March 11 layout 1

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pAKIStAN’S fIRSt INDeptH NewSpApeR oN cuStomS

Daily

Vol 1 Issue No. 308

Karachi, Fri March 11, 2016

PESHAWAR

NADIR KHAN

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he Model Custom Collectorate Peshawar has collected Rs 2.387 billion under head of duty/taxes during February, 2016 as compare to Rs 1.377 billion collected during the same period last year.

The Peshawar Customs collected Rs 541.55 million as customs duty against the previous year’s collection of Rs 468.18 million with difference of Rs 73.50

million, showing 15.7 percent growth. Under the head of sale tax on import, it collected Rs 377.73 million against Rs 422.79 million collected during the last year with difference of Rs -45.07 million and witnessed 10.66 percent decline. Under the head of sales tax levied as federal excise duty on palm oil, the collectorate collected Rs 164.22 million against Rs 167.21 million of last year with difference of Rs -2.99 million and witnessed 1.79 percent decline. It collected Rs 44.73 million in the term of sale tax value addition on commercial importers against Rs 59.32

Price Rs. 14.00

of the previous February with total differences Rs 10.05 million, while the difference in percentage was standing at -14.59%.

The collectorate under head of federal excise duty on import generated Rs 21.34 million against Rs 15.27 million of last year with the difference of Rs 6.07 million rupees, showing 39.75 percent growth.

In wake of withholding tax, it collected Rs 1238.22 in February, 2016 million against the previous year’s collection of Rs 1192.78 million with difference of Rs 45.44 million, showing 23.57 percent growth over last year.

No more extension in date for filing returns after 15th: Dr Iqbal

Customs Intelligence seizes smuggled items, vehicles worth Rs 723m

Ishaq Dar chairs meeting on Spectrum Auction

Multan Customs seizes smuggled goods, vehicles worth Rs 72.191m in Feb

Khurram Dastagir addresses meeting at FCCI

FBR will not further extend the date for filing tax returns after March 15 | See pAge 02 |

Directorate of Customs Investigation has seized non-customs paid vehicles | See pAge 03 |

Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting about the Spectrum Auction the other day | See pAge 04 |

Directorate of Custom Intelligence has seized a huge quantity of smuggled items | See pAge 12 |

Govt has decided in principal to introduce zero-rating regime for exports | See pAge 09 |

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ANF seizes huge quantity of alcohol, heroin Friday, March 11, 2016

National

KARACHI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has recovered a huge quantity of liquor and heroin during an operation in Sarjani Town.

The ANF sourcs informed Customs Today that on information that a huge quantity of alcohol and heroin will be smuggled from Karachi, an ANF team conducted a raid in Khuda Ki Basti area and recovered 150 bottles of alcohol and 300 grams of heroin. The market value of the seized alcohol is Rs 800,000.

It is pertinent to mention here that the ANF team also conducted a raid in same area and recovered a huge quantity of heroin.

No more extension in date for filing returns after 15th: Dr Iqbal

fBR to start crackdown on departments of Sindh govt KARACHI

wAQAR AHmeD ANSARI

ISLAMABAD

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) will not further extend the date for Qiling tax returns after March 15, a senior ofQicial said.

Member FATE and FBR spokesman Dr Mohammad Iqbal told the sate-news agency that the government will not further extend the last date of Qiling the return and after the expiry of the date the FBR will start charging 0.6 percent withholding tax from non-Qilers besides sending them notices.

He added that now computerised national identity card (CNIC) has been made as tax number and no non-filer could deceive the tax collecting authority as their transactions would be detected from the CNIC. He once again called upon the non-filers to take benefit from the Voluntarily Tax Complaint Scheme (VTCS) and file their returns within the due date and pay their due taxes for the economic prosperity of the country.

Dr Iqbal said that FBR has realised Rs.13.5 billion withholding tax on transactions from non-Qilers.

He added so far 0.922 million taxpayers have Qiled their returns and expressed the hope that this Qigures would further increase.

The FBR spokesman said that the Board collected revenues of Rs

ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) is going to start grand operation against those Sindh government departments who are involved in tax evasion.

Talking to Customs Today, Additional Commissioner IR RTO-III Fayyaz Khan said that ongoing fiscal year is going to end after few months so we already enhanced our measures to generate more revenue. He said there is a huge amount of taxes payable against Sindh government departments and we will take every possible step to recover the oustanding amount from them. He said that RTO-III already despatched reminders letters to these defaulter departments warning them to clear the outstanding tax amount but some of these departments are avoiding to reply the notices.

