

TFAwillimprovecustomsproceduresand othersystemsbetweenthememberstates | See pAge 03 |

Nawaz saidroadnetworkandtransportation projects were vital to economic growth | See pAge 04 |

Directorate of Customs I&I Lahore confiscated Rs 5.5 m NDP Land Cruiser | See pAge 14 |

DGPCAhasunearthedonemoremegatax evasionbyM/sRisingSunConstructionCo | See pAge 16 |

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Anwar made Addl Commissioner, Faisal posted as Dy Commissioner Saturday, March 25, 2017

National

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue has transferred/posted two Inland Revenue Service officers of BS 18-19 with immediate effect and until further orders.

Muhammad Anwar (BS-19) has been transferred from the post of Additional Commissioner, Large Taxpayers Unit, Lahore, and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) Inland Revenue (Appeals), Sialkot.

Khan Faisal (BS-18) has been transferred from the post of Deputy Commissioner, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad and posted as Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

Dg Valuation revises customs values of uSB data traveler vide Vr 1082/2017

FAISALABAD

KARACHI

NAeeM SheIkh

wAQAr AhMeD ANSArI

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he Model Customs Collectorate Faisalabad collected Rs14.00million revenue through auction of miscellaneous confiscated goods. The Faisalabad Customs organized public auctions recently. It presented 97 different lots consisting of tyres and tubes, dismantled vehicles, welding rods, auto-parts, kids’ suits, solar panel fans, cloths, plastic granules, computers and various fax machines for auctions. All items were seized by the Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO). During the auctions, only six miscellaneous lots were successfully auctioned which included Lot No: 36/2015-16 worth Rs90,000, Lot No: 105/2014-15 worth Rs 201000, Lot No: 12/2016-17 valued Rs 210000, Lot No: 41/2016-17 priced Rs 450000. Two vehicles, including fork-lifter worth Rs 650000 and Toyota Vitz car valued Rs720000, were auctioned off. The participants also rejected various goods that will be presented for auction again after the revision of prices. The auction was held through open bidding where everyone was given opportunity for the bidding of confiscated goods. Deputy Collector Rana Falik Shair supervised the auction process to ensure transparency along with Superintendent Muhammad Javed and UDC Khadim Hussain.

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he Directorate General of Customs Valuation has revised the customs value of USB Data Traveler/USB Flash Drive through Valuation Ruling No 1082/2017 under Section 25A of the Customs Act, 1969.

Customs values of USB data traveler/USB Rlash drive were determined under Section 25A of the Customs Act, 1969, vide Valuation Ruling No.668/2014, dated 23-092014. The valuation ruling required revision in line with the prevailing prices in the international market Therefore, this Directorate General initiated an exercise for determination of customs value of USB data traveler/USB Rlash drive.

A meeting with stakeholders was held on 16-02-2017. Importers had been requested to furnish invoices of imports during last three months showing factual value, websites, names and E-mail addresses of known foreign manufacturers of the item in question through which the actual current value can be ascertained. Copies of Contracts made / LCs opened during the last three months showing the value of item in question should also be submitted.

Copies of Sales Tax Invoices issued during last four months showing the difference in price (excluding duty and taxes) to substantiate that the

Faisalabad customs auctions fetch rs14.00 million income

beneRit of difference in price is passed on to the local buyers.

During the course of meeting, the importers were of the view that the value of USB data traveler/USB flash drive of China origin has reduced in the international market as compared to the values determined in the existing valuation ruling, therefore, the values needed downward revision.

They were requested to submit import invoices, sales tax invoices, literature, evidences and other relevant requisite import documents

in support of their contentions; they did not provide any documents or evidence to substantiate their contentions. During the meeting they have also stated that USB data traveler/USB flash drive are being smuggled and it is not possible to the importers to survive in the local market. No documents were, however, submitted by them in this Directorate General on or before the said scheduled meeting.

Valuation methods given in Section 25-A of the Customs Act, 1969 were followed to arrive at customs

values of USB data traveler/USB Flash Drive. Transaction value method provided in Section 25 (1) was found inapplicable owing to wide variation in the values being declared to the customs. Identical / similar goods value methods provided in Section 25 (5) & (6) were examined for applicability to the valuation issue in the instant case which provided some reference values of the subject goods but the same could not be exclusively relied upon due to wide variation in declared values of subject goods.

Jhang ASo recovers non duty paid shirts near toba tek Singh T

FAISALABAD

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he Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Jhang has seized non duty paid foreign origin gents shirts. The market value of seized items is Rs 2381800 involving duty and taxes amounting to Rs452148.

Sources told Customs Today that Additional Collector Saeed Asad received credible information regarding smuggling of items. After receiving

the information the collector constituted a special team comprising Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya, Ali Zahid, Mehmood Ahmed Dogar, Dilawar Hussain, Liaqat Ali, ZuliRkar Ali Awan, Muhammad Arshad. The ASO team intercepted vehicle bearing registration No, JV-8446 near By Pass Toba Road Jhang loaded with Tommy HilRirger gents shirts. The ASO seized all the garments under section 2(s) read with SRO 566(1)/2005 and section 16, 18 of the Customs Act 1969 with section 3 of Sales Tax Act 1990,

section 148 of Income Tax Ordinance 2001. The consignment was being transported from Karachi to Rawalpindi. The team asked the driver of the accused who was later identiRied as Muhammad Waqar son of Doast Ali Khan to produce legal documents regarding possession and transportation of loaded goods but he remained failed to provide the same. The Anti Smuggling Organization after registering a case of smuggling against accused persons forwarded the case to Customs

Adjudication for further proceedings.

Meanwhile, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) team has seized foreign origin goods worth Rs17,00,000 involving customs duty and taxes amounting to Rs9,68,320 during a crackdown here. Sources told Customs Today, that Deputy Director Riaz Hussain received information about some smuggling attempts. He formed a customs team comprising Superintendent Zahid Raza Bukhari, Muhammad Ramzan Muhammad Siddique,

Muhammad Saleem and sepoys Liaqat Ali, Mussadaq Ahmed, Israr Ahmed, Mukhtar Ahmed and Havaldar Muhammad Iqbal. The customs team started checking of vehicles and intercepted Mazda mini truck bearing registration no: LES-12-1794 near Gutt Wala Toll Plaza Faisalabad. That vehicle was loaded with non duty paid goods. The driver of vehicle identiRied as Muhammad Altaf son of Muhammad Iqbal to produce legal documents regarding possession and transportation of these motives.

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SC denies bail for man involved in BISP scam LAHORE: The Supreme Court has denied bail to a man involved in defrauding people in the name of the Benazir Income Support Programme.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested Muhammad Ashraf and recovered 33 SIMs from his custody. A deputy attorney general told the court that a gang operated by the suspect deprived people of money worth over Rs10 million. He said the FIA has arrested eight members of the gang so far.

The gang used to mint money from poor people by sending fake messages on their mobile phones impersonating officials of the Benazir Income Support Programme.

Saturday March 25, 2017

National

Sukkur customs impounds cigarettes valued rs510000

tFA to simplify customs procedures among wto member states: Dastgir

HYDERABAD

ASLAM ANJuM QureShI www.customsbulletin.com

he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Customs Preventive Sukkur, confiscated smuggled cigarettes, including 650 cartons of Pine cigarettes, 50 cartons of Super Slim and 50 cartons of Milano, worth Rs510000 involving duty/taxes of Rs540600 during an action in Sukkur division. Following a tip-off received by Collector Agha Shahid Majeed Khan, the ASO team conducted a raid on Sukkur-Jacobabad to foil a smuggling bid. Under the supervision of Additional Collector Rehmatulah Vistro, ASO team, comprising Ghulam Shabir Phulphuto, , Inspectors Abdul Wahab Sheikh, Nasrullah Jilal, Ayaz Ali Shah, Muhammad Jurial Abbasi, Agha Nazir Ahmed.

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NAB starts investigation against ex-MpA MULTAN

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ational Accountability Bureau (NAB) Multan has initiated investigation against former MPA Malik Muhammad Rafiq Khan over fraudulent allotment of 4,622 kanals of state land and 1,000 kanals of private land in Kot Addu Tehsil. According to an official statement, an investigation was initiated on the allegations of misappropriation and illegal allotment of state land measuring 4,622 kanals in favour of the ex-MPA’s sons and associates. Rafiq Khan is the nephew of former Punjab governor Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar. The accused managed the illegal allotment with the connivance of revenue officers through bogus evacuee claims in Kot Addu Tehsil, Muzaffargarh. Ex-EDO Ghulam Akbar Khan Khich and other officials of revenue department facilitated the accused in illegal allotment of state land.

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ISLAMABAD

M hAYAt

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rade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) will improve customs procedures and other systems between the member states of World Trade Organization.

Pakistan is considering to reopen its border with Afghanistan after consulting with all the stakeholders and improving security on the borders, said Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan while addressing a press conference.