He also revealed that copies of these letters are also being sent to chief minister of Sindh and he verbally asked chief minister to interfere in this matter and solve the same. Fayyaz Khan said we advise these departments to clear outstanding FBR will take stern action against them.

1,836 billion during the current fiscal year up to March 7, witnessing an increase of 19 percent over collection of same period of the last year. The revenue collection during the same period last fiscal year (2014-15), stood at Rs 1547 billion, he added.

Giving the breakup figures, he said that an amount of Rs 708 billion has been collected in the head

of Income tax, which witnessed an increase of 17 percent as compared to the collection of Rs 605 billion during the corresponding period of last year.

Similarly, the collection of sales tax witnessed increase of 16 percent during the period under review by going up from Rs 712 billion last year to Rs 826 during the current year up to March 7,the sources said.

Likewise, the Customs Duty collections during the period were recorded at Rs.244, as compared to the collection of Rs.183 billion, showing positive growth of 31 percent during the current year. The Federal Excise collection has also increased by 4 percent by going up from Rs.97 billion last year to Rs.101 billion during the current year, the sources said.

Quetta customs seizes Iranian tiles worth Rs 1.2 million T

KARACHI

wAQAR AHmeD ANSARI www.customsbulletin.com

he Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation, Quetta, has started crackdown against smuggling and impounded a truck which was carrying Iranian tiles. The estimated value of the seized tiles is Rs 1.2 million.

Sources told Customs Today that the Customs authorities raided near Turbat Road and seized a truck

which was loaded with smuggled Iranian tiles. The authorities arrested two suspects and registered a case against them. The suspects were allegedly involved in transporting the smuggled tiles.

It is pertinent to mention here that 15 to 20 containers loaded with Iranian tiles are being smuggled into the country through Turbat and Chaman border, causing huge revenue loss for the national exchequer.

Sources said that the Directorate of Customs Valuation had Qixed value

for tile imports in previous year but some inQluential persons were succeeded in declaring the value of Qixed Import Trade Prices (ITP) as null and void, which results increase in smuggling. Meanwhile, Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigations Quetta has recovered 12 non-duty-paid luxury vehicles and a huge quantity of smuggled cigarettes and tyres during a crackdown.

Sources informed Customs Today that Director Customs Intelligence Iqbal Bohwana received credible in-

formation about some smuggling attempts. He constituted different teams who conducted various operations in different parts of Chaman and recovered a huge quantity of smuggled tyres amounting to Rs 8 million and non-customs paid cigarettes worth Rs 1.2 million. Customs Intelligence team also recovered 12 non-duty paid vehicles during a crackdown. Director Iqbal Bhawana said that Customs Quetta authorities are conducting successful operations against smuggling but due to short-

age of resources the department is adopting new strategies to curb smuggling. Meanwhile, Customs Collectorate Gawader has launched a crackdown against smuggling and seized a large quantity of mobile phones, car batteries and beer cans amounting to Rs 2 million. Sources told Customs Today that after receiving credible information regarding smuggling, Collector Saeed Akram constituted a special team under the supervision of Additional Collector Junaid Ahmed Memon.

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Excise seizes documents of 90 token tax defaulter vehicles LAHORE: The Excise and Taxation Department has seized documents of more than 90 vehicles during a general hold-up in the city.

Excise Motor Branch Director Suhail Arshad is taking stern action against token tax defaulters and unregistered vehicles in the region. Even on public holiday, the Motor Branch continued its crackdown against defaulters and seized documents of vehicles in different areas of the city. The department has formed special teams to bring to book tax evaders and to impound unregistered vehicles. Director Suhail Arshad is supervising the campaign against such vehicles.

uNoDc, Japan to ink accord today to curb smuggling in pakistan

Friday March 11, 2016

National

customs Intelligence seizes items, vehicles worth Rs 723m

ISLAMABAD

m fAIZAN

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he Japan government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will sign an agreement on March 10 (today) regarding Japan’s contribution of $6.5 million in support of strengthening border security against illicit trafficking and related Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) in Pakistan.

The agreement will be signed in the presence of leading government officials by the country representative of the UNODC in Pakistan, Cesar Guedes, and Junya Matsuura, charge d’affaires and interim minister for the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan. The project aims to build the capacity of Pakistan.

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fIA arrests human trafficker from faisalabad FAISALABAD

IQRA SHeHZADI

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he Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a human trafficker. The suspect is identified as Muhammad Asif Akhtar, a resident of Chak No. 54 Faisalabad. Sources informed Customs Today that Director FIA Chaudhary Mazharullah and SubInspector Muhammad Nadeem received credible information that the accused is running an illegal business of sending people abroad after extorting huge amounts from them. Sources said that one citizen Faraz Haider son of Mohammad Akram approached the FIA and complained that accused Asif Akhtar received Rs 250,000 from him for sending him to Dubai. But neither he sent him to Dubai nor returned the money. The Federal Investigation Agency has sent the accused behind bars and registered a case number 46/16 against him.