“Pakistan agrees to tackle trade and security related matters separately and Afghanistan must do the same to enhance the bilateral trade,” the minister asserted. Trade activities with the neighbouring Afghanistan remain suspended since February 17.

He further said, “Afghanistan has not responded to Pakistan’s proposal of signing a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).”

He informed that trade policy with India had not been changed, and the government was still pursuing 2012 policy. “There is no hurry in signing a free trade agreement with India,” Dastgir said, and added, “The government will not take any decision against national interests.” “However, negotiations with Turkey, Thailand and China for FTAs are in progress,” the minister informed.

Dastgir hoped that the recently

announced prime minister’s package worth Rs180 billion would enhance the country’s exports.

He further said that Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) came into force on 2017, after ratiRication by two-third members (110) of the WTO. “Pakistan had ratiRied the TFA in October 2015,” he added. He added that at various Word Trade Organisation (WTO) forums, it had been pointed out that red tapism was an obstacle in the movement of

Dastgir said, the government will not take any decision against national interests. however, negotiations with turkey, thailand and china for FtAs are in progress, the minister informed

peshawar customs earns rs496.12m T

PESHAWAR

IrFAN BAhADur

www.customsbulletin.com he Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Peshawar collected Federal Excise Duty (FED) of Rs496.12millions with a commitment to increase the sources of inland revenues.

The ofRicial MCC Peshawar said the other day that the collection was lower than the target of Rs585.00million but there were various issues and the fall was obvious.

He added the MCC Peshawar surpassed Sales Tax (ST). During said period, the Peshawar Collectorate got Rs602.89million.

The target to achieve ST was Rs554.00million but it had collected more than the assigned target. The ofRicial of MCC Peshawar said that the custom stations located on the main Torkham road need equipment and training. He termed the old methods insufRicient to stop the trafRickers of smuggling and traders of non-custom goods. He said many

times customs ofRicials were abducted by the drug smugglers and terrorists living on both sides of the main trade route of Peshawar with Afghanistan. He further said there was need to equip the customs sepoy and custom stations for the reason to prepare ground for trade after full functioning of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The importance and need of the equipment will be felt to set up new custom stations for surveillance of goods from china to the south Asian countries.

goods across borders, and importers as well as exporters, particularly those associated with small and medium enterprises suffered the most.

“In order to address this, WTO members concluded negotiations on a Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2013 at Bali Ministerial Conference,” he said, and added, “The TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods.

Industrial expo to be held on 25th he Social Welfare and Baitul Mal Punjab Department would organise a two-day industrial exhibition at Sanat Zar Institution on March 25 to 26, Divisional Director Social Welfare Aslam Maitla said here Thursday.

Aslam said that the industrial expo would increase business activities along with providing entertainment to people.

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Site for garments training institute being selected SIALKOT: Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Chairman Ijaz A Khokhar said that arrangements were being made to set up the Pakistan Readymade Technical Training Institute (PRTTI) costing Rs125 million.

“We are making adequate efforts for selecting a suitable site in central area for setting up the proposed institute to facilitate industrial workers”, he said.

He said that idea behind this training institute was to produce trained workforce in the field of stitching, pattern designing, quality control, inspection and sewing machine mechanics.

Saturday March 25, 2017

Business

pM directs completion of road projects soon ISLAMABAD

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rime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said road network and transportation projects were vital to economic growth and directed their completion on time without compromising on the quality of work.“Road projects will connect far Rlung areas to urban centers thereby improving socio-economic conditions of the people”, added the PM. The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting, to review the progress on various road network and transportation projects here at the PM House.

Director General Frontier Works

4.5g service to be operational by June ISLAMABAD

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i-Tribe 4.5G service would be operational by June 2017 in five cities of the country. According to private news channel, witribe announced a $15 million contract and strategic partnership with Huawei of China for advanced upgradation of LTE in at least five cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad. The advanced technology would be first tested at the Head Office, Islamabad, before making it fully operational across the city.

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Organization (FWO) Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal and Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Shahid Ashraf Tarar briefed the

participants regarding progress on various ongoing and planned road and highway projects.

Chairman Capital Development

Authority (CDA) Shiekh Ansar Aziz briefed the meeting on progress of Metro Bus access link from Peshawar Mor Islamabad to New Islamabad Airport.The meeting was also attended by Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and senior ofRicials. Meanwhilwe, Regional Director of International Islamic relief Organization (IIRO) Dr Abdullah Bin Muhammad Ibrahim Ateen Wednesday said Saudi Arabia had spent more then 70 million Riyal to resolve water related issues all over the world and also committed to continue in future. Addressing a ceremony at the auditorium of IIRO, he said in Pakistan from 1996 total 3,000 wells, many hand pumps and boring projects had been completed and many other projects were under pipeline.

turkish companies apprised of investment opportunities in punjab A

ISLAMABAD

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delegation of Punjab Government led by Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Zahid Zaman, briefed Turkish private sector representatives about the vast investment and joint venture opportunities in real estate sector of Punjab.

Turkish Contractors Association (TCA) hosted the event at its headquarters in Ankara, said a message received here Tuesday. Director

General LDA, Zahid Zaman made a detailed presentation on investment opportunities in Punjab, particularly Lahore. He noted that the province needed at least 2.5 million housing units and thus immense opportunities existed for Turkish investors and contractors.

He specifically highlighted the Twin Tower Project, envisaging a state-of-the-art multipurpose building in Gulberg, Lahore on joint venture basis. He informed that pre-qualification for the project was due to commence shortly and request for proposals and sub-

sequent bidding would take place in the near future.

Earlier, Haluk BYKBA’s Secretary General of Turkish Contractors Association in his opening remarks welcomed the delegation and assured every possible support in apprising the TCA member companies of the business opportunities in the construction sector in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Sohail Mahmood underlined the unique bonds of brotherhood binding Pakistan and Turkey in a special relationship.

pak, china join hands against corruption: NAB ISLAMABAD

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ational Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhary has said that Pakistan and China will work together to weed out corruption. He was talking to a Chinese delegation led by HOU Changan, Secretary General of Communist Party who called on him in Islamabad on Wednesday. He said Pakistan and China have signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on matters carried with efforts in this regard. He said this agreement is significant in the backdrop of increasing economic and trade cooperation between Pakistan and China with the resolve to share their experiences to eradicate corruption.

Speaking during the meeting, HOU Changan, emphasized the need of future cooperation in the field of Anti-Corruption work. He said the Chinese authorities appreciated the excellent progress made by NAB under the dynamic leadership Qamar Zaman Chaudhry. Meanwhile, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Multan has initiated investigation against former MPA Malik Muhammad Rafiq Khan over fraudulent allotment of 4,622 kanals of state land and 1,000 kanals of private land in Kot Addu Tehsil.

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Minister hints release of funds for schemes of industrial areas KARACHI

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indh Minister for Local Bodies Jam Khan Shoro said that funds for purposed schemes by industrial areas will be released soon.

He said this while addressing a dinner meeting organised by Korangi Association of Trade &Industry (KATI), said a statement on

Wednesday. He said that development work in Karachi will be completed and Liyari Expressway will be opened for light traffic, till June this year. He said that District East and South have passed resolutions to approve garbage collection contracts.

Earlier, Patron-in-Chief KATI SM Muneer appreciated the efforts of CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah and his team. Expectations of business community are very high

with this team, he added. President of KATI Masood Naqi briefed the Minister about problems of Korangi Industrial Area (KIA).

On this occasion head of KATI’s standing committee on local bodies, Zubair Chhaya said that there should be special representation in local bodies for industrialists. Chhaya told the minister that many of industries are now setting up in Mehran Town; this area should be declared as indus-

trial area as well.

Jam Khan Shoro told the gathering that illegal hydrants have been abolished from the city. He said that initial cost for S3 project is increased many times, and now we are working for its approval.

Minister said that more than 70pc water supplied by KWSB is `nonrevenue’, billing of commercial connection has been outsourced, domestic will be soon come under the same arrangements.

“Changes in the design of Malir Express way have been purposed, K4 project will be complete on its promised time” he said. He also said that 12 thousand Acres land is required for this project, 10 thousand Acres will be provided by government and 2 thousand acquired from private owners.

One thousand acres of private land for the project has been acquired and payments would be made soon.

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LAHORE

M hAYAt

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ll Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries and Associations Convention on FBR discretionary powers unanimously reached the conclusion that the Federal Board of Revenue officials’ discretionary powers should be given to the officials not less than the ranks of Members FBR while the powers should, at once, be seized from the lower staff which is causing more harm not only to the business community but also to the national economy.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Abdul Basit said that FBR discretionary

power are creating problem and traders will go to every extent against the misuse of powers for the vested interests. He said that FBR officials are exploiting businessmen due to which tax net is also not being enhanced to the desired level.

He disclosed that at least 5,00,000 taxpayers have quit the tax net and nobody was there to bother about it. He said that if the FBR. “Ports are not clearing consignment in five day due to which we have to pay demurrage and thus there is dire need to increase clearance days from five to seven days,” Nasir Hameed, LCCI Vice President said adding that from. 1 April is final date for the government to accept traders and industrialist demands and settle matters with then by April 1 or they will decide accordingly. Karachi Port Trust Harom Farooqi said that Budget proposals are demanded

from the consider traders a “FBR bu traders bill the said, add tion is ta He said t fund and has reac can be c of refund Rawalpi Presiden men sho collectio

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e stakeholders while they have never been red besides no one is ready to listen to and industrialists for the last four year. ureaucracy has manipulated to tighten and industrialist by including in finance long resisted controversial section,� he ding that 2.5 percent of the total populaaxpayer which thought provoking. that the government is not paying back red rebate to the exporters and the backlog ched to a record high which in other words called as another circular debt in the form ds and rebate is in the offing. indi Chamber of Commerce and Industry nt Raja Amir Abbasi said that businessould be respected as 63 pc of the total on is being done by them while just FBR

Saturday, March 25, 2017

is collecting 1/3. Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry representative Zafar Iqbal said no new taxpayers really wanted to come in the net seeing plight the existing taxpayers.

Gujrat Chamber Of Commerce president Imran Saeed said neither the government nor FBR is taking notice of the grievances of the business community despite several conventions held by the business community.

Ex LCCI president Sheikh Shahid Hassan said that FBR has not been refunding ST refunds due to the reason that FBR has shown the refund as collection not liability.

Punjab PML-N Traders Wing president Muhammad Ali Mian, Anjum Nisar said unity must to resolve the FBR discretionary power.

l s a re oďŹƒcia r B F hich t e to w id tha a u s d t i n s e Ba ced to inessm nhan g bus e n i g t n i i o at t be expl d that so no e l s a o l s i c t the he dis tax ne e quit level. v d a e h r i s es ayer the d re to 0 taxp 0 0 , as the 0 0 w , 5 y d t s o lea nob t and t it tax ne r abou bothe

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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

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pakistan vs world economic scenario

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ccording to newspaper reports, the government has announced a new strategy to modernize cross-border trade among the member states of the World Trade Organization under the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The WTO had initiated Trade Facilitation Agreement four years ago to ease barriers coming in the way of cross-border trade and simplify the documentation of customs and transportation process.The agreement came into effect on February 22 this year after ratification from a majority of the WTO member countries.

Reports suggest the government has ensured the organization that it is committed to adopt all the reforms after ratification of the agreement. The member countries are willing to launch reform programme in three categories which are labeled as A, B and C.The categories B and C relate to customs departments of the member countries.

The business community of the country is awaiting for an official call to discuss the pros and cons of the emerging situation once the agreement is implemented. As it usually happens in other matters, the government lacks time and ability to prepare itself for a new world trade order.

However, the Commerce Ministry has asked the National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee to consult the private sector on the world trade issues.

Experts believe the government has already made commitments to the world trade body without taking the private sector of the country into confidence.

Apparently, there is a lack of trust between the stakeholders and the official cadre which needs to be removed. The Federal Board of Revenueis seeking five years to sharethe rules, procedures, forms and policy matters of the department. It is hoped that the trade cost will be reduced by 14.5 percent after the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The agreement will also pave the way for foreign direct investment in the member countries, including Pakistan. Due to access to information facility after the agreement, experts believe it will increase revenue collections of the customs and reduce corruption.

New world Bank loan T

LAHORE

Dr AFtAB AFZAL

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he World Bank has approved a $450 million loan programme for Pakistan to help the poor segments of society. At least 17.5 percent people live below the poverty line and most of them are already covered under the Benazir Income Support Programme in the country. However, the question is how the new loan programme will bring positive changes in their lives and how they would be given the basic amenities of life. Education and health are no more the federal government subjects, but of the provinces.

The funds from the new loan

will also be transferred to the BISP as part of the National Social Protection Programme. The country has already been burdened with loans of different categories and loans have allegedly become a major source of corruption. The meagre amount from the BISP bestowed on the poor families after every three months are the worth of not more than peanuts these days. The whole lot of the poor have been converted into beggars who only look for a few thousands rupees after three months without any visible improvement in their lives.

The most important issue before the economists these days is economy. If economy is improved and people are given

jobs, it will be a great help for the poor as well as for the nation. It will also bring a positive change in the country as a whole.

Obtaining millions of dollars loans for non-productive sectors is disservice to the nation. The foreign donor agencies are not tired of praising the government steps and persuading it to get loans for non-productive sectors.

The World Bank Country Director for Pakistan could have the best academic credentials, but the ground realities should not be ignored. A country which is in a process of developing its institutions and devising a mechanism, it is difficult for it to stop misuse of the national funds. Under Growth Development Policy initiatives, a policy credit of

$300million is envisaged to support the government to promote a more inclusive and transparent financial sector in the country as a sizeable chunk of the society has no access to banking system. The will raise financial access up to 50 percent across the country 2020. At least 100 million Pakistanis have no access to formal and regulated financial services which are about 5 percent of the unbanked population of the world. However, the best part of the programme is that it will boost private sector credit access to small and medium enterprises up to 15 percent in the three years. It is hoped the government will use the new loan judiciously on the welfare of the people.

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Arab bank deposits amount to $2.2trn DUBAI: Arab bank deposits amounted to about $2.2 trillion in 2016, equal to 89 percent of the value of the overall economy, a report said. The security and political conditions in the Arab world over the last five years have, however, hit the regional economy, said Joseph Torbey, chairman of the World Union of Arab Bankers (WUAB). Torbey was speaking during a press conference to launch a WUAB report on the developments and challenges faced by the Arab banking sector in 2016-2017. The report stated the total assets of the sector amounted to $3.4 trillion at the end of 2016, which equals 140 percent of the total Arab gross domestic product (GDP). The report showed that the UAE banking sector ranked first in terms of the value of assets with $711 billion, followed by its Saudi, Egyptian, Qatari, Lebanese and Kuwaiti counterparts with assets exceeding $601 billion, $357 billion, $347 billion, $204 billion and $197.5 billion respectively.

oIccI submits taxation proposals for Federal Budget 2017-18 LAHORE

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he Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has submitted comprehensive “Taxation Proposals” for the upcoming Federal Budget 2017-2018 and represented the collective recommendations of foreign investors. OICCI proposals are focused on accelerating economic growth and FDI inflow in the country. The OICCI had earlier submitted the Key Taxation Proposals on February 9, 2017 to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Commenting on the OICCI Taxation Proposals, OICCI President

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Khalid Mansoor said, “OICCI’s comprehensive proposals are balanced and aim at providing a level playing field to investors, enhance the documentation of the economy, besides recommending certain structural and procedural changes to improve the overall taxation framework in the country.”The OICCI taxation proposals recommends that the government should introduce such tax policies, which lead to longer term investment plans, and suitably protected to ensure at least 10 year phasing out period so that local and foreign investors could base their plans on policies which are predictable and consistent over a reasonable time. OICCI further recommends that targets given by the FBR hierarchy to the LTUs, should be realistic on research based growth projections in different business sectors. Similarly growth in tax collections, over and above the projected economic growth, should be fully quantified by estimating the contribution from broadening the tax base and bringing new tax payers into the tax net.

Saturday March 25, 2017

Chambers

pakistan-Belarus agree to enhance economic ties: envoy S

FAISALABAD

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padework has begun to enhance trade volume between Pakistan and Belarus to $1 billion. Central banks of both countries have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard and now steps are being taken to open branches of banks in each other’s country, said Belarus Ambassador Andrei Ermolovich.

Addressing members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Thursday, he said the two countries were enjoying good diplomatic and economic relations and the credit for this went to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. He said that on the instructions of the two leaders various institutions were taking necessary measures to achieve the objective.

He said that initially various sectors had been identiRied where bilateral cooperation could be enhanced. “There is a huge untapped potential in industrial, agricultural, textile, pharmaceutical and other

sectors and the two countries can beneRit from it,” he said.

Ermolovich said the banking system was a prerequisite for major bargains; therefore, a mutually acceptable banking system was being evolved with cooperation of central banks of the two countries. He also highlighted the importance of exchange of trade delegations and said the business community of Pakistan should actively participate in trade

exhibitions and fairs being organised in Belarus. He said that Belarus was organising an agriculture and textile fair this year and Pakistani exporters must participate in it. He said the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) was a prestigious and world-class educational and research institution and Belarus wanted the UAF and the National Textile University to collaborate with the universities of his country.

cccI to take measures to increase tourism activities in chakwal: ghafoor

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ISLAMABAD

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anaging Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation PTDC visited Chakwal with a view to promote tourism in the area he met Chairman District Council Malik Tariq Dhalli here on Wednesday.