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LAHORE

m HAYAt

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he Directorate of Customs Investigation and Intelligence has seized non-customs paid vehicles and contraband goods during the seven months of Qinancial year 2015-16. The estimated value of the seized items is Rs 723 million involving Rs 507 million duty and taxes.

According to ofQicial details, following the directions of Director Saud Imran Ahmad Ahmad, a special team, under the supervision of additional director Rizwan Slabat and Deputy Director Saad Atta Rabani, conducted anti- smuggling operations in the city and its surrounding areas and registered 70 cases. During the crackdowns, a team of inspectors compring Superintendent Rauf Farooqi, ZulQiqar Dogar, Sohail Murtza and others seized non-customs paid vehicles and seized 23 vehicles, including BMWs, Mercedes, Mark-X, Land cruisers and V8, Premio. The value of the seized vehicles has been determined at Rs 40 million.

The customs authorities also seized contraband goods including 64512 yards of illegally imported cloth, 490 cartons of tea, 2767 tyres and tubes, auto parts, 120 litres mobil oil, 125 drums of grease, 2317 dandas of cigarettes and other miscellaneous goods and articles.

Sources told Customs Today that

on the strict directives of Director General Imtiaz Ahmad the directorate has intensiQied crackdowns on the smuggling activities.

Source further said that Director Saud has instructed the special antismuggling team to adopt zero tolerance policy against the smugglers to overcome the evil of smuggling which is inQlicting heavy losses to the national exchequer.

Meanwhile, The Customs authorities have seized illegally im-

During the crackdowns, a team of inspectors compring Superintendent Rauf farooqi, Zulfiqar Dogar, Sohail murtza and others seized noncustoms paid vehicles and seized 23 vehicles, including Bmws, mercedes, mark-X, Land cruisers and V8, premio. the value of the seized vehicles has been determined at Rs 40 million

ecNec okays six projects worth Rs 85.2 billion ISLAMABAD

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he Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), under the chair of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, has approved Rs85.2 billion worth of six projects of health, communication and water supply. The ECNEC discussed at length the proposal of Ministry of National Health Services, Reg-

ulations and Coordination regarding the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) spanning over the period from 2015-16 to 2019-20 and gave its approval for the project. The project would cost Rs 37,644.68 million and will be Qinanced by the federal as well as provincial governments. The ECNEC approved the proposal from Ministry of Ports and Shipping for provision of coal conveying system from Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT) to Railway network at Port Qasim. Under the project, construc-

tion of coal conveying system measuring 4.8km and laying of 8km railways track with allied structures and facilities for transportation of coal from PIBT coal terminal to railway siding and loading of coal onto railway wagons for onward transmission to the proposed coal Qired power plants will be undertaken. The ECNEC had detailed discussion on the project regarding construction of additional carriageway of Indus Highway N-55, Sehwan-Khairpur Nathan Shah, Ratodero Section (approx 200 KM).

ported Rani Juice, chocolates and polyester worth Rs 10 million, ofQicial sources said. Sources told Customs Today that the customs authorities intercepted a container which was coming from Karachi loaded with illegal juice, chocolates and other illegal items. They added that the owner of the container was a trader who was later identiQied as Ilyas and he was going to dump the illegal juice and chocolates in the Lahore markets.

fBR seeks budget proposals by 18th ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has extended the deadline of budget proposals from the stakeholders till March 18.

Earlier, the FBR had sought the proposals before March 2. However, a large number of chambers of commerce and industries have not yet submitted the proposals, which has forced the department to extend the deadline.

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PR’s over 280 locomotives are 20 years old ISLAMABAD: As many as 281 out of total 443 locomotives of Pakistan Railways are about 20 year old and have competed their economic life, said sources in Ministry of Railways.

Talking to APP, they said that 162 locomotives have already completed 10 to 20 years of the stipulated economic life of 20 years. They said that locomotives were usually designed with an economic life of 20 years and after completing this period, the engines tend to break down frequently. Pakistan Railways still has 156 locomotives of over 40 years or older – over twice their economic age. One of these locomotives was a 53-year old diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by the American Locomotive Company.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Business

cm Shahbaz discusses trade, economic cooperation with British fm LAHORE

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ritish Foreign Minister Philip Hammond called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and discussed matters of mutual interest, promotion of trade and economic cooperation, health, skill development and security affairs.