He stressed upon the need that as the district has been declared as Model Tourism District therefore, it is need of time to take aggressive measures to setup more tourist facilities in addition to maintenance of the existing ones on international standards said a press release issued here. In this regard, federal government is ready to provide maximum possible assistance. He

added that parks and other recreational facilities be publicized on national level so that more domestic tourists Rlow towards this area.

Deputy Chairman District Council Khurshid Baig and Honorary Coordinator of Tourism Promotion in Chakwal Dr. Izhar were also present. In a detailed meeting with Chairman Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Qazi M. Akbar and President Khurram Kamra, MD said that Chamber should take aggressive measures to attract investments in tourism sector, which is nowadays the most foreign exchange earning industry.

Investment in tourism will not only bring development in the district but also help in poverty alleviation and improving living standards of general people. Combined efforts of federal and

local governments with private sector can bring fruitful results in a short span of time. Chairman invited him as chief guest in industrial exhibition of Chakwal scheduled from 19th to 23rd March this year. OfRicials of Chamber assured MD their all efforts to promote and develop tourism in the district.

While meeting with Chairman Municipal Committee Ch. Sajjad Ahmad Khan, matters of general cleanliness and atmosphere were discussed so that incoming tourism may encounter a pleasant impression of weather as well as a clean tourist friendly district.

Chairman said that Municipal Committee is making all its efforts for betterment of Chakwal District. Later, MD visited the Dharabi Dam where XEN briefed him that soon motor boats and other recreational facilities will be run in the dam to attract more tourists.

He said that he had handed over the draft of the MoU to the vice chancellors of these universities and hopefully it would be signed this year. He said that Belarus was a technologically developed country and its trucks and agriculture appliances were recognised all over the world. He said that in Pakistan only 10 percent of cultivation was made through machines and with enhanced use of agricultural appliances Pakistan could increase its productivity manifold.

Jurabek Kirgizbekov, representative of the Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that his country could help Pakistan in production of powdered milk, icecream, yogurt, animal husbandry and canned products. He said that Belarus was part of a Rive-country alliance, which had no well-marked boundaries. He said that Pakistani exporters could establish their warehouses in Belarus and from there they could make exports to the surrounding countries without any additional customs duty or taxes. Similarly, he said, visa issued by one country was acceptable in all Rive countries.

LccI celebrates Australia Day he Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) celebrated “Australia Day” at a prestigious cake-cutting ceremony at the LCCI, here on Friday. Participants of the ceremony including High Commissioner of Australia to Pakistan Ms. Margaret Adamson, LCCI President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa, Salman Basit, Ali Hassam Asghar, Tehmina Saeed Chaudhry and various others pledged to make mutual friendly and cordial relations more stronger. The Australian High Commissioner said that Australia and Pakistan were strategic partners and enjoying long-standing cordial relations that had built on strong businessto-business and people-to-people connections. –CB Report

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Nadir assumes charge as DG of Research & Development Saturday March 25, 2017

National Nine Dy Assist examiners promoted as Assist chemical examiners ISLAMABAD

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ISLAMABAD: Nadir Mumtaz Warraich, a BS-21 officer of Inland Revenue Service, has assumed the charge of the post of Director General, Research & Development, Federal Board of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad.

The officer, in pursuance of Board’s Notification No. 0860-IR-I/2017, dated 14.03.2017, relinquished the charge of the post of Member, Federal Board of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad with effect from March 18.

Nasir Iqbal, a BS-20 officer of Inland Revenue Service, has relinquished the charge of the post of Chief.

Senior preventive officer Nazir granted performance allowance N

ISLAMABAD

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ine Deputy Assistant Chemical Examiners (BS-16) in Customs Laboratories at Karachi/Lahore/Faisalabad have been promoted to the post of Assistant Chemical Examiners (BS-17) with immediate effect until further orders. According to the notification, their promotion will take effect from the date of their joining, subject to the condition that no disciplinary proceedings/enquiry is pending against them. They will be on probation for a period of one year, extendable for further period, not exceeding one year, provided that if no order is issued by the day following the termination of probationary period, the appointment shall deem to be held until further order. The officer, already drawing performance allowance equal to 100 per cent of basic pay, will continue to draw it on their promotion.

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Nasir Iqbal relinquishes charge as chief asir Iqbal, a BS-20 officer of Inland Revenue Service, has relinquished the charge of the post of Chief. The officer, in pursuance of Establishment Division Notification No. 1/25/2017-E-4, dated 08.03.2017, relinquished the charge of the post of Chief at Federal Board of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad with effect from March 13. Meanwhile, Four Superintendents/Principal Appraisers in Pakistan Customs Department have been promoted to the post of Assistant Collector (BS-17) with immediate effect until further orders. According to the notification, their promotion will take effect from the date of their joining, subject to the condition that no disciplinary proceedings/enquiry is pending against them. –CB Report

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azir Ahmad Qureshi, a Pakistan Customs Service ofRicer of BS-16 and who was selected through the process of internal job posting (IJP), has been granted performance allowance.

The ofRicer, presently posted as Senior Preventive ofRicer at Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Karachi, has been granted performance allowance (equivalent to 100 per cent of basic pay) with effect from March 9. According to the notiRication, the grant of performance allowance will be governed through the terms and conditions laid down vide Circular No. 6(96)S(BIC)/201314 dated 06.03.2015 to be read with Para-10 of Finance Division’s O.M.No.1(3)/Imp/2015-360 dated

07.07.2015. The allowance will be discontinued in case prescribed terms and conditions are not fulRilled within one month from the date of issuance of this notiRication, it added.

Meanwhile, Performance allowance in respect of Fayaz Rasool Maken, a Pakistan Customs Service BS-19, has been restored. The performance allowance (equivalent to 100 per cent

of basic pay) in respect of the ofRicer, presently posted as Secretary (Customs), Federal Board of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad, has been restored with effect from December 20, 2016.

customs seizes NDp vehicles worth rs234.90m T

ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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he Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation has impounded 118 vehicles worth Rs234.90million in February 2017.

The Directorate Customs Antismuggling staff and Special Car Cell have seized 68 Non-Duty Paid smuggled vehicles worth Rs133.052million under Section 16 and 50 involved in smuggling under Section 157 of the Customs Act-1969 worth Rs101.85million. Director General Shaukat Ali has lauded the performance of anti-smuggling staff and special car cell and directed them to utilize all resources to curb smuggling of non-duty paid vehicles with the coordination of other law enforcement agencies. He has asked all the regional directorates to send the names of good performers to the directorate general. Under the DG directives, the Customs Intelligence will more focus on non-duty paid smuggled cars, and whistleblowers’ network will be made stronger.

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Customs sets up Rapid Response Force to meet emergencies ISLAMABAD: The Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad established a Rapid Response Force (Substitute Force) which will work under the supervision of Customs House Officer for emergency purposes.

According to Customs Collectorate Islamabad, the force of five sepoys has been set up for emergency requirements under the instruction of Collector MCC Islamabad.

The force personnel will be equipped with modern weapons and will be part of the AntiSmuggling Squad and Car Cell Islamabad. The force can be deployed anywhere according to the need. The sources said there was a dire need to establish another force to exclusively deal with the special tasks assigned by Collector MCC Islamabad.

customs Adjudication decides 30 cases of rs16.465 million MULTAN

IMrAN ALI

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he Customs Adjudication Multan Camp Office disposed 30 various seizure cases after adjudicating involving Rs16.465 million during the month of February. According to details, Customs Adjudication Deputy Collector Farhat Ali decided as many as 26 seizure cases forwarded by Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) and Customs Intelligence and Investigation in their various anti-smuggling activities. These cases were related to evasion of customs duty to the tune of Rs13.265 million during February. These seizure cases include vehicles, tyres, auto parts and miscella-

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neous goods. Deputy Collector Farhat Ali has settled 26 different seizure cases in favor of tax department and issued two Order-in-Originals (ONOs) in favour of taxpayers after adjudication process.

Additional Collector Customs Adjudication Muhammad Talib decided two seizure cases of smuggled vehicles worth Rs3.2 million during February.

Collector Dr. Mirza Mubasir Baig has not decided any case after assuming his charge as Collector Customs Adjudication in place of Collector Raja Tahir Majid during the month of February. Almost 44 new cases of seizure involving Rs110.102 million were included for hearing in the Customs Adjudication Multan for proceedings in the month of February. Collector Mirza Mubasir Baig decided almost four various seizure cases of Rs75.532 million available for hearing in the collectorate including 14 kilogram gold smuggling case and others. Due to recent reshuffling in the Customs Collectorate hearing of seizure cases are facing unnecessary delay in the Customs adjudication.