Shahbaz said that Pak-Britain relations have improved considerably during recent years, adding that new era of relations

cotton trading market remains bearish KARACHI

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he cotton trading market remained bearish as only 300 bales changed hands, while the Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) spot rate remained unchanged Rs 5,250 per maund.

According to KCA, 100 bales of Sanghar changed hands at Rs 5,175 per maund, 100 bales of Vehari at Rs 5,150 per maund, 100 bales of upper Sindh at Rs 5,000 per maund and 100 bales of southern Punjab at Rs 5,250 per maund.

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between both the countries has started during the current PML-N tenure.

The chief minister said that a lot of work is being carried out for the betterment of education, health and skill development sectors in Punjab with the collaboration of UK’s Department of International Development (DFID) and reforms have been introduced in education, health and skill development sectors.

He said that Punjab government is making investment for providing technical training to the youth and empowering them so that they could not only stand on

their own feet and also play due role in strengthening of national economy. “Historic steps have been taken for empowering women and protecting their rights. Such reforms have been introduced for the development and prosperity of women during last few years through which they are demonstrating their capabilities in practical fields,” he added.

British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond speaking on the occasion said under the leadership Shahbaz Sharif, extraordinary work is being carried out in education, health and other sectors.

Hammond said that he is

happy to see the proper utilisation of British taxpayers’ money in Punjab, adding that the province is marching forward to right direction in development field and he is going back with a good message from Pakistan. Advisor to Prime Minister Tariq Fatmi, Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ayesha Ghous Pasha, Khalil Tahir Sindhu and British High Commissioner Thomas Drew were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the chief minister presided over third meeting of Punjab Safe Cities Authority in which progress of some matters of the project was reviewed.

Ishaq Dar chairs meeting on spectrum auction ISLAMABAD

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ederal Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting about the Spectrum Auction the other day. Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman Khan and Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Syed Ismail Shah gave a detailed briefing on the progress made so far by the Spectrum Auction Committee on the auction of

the available spectrum for the new entrants as well as the existing players. The meeting noted that the process was on track and being undertaken keeping in view the international standards and practices, better service for the consumers and most importantly ensuring that it is beneficial for the country. The Finance Minister appreciated the efforts made by Ministry of IT, PTA and the Spectrum Auction Committee. He hoped that the upcoming auction would be as successful as it was in the past and advised that all concerned should

ensure the transparency in the auction process. Special Advisor to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Law, Ashtar Ausaf, SAPM on HRD, Barrister Zafarullah and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Commerce and PTA attended the meeting. Meanwhile, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the national economic growth had jumped up to above five per cent this year from last year’s 4.24% and healthy economic indicators suggested it would soon reach 6-7 per cent mark.

BISp disbursed over Rs 362b so far ISLAMABAD

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he government has disbursed more than Rs 362.25 billion among the deserving families under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) since its inception. BISP has successfully achieved all the goals and objectives set by the federal government and international development partners from time to time since inception. BISP has met all the Disbursement Link Indicators (DLIs) and targets set by the Government and Donor agencies, official sources told APP. BISP conducted poverty scorecard survey across the country and maintains the data of more than 27 million households considered as first of its kind and regarded as a great achievement. The programme has exceeded the target of enrolling more than 1.0 million children in primary school through its Waseela-e-Taleem Programme and disbursed Rs. 994 million on admission and attendance compliance of these children till end of 2015.

Sources said they developed Management Information System (MIS) for all its operations and maintained a state of the art poverty database. BISP participated in natural calamities like earth quake, floods etc. and provided full support to Federal and Provincial governments in implementing emergency relief programmes.

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pakistan offers lucrative opportunities to Saudi investors ISLAMABAD

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senior Pakistani ofQicial has invited Saudi Arabia investors to take advantage of lucrative investment opportunities in Pakistan. Pakistan was rapidly becoming the best destination for investment with improved security and favorable business climate backed by strong macro-economic indica-

tors, said Waseem Hayat Bajwa, commercial ofQicer at Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh. Addressing an elite business gathering organized by the `Pakistan Investors Forum’, Bajwa said that Pakistan was now witnessing revival in almost every Qield including energy, industrialization, telecom, agriculture,and infrastructure due to improved law and order situation, Arab News reported. The government, he said, was aspiring to put Pakistan among top 25 big

economies of the world, although an ambitious task but quite doable.

On cooperation in energy Qield, Bajwa said, “We have set goal of doubling the energy capacity of the country from 22,000 MW to 45,000 MW by 2025, which would help the country to move on fast track of development.” He said: “For foreign investors, there is trouble-free entry to Pakistani market with 100 percent ownership, ease of registration and Qlexibility in Qinancial proce-

dures.” Spelling out the incentives given to Saudi, overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors, he said that the unrestricted remitting of capital and 25 percent off on the initial depletion of machinery is something an investor wouldn’t want to miss.