National

Additional collector Adjudication Saima issues notice to owner of NDp vehicle

Shc directs to decide appeal filed by kausar Automobiles KARACHI

M B rANA

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Commissioner Inland Revenue Appeals-IV to decide the appeals of the petitioner within four weeks and during this period, the tax authorities will not enforce recovery from the petitioners. The court took ordered this on a constitutional petitions filed by M/S Kausar Automobiles (Private) Limited against a notice for attachments of bank accounts to recover taxes issued by the deputy commissioner Inland Revenue E & C Unit-2, Zone-IV, LTU Unit-II. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, was hearing the petition. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner completed his arguments.

After his arguments, the court disposed of the petition with directions to the respondents not to enforce recovery of impugned demand, which is subject matter of appeal before commissioner appeals, till its final disposal, whereas, in case of any adverse order, if passed by the commissioner appeals, the respondents will not enforce recovery of impugned demand for a period of 7 days from the date of receipt of such appellate order.

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NAeeM SheIkh

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ustoms Adjudication Additional Collector Saima Aftab issued a show cause notice to owner of non-duty paid vehicle.

As per the details, Customs Intelligence and Investigation team following information impounded a used a vehicle near Guttwala Toll Plaza loaded with multimedia speaker. The team asked the driver of the vehicle Altafur Rehman and second person named as Adeel Israr owners of the goods to produce documents regarding legal import of the vehicle and goods but he could not produce the same.

Therefore, the team impounded the vehicle and speaker under the customs laws and forwarded the case to Customs Adjudication for further legal action.

Now, Additional Collector Saima Aftab issued notice to the accused person on the violation of Section 10-A 89(1) and 156(1) of the Customs Act, 1969.

However, the adjudication has directed the accused to Rile a reply on the next date of hearing. The seizing agency has also been directed to Rile

Saturday March 25, 2017

a reply in the case. The adjudication authority also directed Customs Intelligence Deputy Director Mirza Mubsshir to attend the hearing on schedule date along with relevant record. Meanwhile, The Deputy Collector Customs Adjudication Asma Hameed has issued Order-inOriginal (ONO) in favour of AntiSmuggling Organization Faisalabad.

According to details, a team of the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) intercepted a Mazda truck bearing registration no. STK – 737 loaded with ceramics tiles. The non duty paid vehicle that was

loaded with ceramics tiles and was brought into country without payment of customs duty and taxes. The customs official asked the driver to produce documents regarding import of vehicle and goods . But he failed to produce the lawful proof. The particular of the vehicle and goods were checked on the website and found not tallied. The incharge of PRAL customs dry port Faisalabad has informed that the vehicle having number no. STK- 737 Mazda Truck (cut & weld) imported in the country.

peshawar customs court convicts 37 smugglers

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ISLAMABAD

tArIQ DerYA

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he Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization Peshawar arrested 35 persons involved in anti-smuggling activities and convicted 37 involved in the same act during the first eight months from July to February of Financial Year 2016-17. The Peshawar collectorate seized different kinds of smuggled goods worth Rs1757.783million during the same period.

According to Additional Deputy Collector Fazle Samad, ASO Peshawar made many important

seizers during the above said period. The ASO seized 323 offending vehicles worth Rs458.700million whereas it seized 188 Non-Duty Paid vehicles worth Rs278.25million. During the initial eight months of current Financial Year 2016-17, the ASO seized 1180500 yards of cloths valued Rs401.13million whereas ASO seized puppy seed worth Rs0.105million. The ASO seized ammunition valued Rs0.03million.

The ASO seized 112394 kg of tea undervalued Rs39.62million, 505 tyres and tubes valued Rs18.62million, 2678 numbers of auto-parts worth Rs26.17million, 248 bottles of liquor worth

Rs0.83million whereas the ASO seized 27089 liters of mobil oil valued Rs10.22million.

During above said period, the ASO seized 78 buckets of grease worth Rs0.016million whereas ASO seized 32.821 kilogram of gold/silver valued Rs125.40million. The ASO seized 285899 cartons of fake cigarettes worth Rs81.64million and seized 4623 numbers of electronic goods valued Rs19.05million.

The ASO also seized 120 antiques worth Rs1.8million, seized 250387 numbers of pirated CD/DVDs worth Rs9.91million whereas ASO seized 11698 kg of scrape valued Rs4.27million, did

904 blankets worth Rs.1.26million while it seized 67240 items of medicines valued Rs1.06million. The ASO also impounded 2202 tines of Pan Prag valued Rs3.17 million.

During the Rirst eight months, the ASO seized 30524 kg of smuggled Gutka worth Rs2.48million whereas it seized 22786 of smuggled toiletries valued Rs3.85million. The ASO seized Rive generators valued Rs3.78million and it also seized 13936 mobile phones valued Rs74.52million. The ASO seized 387 kg of opium worth Rs7.85million and seized 19.616 kg of heroin priced Rs.33.8 million, Additional Deputy Collector said.

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Saudi King signs multi-billion dollar trade deals with China Saturday March 25, 2017

World

RIYADH: Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is on a three-day visit to China, has fully endorsed the One China policy when dealing with the issue of Taiwan. The Saudi monarch’s visit to China is part of the kingdom’s new initiative to boost economic and strategic cooperation with a number of Asian states. With oil prices less than half of what they used to be in 2014 and Saudi Arabia registering significant budget deficits since then, Riyadh has sought an ambitious reform package under the title Vision 2030. An external component of the reforms include looking for new trade and investment opportunities in the east.

Before visiting China, King Salman stopped in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Japan where he signed billions of dollars in investments between Saudi Aramco and local oil companies like Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas.

S African customs seizes 6.5kg cocaine worth r1.8m

Indian BSF nabs smuggler possessing heroin NEW DELHI

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JOHANNESBURG

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outh African Revenue Service (SARS) customs ofRicials intercepted 6.5 kilogram of cocaine worth, R1.8 million, inside tubes of cream at OR Tambo International Airport.

“The goods were from Sao Paolo, Brazil, and were destined for Harare, Zimbabwe, when a physical examination was done (Thursday).

A drug test on the contents of the tube tested positive for cocaine and the goods have been handed over to South African Police Service for further investigation,” SARS said in a statement.

Recently SARS conRiscated 271 kilogram of cocaine with an estimated value of R78 million. The narcotics, en route from Sao Paulo to Nairobi in Kenya, were found in a warehouse during a routine opera-

philippines remittances rises 13.5 percent oney sent home monthly by overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) in January grew sharply year-on-year, marked by notable annual increases in remittances by land-based workers with longer contracts, central bank data showed.

However, remittances in January fell from the December level. The central bank did not give an explanation for the month-on-month decline but an analyst said it was due to seasonal factors. Personal remittances rose 8.5 percent to $2.39 billion in January 2017 from $2.20 billion in January 2016. The rate of annual increase in January more than doubled the 3.6 percent annual increase in December, but on a month-on-month comparison, remittances in January at $2.39 billion were lower than the $2.82 billion generated in December. –CB Report

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tion. In a separate incident, a man was also arrested recently with 16.8 kilograms of gold bars with an estimated value of R8 million at OR Tambo airport.

Meanwhile, SA’s Engen is set to export a gas-oil cargo to Singapore, according to trade sources and shipping data. The company has provisionally

booked the Torm Horizon to transport 35,000 tons of gas-oil to Singapore from Durban, shipping Rixtures showed. The cargo likely comprises high sulphur gas-oil whose premium has risen to a more than three-month high this month due to prompt demand in Southeast Asia, four traders and ship-brokers said.

russian post Bank contracts with Diebold Nixdorf for 3200 automated cash units

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he Russian Post Bank has selected Diebold Nixdorf (DBD) to supply 3,200 selfservice cash recycling systems together with software and services.

End-to-end cash management is at the core of the operational strategy of Post Bank, which is expanding its retail banking network within Russian Post office branches all over the country. The strategy will allow for the discontinuation of tradi-

tional cashier stations, and enable consumers to perform all cash transactions including loan grant, settlement and deposits at the self-service systems. In 2015, Post Bank became the first bank in the Russian market to convert its entire self-service network to recycling technology. By end of 2018, Post Bank will offer cash services to its clients on more than 4,000 Diebold Nixdorf recycling systems. –CB Report

he Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel arrested one person with 200 grams of heroin-like powder from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, a BSF ofRicial said.

Acting on a tip-off on narcotics smuggling, the BSF intensified checking at the India-Bangladesh border near Murshidabad district’s Lalwangola outpost, and detained an elderly person with irrigation pipes. “Kalam Seikh (65), a resident of Char Lalwangola village, was apprehended by the BSF while on his way to a field near the international border. About 200 grams of heroinlike powder was seized from him,” BSF Deputy Inspector General R.P.S. Jaiswal (South Bengal Frontier), told press. “The arrested person was handed over to the nearby

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Iran’s carpet exports to uS at $80m ran says it has exported $80 million worth of carpets to the United States over a period of 11 months starting March 21, 2016.

Hamid Karegar, the president of Iran National Carpet Center, told local media that the exports had been mainly carried out directly from Iran to the US. The boost, he emphasized, came after a multi-year halt in exports to the United States that followed a ban devised by the previous US administration in 2010.

Karegar told Iran’s IRNA news agency that the doors for exports of Iran’s carpets to the US market literally opened after the removal of

thailand denies increase in VAt by 1pc

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BANKOK

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here has been confusion in Thailand over remarks made

by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, after the premier appeared to suggest increasing the seven percent VAT rate to 8 percent to boost the government’s coffers

for the funding of various public projects. The Prime Minister was quoted in the national media as saying: “The VAT has been at seven percent for many years. If we increased it by just one percent then the country would have an increased income of THB100bn (USD2.8bn). So I need to ask: Can you sacriRice it or not?”

However, following a popular outcry at the possibility, various

Bhagawangola police station, along with the seized item, for further investigation,” the officer said.

“The South Bengal Frontier of Border Security Force has seized more than 14 kg narcotics and arrested seven smugglers so far in 2017,” he added.

Meanwhile, The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers, (on March 6), intercepted a man who tried to smuggle 12 gold bars, at Mumbai Airport.

Reportedly, the passenger tied the gold bars to his heels with the help of adhesive and two socks. A case has been registered against the alleged smuggler, Thiruppathy Palaniyandy. Palaniyandy, an architectural supervisor by profession, had acquired the gold from Singapore, where he was employed, and supposed to deliver it to someone in Mumbai. Palaniyandy, whose home town is Sathiyamangalam in Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu, had arrived from Singapore by Air India flight AI 343.

government ofRicials and the Prime Minister himself have distanced the Government from the comments, arguing that the intention was merely to explain how much additional revenue would be generated by a one percent increase in VAT, and that the remarks had been twisted by the media. Prayut, in addition to Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, subsequently stressed that there are

sanctions against the Islamic Republic in January 2016. “It was a month later that the Rirst consignment of carpets – that had been barred from the US from 2010 – was sent to Los Angeles from Hamburg,” he said. “Ever since, there has been a surge in exports of Iranian carpets to the US.” Karegar told IRNA that Iran’s total exports of carpets over the past 11 months stood at above 5,200 tons in weight and around $320 million in value. He said the exports indicated a growth of 16 percent in weight as well as an increase of 27 percent in value compared to the same period last year. –CB Report

no plans to increase the VAT rate at this time. Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong has also reportedly stated that the current rate will be extended for a further year from September. The International Monetary Fund in June 2016 welcomed the general direction of the Thai Government’s tax policies, but urged it to increase the value-added tax rate to 10 percent.

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Credit Suisse Cuts Brazilian Stocks

World Customs

BRASILIA: About a year after upgrading the country’s stocks to buy, Credit Suisse Group AG is telling investors to take profits based on 10 reasons that basically boil down to the idea that the rally has gotten ahead of fundamentals. Credit Suisse says the real is overvalued, growth forecasts are underwhelming and equity valuations are too high. “We have run out of motivation to own the market at an abovebenchmark weighting,” analysts Alexander Redman and Arun Sai wrote in a note to clients. “All that’s left is momentum and wishful thinking.”

Brazilian shares are up 63 percent in dollar terms in the past 12 months, leading gains among the world’s major stock gauges even after a recent pullback.

Japan seeks wto help to resolve steel dispute apan asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to set up a dispute resolution mechanism, complaining that India’s safeguard duties on steel imports violated global trade rules. In December last year, Japan had sought consultations with India over safeguard duties. Indian officials had explained to both the Japanese negotiators and the trade body that their measures were within WTO rules and necessary to protect local manufacture against unfair practices. India imposed duties of up to 20 per cent on some hot-rolled flat steel products in September 2015 and set a floor price in February 2016 for imports to deter producers from countries such as China, Japan and South Korea from undercutting local mills. India ended the floor price regime last month, but retained the safeguard duties.The minimum im port prices imposed in February ranged from $600 a ton for coated flat steel to $550 a ton for coldrolled steel and $425 a ton for hotrolled steel. –CB Report

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Malaysian petronas faces rM296b loss in Q4, 2016 alaysia’s Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) saw the black for the fourth quarter (Q4) ended Dec31, 2016, registering a net profit of RM11.26 billion against a net loss of RM2.96 billion in the previous corresponding period, driven by lower net impairment on assets and production costs. Revenue, however, contracted 2.5% from RM60.1 billion to RM58.6 billion, on the back of lower average realized product prices. Brent crude prices averaged US$49.46 a barrel for Q4 compared with US$45.85 a barrel in Q3. For 2016, Petronas’ net profit expanded 12.7% from RM20.86 billion to RM23.51 billion in the previous year on the back of a 17.3% rise in revenue from RM247.66 billion to RM204.91 billion. –CB Report

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Shanghai customs seizes of smuggled pangolin scales

SHANGHAI

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wo suspected smugglers were detained in Shanghai after authorities recovered 3.1 tons of pangolin scales, the largest amount ever seized in China.

An endangered animal in China, the pangolin is one of the most illegally traded animals in the world, media reported. Customs agents from Shanghai Customs District said they received a tip-off that two shipping containers carrying endangered animal products from Africa would be

arriving at the city’s port, China Central Television (CCTV) reported Saturday. In the containers, police and anti-smuggling bureau agents found 3.1 tons of pangolin scales.

Prized for their use in traditional Chinese medicine, it is estimated that the scales came from 5,000 to 8,000 pangolins, CCTV reported.

The suspects, surnamed Zhu and Xu, confessed that they had purchased the scales for between 300500 yuan ($43-72) a kilogram, and planned to sell them for 10 times the price, said CCTV. The report did not reveal which country the shipment had come from. Pangolins are a second-class State-protected animal in China. More than 1 million

pangolins have been poached and killed in the last decade, according to wildlife NGO Wild Aid. Pangolins are popular in China because their meat is considered a delicacy and their scales are believed to have medicinal qualities.

In China, those who catch, kill, buy or sell endangered wild animals on the State’s protection list could face a jail term of more than 10 years plus fines. Zhang Dayong, head of the school of life sciences at Beijing Normal University, was quoted by news portal people.cn in February as saying that it takes 10,000 pangolins to satisfy the medicinal needs for people in China per year.

Saturday March 25, 2017

turkey signs deal for longest ever suspension bridge urkey has set the ball rolling for the longest suspension bridge in the world following a formal signing ceremony in Ankara, which will see Turkish and South Korean firms work together in the multi-billion-dollar project, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. The over 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) long Canakkale 1915 Bridge is expected to be built within five-andhalf years at a cost of around 10.35 billion Turkish liras (US$2.80 billion).

The bridge would span 32 meters longer than the currently-held record of the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge between Kobe and Awaji Island in Japan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Transport, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan said: “The bridge will make a huge difference towards our community, it will make life easier and stimulate economic growth in the region.”It will make travel time shorter by connecting [Turkey] with Europe, and help in exports and imports,” he said. He said 12 financial institutions had indicated their willingness to finance the bridge’s construction. On Jan 26, a consortium of South Koran companies Daelim, SK E&C and Limak and Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi OGG won a tender and a 192-month lease for the historic bridge in Canakkale, which is a gateway to the Gallipoli World War I battlefields, north of the narrow strait. –CB Report

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South African onion exports expects growth in season

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JOHANNESBURG

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ast year about 38 million 10 kilogram bags of onions were sold on South African local markets. These Rigures exclude onions delivered directly to supermarket groups such as Freshmark (for Shoprite Checkers) and Woolworths. Of this number, 9.4 million bags originated from the Koue Bokkeveld (Ceres region in the Western Cape), 9.9 million bags

from the Northern Cape while the Northern region (the Northwest as well as Limpopo Provinces) is responsible for roughly half of South Africa’s onions, with more than 16 million bags delivered to national markets during 2016.

Northern producers expect that 2017 will be a normal production year because of good rains during the latter part of the summer, while production estimates for the Ceres region are up with almost 3 million 10 kg bags.

Much of South Africa’s onion production occurs at high altitude, 1 000m

and more above sea level. South African growers are also competing with onions from Egypt and India which, especially the former, are closer to the EU market. Other Southern African countries are also serviced by the South African onion industry, although exact Rigures are not available, because such trade occurs on an individual basis at South African fresh produce markets (particularly at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market).

Domestic onions prices are under pressure as it is: currently onion prices are about 30% lower than last year

this time due to ample supply. There is on average a 35 to 40% price difference between Western Cape onions and the white, short-day onions produced in the northern production areas. According to a market agent at the Tshwane market: “Cape onions are beautiful.” Furthermore, South Africa is an onion seed producer, with a number of companies multiplying onion seed on contract for producers from as far aRield as the Philippines and Japan, the Netherlands, India, North and South America as well as for the Southern African market.

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FIA arrests three alleged human traffickers Saturday March 25, 2017

Lahore

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency is very vigilant against human traffickers, and the crackdown is also continuing against them. According to sources of Customs Today, accused Manzoor Hussain son of Ahmed Khan, a resident of Chah Bheer Wala, district Multan, was arrested in a case of FIR No. 153/2016 dated 24-05-2016 u/s 17/22 EO. His CNIC number is 36302-5615391-5. The accused gulled Rs192000 from Complainant Muhammad Shafi, a resident of 222-GB, Sumandri, for an employment in Saudi Arabia. In another action, accused Safdar son of Falak Sher, a resident of Okara, has been arrested in a case FIR No. 44/2017 dated 18-01-2017 u/s 17/22 EO. The accused gulled Rs. 400000 from complainant Sultan Khan, a resident of Jaranwala, Faisalabad, for an employment in Saudi Arabia.

customs court adjourns hearing of case filed against gold smuggler LAHORE

M IMrAN MehAr

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he Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti Smuggling adjourned hearing smuggling case for next Thursday. According to the details during previous hearing the Customs Investigation and Prosecution team had presented an investigation challan against the accused Rana RaRique and his spouse Sara Adnan who are allegedly involved in smuggling of gold, diamond and precious watches. Earlier, the Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling had sent both accused to jail on 14days judicial remand in the above said case. After that they were granted bail as well.

As per detail, customs authori-

Deputy superintedents, inspectors, sepoys transferred from ASo ssistant Collector of Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization Lahore transferred and posted deputy superintendents, inspectors, and sepoys to DRRA Air Freight Unit for settlement of DRRA paras.

According to details, Deputy Superintendent Ijaz Rasool has been transferred from General Post Office to DRRA while inspectors who have been transferred from ASO included Inspector Muhammad Arif Mayo, Inspector Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Inspector Muhammad Khalid Butt and five sepoys including Ghulam Dastgir, Khalid Javaid Butt, Muhammad Tufail, Ishaq Mayo and Muhammad Akmal. The superintendents, inspectors and spoyes have been transferred to DRRA Air Freight Unit (AFU) for the settlement of paras made by AGP. –CB Report

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ties deputed at Lahore airport recovered smuggled diamonds, 2.5 kilograms of gold and eight gold watches of Rado brand worth Rs15 million from passengers namely Rana Muhammad RaRique Farooq and his spouse Sara Adnan who were travelling from Sharjah to Lahore. After arresting them, the Customs Investigation team presented them before the court and got their physical remand for further interrogations. However, the hearing of the case has also been adjourned for new date for next week. Meanwhile, The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has issued warrant for an accused wanted in a smuggling case. According to details, Muhammad Amir Saleem alias Mitho son of Muhammad Saleem, a resident of Garh Maharaja, district Jhang, was issued with many notices to appear before the court for attending the hearing.

customs Intelligence impounds rs5.5 million NDp Land cruiser

LAHORE

M hAYAt

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irectorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Lahore confis-

customs Appellate tribunal hears 10 cases on thursday

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he Customs Appellate Tribunal Bench-II, comprising Judicial Member Omer Arshad Hakeem and Technical Member Imran Tariq, heard 16 important cases on Thursday and adjourned all of them until the next hearing.

Customs Appellate Tribunal heard cases including Muhammad Aslam versus customs Multan, Zahid Jee Textile versus customs Faisalabad, customs Lahore versus Check Textile, Crescent Textile versus customs Faisalabad, Post Clearance Au-

dit (PCA) Lahore versus Golden International. On Thursday, Customs Appellate Tribunal heard cases of Amir Shehzad versus customs Faisalabad, Faitima Fertilizers versus Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Lahore and Abdul Razzaq versus directorate of Intelligence and investigation Gujrat.

Furthermore, the tribunal heard the cases of Fatima Fertilizers versus Post Clearance Audit Lahore, and customs Lahore versus Husnain Can. –CB Report

cated Rs 5.5 million non- customs paid Land Cruiser. Official sources told Customs Today that on information of Director Customs Intelligence Zulfiqar Younas, the customs I&I team intercepted a Land Cruiser BF 9662 from Ijaz Khan a resident of Quetta.

The sources said that the Cus-

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toms I&I car cell team intercepted the vehicle at Fereozpur Road and demanded clearance documents but the driver failed to produce any relevant documents that could satisfy customs authorities. It was said that the Ijaz Khan purchased the vehicle from a dealer at Johar Town.

It was further added that the Land Cruiser is claimed to be cleared under amnesty scheme and thus the authorities have sent documents provided by the owner of the vehicle to Quetta Excise and Taxation department.

The sources said that the actual position of the vehicle would be determined when the E&T Quetta provides any reply on the documents.

Customs team after registering a case against the owner of the vehicle started further investigations.

Meanwhile, Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) will hold auction of 20 non customs paid luxury cars worth millions of rupees on March 24, it was reported.

customs court hears 16 cases

he Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling heard 16 cases, including prearrest bail pleas filed by suspects.

On the day most of the cases were adjourned without any proceedings as the parties and lawyers concerned did not appear in the court. Hearing of pre-arrest bail pleas filed by accused M Razaq and Salman were adjourned for new dates in next week. A case against Shaukat Ali was also scheduled for hearing in which court recorded statements of the parties. Shaukat Ali is on bail nowadays. Framing of charges against Humayon Rasheed

also adjourned for next week.

Final arguments and statements of the concerned parties in a case of smuggling against Rafique Ali were also scheduled for hearing which is rescheduled for next week.

Meanwhile, The Customs Court on adjourned the hearing of 16 cases related to customs matters.

During the hearing of most of the cases, the counsels for the accused requested the court to postpone the hearing of their respective cases for preparation of arguments on which the court adjourned the hearings for different dates. –CB Report

rto-II recovers rs 4.2m from punjab Auqaf deptt

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LAHORE

SAJID NAwAZ

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he Regional Tax OfRice-II (RTOII) of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has attached the bank accounts of the Punjab Auqaf Department due to tax evasion.

According to RTO sources, the Auqaf Department made payments

to the contractors but failed to clear their tax amounts to the Inland Revenue Department.

After getting information and all legal process, Withholding Zone of Regional Tax OfRice-II (RTO-II) has frozen the bank accounts of Auqaf Department and recovered tax amount of Rs 4.2 million. On Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Withholding Zone Talib Hussain along

with his team, started action against the department and attached its bank accounts.

All outstanding dues were recovered from Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department accounts in Bank of Punjab. The Auqaf Department had made payments to the different contractors during the tax year 2015-16 and without clearing their tax liabilities.

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European port strike postponed WASHINGTON: The International Dockworkers Council (IDC) says a day of strike action planned for European ports on Friday will now take place on 23 March. Last week the council called for European stevedores to stop work for three hours and those in the rest of the world for an hour, in solidarity with Spanish port workers who are in dispute with the government over planned reforms to the labour system. “The Spanish Government threatens the growth of the Spanish economy and seeks to make the dockworkers’ profession disappear from the country’s ports,” IDC’s general coordinator Jordi Aragunde stated. The IDC told Port Strategy that the decision to delay the strike was made on 8 March to give workers and the Spanish government more time to enter into negotiations to solve the conflict.

charleston ports looking to duplicate success with inland facility oping to duplicate the success of its Upstate inland port, the State Ports Authority is breaking ground Friday on a second version aimed at providing a boost to the Pee Dee economy. The new railed-served cargo hub in Dillon will use trains and trucks to move goods between the Port of Charleston and the busy U.S. Interstate 95 corridor. The $40 million facility at the Tri-County Gateway Industrial Park is expected to open about a year from now and initially will handle about 45,000 cargo containers. Its three-year-old counterpart in Greer has exceeded expectations, handling 103,639 cargo moves in 2016 for customers such as discount retailer Dollar Tree, tire maker Michelin and German automaker BMW. Eventually, the SPA hopes to boost capacity at the Dillon site to 220,000 cargo boxes annually as

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the area attracts new distribution centers and manufacturers. Mark Vitner, an economist with Wells Fargo bank in Charlotte, said he is optimistic about the Dillon facility’s potential. “The success of the inland port in Greer has been much greater and has occurred much faster than I thought it would, even though they did have the advantage of having BMW and Michelin and a core of good companies,”Vitner said.

“I don’t know that Dillon can exactly replicate the success they’ve had in the Upstate, but I see no reason why it won’t be successful. I’m very encouraged by it.” The Dillon project aims to “expand opportunity and bring industrial diversity to the Pee Dee region and beyond,”Tom Rice, the Republican Congressman whose district includes Dillon, said in a statement. –CB Report

Ports & hipping

port of Vancouver prepares hotel demolition WASHINGTON

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he end is near for parts of the former Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay. The Port of Vancouver announced Thursday it will start dismantling segments of the old hotel as early as March 16. Crews will spend about four weeks tearing down 113 rooms in the north and west wings. Port ofRicials said that the demolition isn’t expected to impact trafRic or visitors to WareHouse ’23, the restaurant that opened in July at the hotel’s old riverfront restaurant.

Demolishing parts of the hotel, which closed October 2015, is expected to make room for a new hotel that is a centerpiece for Terminal 1, the port’s upcoming waterfront redevelopment project. That hotel, AC Hotel by Marriott, will be developed by Vancouver-based Rirm Vesta Hospitality. Construction won’t begin until next year, according to Rob Gartner, vice president of business

development with the Rirm. The 100,000-square-foot hotel is designed to include between 150 and 160 rooms, 160 parking spaces, 5,000 square feet of meeting space, and potentially a rooftop lounge, Gartner said.

“That’s one of the things we’re pretty excited about due to the location and being able to capture some really great views,” he said. He declined to disclose the project’s

overall price tag and the potential room rates. “We’ll be driven by the market,” he said about room rates.

Before construction can begin, the city of Vancouver must Rirst approve the port’s Concept Development Plan, an ostensible master plan for the 10.37-acre waterfront property.

Public comment is open on the plan through March 17. City council could vote to approve the plans in late spring or early summer.

Saturday March 25, 2017

port of Vancouver meeting hindered by cyberattack he Port of Vancouver’s computer network was subject to a denial-ofservice attack during Tuesday’s contentious, 4 1/2 -hour-long board of commissioners meeting on the fate of Vancouver Energy. A denial-of-service attack is a cyberattack frequently caused by malicious computer software called malware. The attack affects a computer system by sending a computer system its communicating with an overwhelming amount of work requests. “It’s kind of like the notion of a traffic jam; there’s so much traffic on it that none of the communication packets can go where they’re trying to go,” said Adam Hahn, an assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science at Washington State University in Pullman. “It prevents others from accessing a system, but it doesn’t allow you to crack into a system,” he added. Port Spokeswoman Abbi Russell said an attendee of the standing-room-only crowd unknowingly had a virus on their computer, and once the computer connected to the port’s Wi-Fi, the virus started attacking the port’s network. –CB Report

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Motive offshore expands to Dundee port M

WASHINGTON

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otive Offshore Group has expanded its business with a six Rigure investment in a quayside fabrication facility in Dundee Port. After successfully negotiating with the port to take over the site, which boasts a deepwater quay side facility, alongside a 12,000sq ft workshop and 2000sq ft ofRice block, Motive Offshore launched Motive Fabrication. The base allows Motive Fabrication to reinstate the fabrication service at the Port for subsea contractors and vessel owners.

The move by Motive Offshore coincides with the Rirm securing a US$1.8 million (£1.5 million) contract to manufacture and mobilize a 5000-tonne carousel loading tower complete with tensioner and other deck equipment for Swan Hunter

UK. The equipment for Swan Hunter will be operated by Motive Offshores’ technicians, offshore Ghana in Q2 and loaded out from Dundee Port. Motive Offshore Group is headquartered in Boyndie, Banff, Aberdeenshire, and has a total of 60 employees across its divisions, which include marine equipment manufacture and rental, spooling and inspection, and fabrication. Motive Fabrication in Dundee currently employs ten staff and is looking to increase the headcount to support upcoming projects.

Gary Mitchelson, who previously ran Riverside Engineering in Dundee before selling his business to Rigmar in 2012, has joined Motive Fabrication as operations director and will manage the business at the Dundee base. “We are continuing to invest and diversify into new areas and securing the facility in Dundee with the launch of

Motive Fabrication is a positive move for us,” said James Gregg of Motive Offshore Group. “We are in the process of delivering a largescale manufacturing project out of the Dundee base and we are working on a number of other contracts.

We already manufacture heavy equipment at our base in Aberdeenshire but the addition of a quayside facility in Dundee will significantly add to our capacity.”

The Port of Dundee is continuing to attract a number of North Sea oil and gas businesses looking for more cost-effective options for inspection, repair and maintenance of vessels and jackup and semisubmersible drilling rigs. The Port of Dundee’s owners, Forth Ports Ltd., has invested $12.1 million (£10 million) to extend the quay, develop a new 25-acre yard, as well as a landing pad for a permanently installed 1500-tonne crane to support decommissioning projects

all within 300m of Motives new facility. Construction is well underway and expected to be completed by yearend 2017. Tampa is working to win the bid for the 2019 convention and will make a presentation to the Medal of Honor Society later this month in Washington, D.C., he said, reports the Tampa Bay Business Journal. If the city wins the bid, a nonproRit host committee will be formed and he will serve as president and CEO. A prominent Rigure in Republican politics before coming to Port Tampa Bay in 2013, Miyagishima has worked with a number of GOP ofRicials over the years, including Florida Governor Rick Scott. After Scott’s victory over Alex Sink in 2010, Miyagishima worked in the state’s OfRice of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. Prior to coming to Port Tampa Bay, Miyagishima had served on the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Connie Mack IV in 2012.

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Sargodha ASO impounds Sierra Jimny jeep worth Rs1.2m FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Sargodha has impounded a non duty paid foreign origin used Sierra Jimny jeep worth Rs 1.2 million involving duty and taxes amounting to Rs6,16,440. Sources told Customs Today that Deputy Collector Muhammad Rizwan received information regarding a non duty paid vehicle on which he formed a team comprising Superintendent Chaudhary Muhammad Sardar, Inspector Bashir Ahmed, Inspector Ansir Saleemi, Inspector Mehar Ameer Ali, Sepoy Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Iqbal, Hafiz Nasir Ahmed, Shafqat Mehmood and Muhammad Mansha.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

pcA unearths another tax scam of rs 3.09m

by M/s rising Sun construction company ISLAMABAD M FAIZAN

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irectorate General Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has unearthed one more mega tax evasion by M/s Rising Sun Construction Company, 35-Model Town Lahore, on the charges of fraud, smuggling and mis declaration and seized two more used prime movers worth Rs 3.039 million. According to the details, Directorate Post Clearance Audit has launched FIR against the company proprietor Ali Imran Saleemi and his two partners Ali Rizwan Saleemi and Ali Nauman Saleemi, and clearing agent Rana Brothers, Bibi Pak Daman Lahore, on the request of Appraising OfRicer Azeem Manzoor, under the section 2(s), 16, 32 and 79 0f the Customs Act, 1969 and section 3(1), and (3) of the Import and Export Control Act,1950, punishable under clauses 8, 14, 77, 82,89 of section 156 (1) of the Customs Act,1969.

The case has been forwarded to the court of Special Judge Customs Court for legal proceedings. According to FIR during the course of audit and investigation by the DG PCA Islamabad, against certain im-

porters claiming to be construction companies and importing used specialized vehicles, particularly prime movers, circumventing and flouting the conditions as envisaged in the import Policy Or-

der 2012-15. It revealed that M/s Raising Sun and Rana Brothers clearing agent involved in mis declaration and fraud and were able to get release of two prime movers, without meeting and ful-

filling the mandatory conditions and in breach of prohibitions and restrictions which was in force, including the restriction of import of used prime movers of only 380 HP or above engine capacity. The

importer knowingly and fraudulently got these used prime movers released cleared by submitting dubious, fake, forged and questionable documents for the construction projects in hand.

practical work on construction Border custom complex at torkhem PESHAWAR

IrFAN BAhADur

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ractical work on construction of a Rs112 billion mega state of the art Border Custom Complex at Torkhem to enhance regional trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) has been started.

This was disclosed by Collector Customs Peshawar, Qurban Ali

Khan while talking to businessmen of KP during his visit to Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Speaking on the occasion, Qurban Ali said the Project Management Unit (PMU), constituted for execution of the project, has opened its ofRice in Islamabad and Peshawar to kick start implementation work. The stipulated period for completion of the project is two years, he added.

“The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing dollar 300 million loan for execution of the project on soft term basis to Pakistan,”

he told the businessmen. The project also include construction of similar border complexs at Wagha post on Pak-India border and at Chaman in Baluchistan, he said and added that presently work on Torkhem is started. “The state-ofthe-art border complex is being constructed at Torkham to improve facilities related to clearance of goods laden trucks crossing border to Afghanistan and CARs,”. The complex covering 700 kanals land would comprise custom and immigration ofRices, two-way Ccustom and immigration terminals, checking and scanning plazas for

pedestrians, passenger and cargo vehicles with other infrastructure, Qurban Ali added.

Collector Customs says, the complex would be the Rirst of its kind in the country, which would make border crossing systematic, fully computerized and augment the trade volume on the historic route. Border Custom Complex is a step towards achievement of goals set under CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation), a partnership of 10 countries and six multilateral development partners working to promote development through cooperation, lead-

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

ing to accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction, he continued. He also disclosed that Pakistan has signed International Transit Trade Agreement which allows transportation of goods by citizens from member countries of the agreement to take their goods any where through Pakistan.

The member countries of this International Transit Trade Agreement are around 60 to 70, he apprised SCCI members. Collector Customs also dispelled the impression that there is a drastic decrease in bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.