Referring to the progressively growing relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Bajwa said that “it is high time that Pak-Saudi strong knitted strategic relations should be transformed into meaningful busi-

ness and trade relations.” With more than 200 million population, Pakistan is no doubt an ideal market, said the commercial ofQicer, adding that the Saudi government and big corporations should focus on a look east policy with Pakistan as the main investment hub. Meanwhile, The Japanese government has given Pakistan $6.5 million to enhanced border security against illicit trafQicking and other transnational-organised crimes (TOCs) in Pakistan.

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ISLAMABAD m fAIZAN www.customsbulletin.com

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ederal Board of Revenue Chairman Nisar Muhammad Khan has directed the chief commissioners to adopt strict measures to meet the revenue collection targets. He said that the ofQicials who have failed to achieve the targets should be replaced with competent ofQicials.

He stated this during his visit to the Regional Tax OfQice (RTO) and the Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) in Islamabad along with Inland Revenue (IR) Operations Member Dr Muhammad Irshad.

The FBR chief also held meeting with RTO Chief Commissioner Noushad Ali Khan and LTU Chief Commissioner Sajjad Ali Khan, commissioners, additional commissioners and others. The chairman reviewed the performance of the Qield formations and directed them to improve their performance. Following the probability of not meeting the target for third quarter, the chairman and member are monitoring the situation closely and taking required steps to meet the target.

On inquiry, FBR chairman was informed that few traders have taken beneQit of the tax amnesty scheme.

It was also informed that awareness camps have been established at all market of Islamabad to persuade the traders.

Nisar Khan also asked about the measure taken for broadening the tax net and directed them to bring the potential taxpayers into tax net. He also said that suitable policy was made to settle tax cases pending with tribunals and courts as early as possible.

Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Nisar Mohammad Khan and Member Operations Dr Mohammad Irshad will visit Regional Tax OfQice Rawalpindi. Sources informed Customs Today that during his visit to RTO, the chairman will preside over a meeting to review the performance of the RTO. Besides, Chief Commissioner Tanveer Akhtar Malik, commissioners, assistant commissioners and other senior ofQicials will also attend the meeting. Sources said that participants of the meeting with review

the output of RTO from July 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016, while warning will be issued to those ofQicials whose performance is not upto the mark. Participants of the meeting will also examine measure to achieve revenue target set for FY 2015-16.

ith ting w li e e m d had A o hel r Nous ief als e h c n o R i s B f is oner comm f commissi f e i h ers, chie Rto c ission d Ltu n m a m n o a Kh an, c and Ali Kh ioners the Sajjad al commiss d viewe on additi chairman re rmations ld fo . the the fie rove their others f o e c imp man perfor ted them to irec mance and d perfor

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Founder & Chairman Zulfiqar Ali Editor Rahil Yasin editor@customsbulletin.com.pk For advertising & subscription marketing@customsbulletin.com.pk www.customsbulletin.com Phones: 042-35781643-4, Fax: 042-35781645 Address: 627, Siddiq Trade Centre, Gulberg, Lahore

eDItoRIAL

case of exorbitant wheat price

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he price of wheat flour is skyrocketing in Pakistan, registering an increase of more than 300 percent during the last 10 years.

The question is why Pakistanis are forced to buy wheat flour at exorbitant price as compared to the other parts of the world when surplus wheat is available in the government stocks. According to the Pakistan Economy Watch, the government needs to look into distortions in the market as surplus wheat worth billions of rupees is wasted away annually due to lack of proper warehouse facilities in the country, leaving the field open for hoarders and black marketers to fleece the people. According to the economy watch, a former prime minister increased the wheat price as a poly to arrest the sliding popularity of his party. The step boosted the production of the commodity, but could not ensure his victory in the elections. However, in the process, the country lost competitive edge in the international market.

Reports suggest that the government has currently around six million tonnes of wheat in its warehouses and the next crop is expected to take the stocks to 25 million tonnes. With inadequate storage capacity in the warehouses, the government either will have to export wheat or donate it.

Otherwise a loss of Rs 20 billion is imminent. The economic watch chief claims that the government has allowed $45 to $55 subsidy on export of wheat, but it proved to be a futile exercise as the government could not achieve the export target. He says that the government could only export wheat worth $3 million during 2014-15 and there is a need to change strategy to save the national exchequer from losses. Experts believe the government’s decision to increase the support price of wheat has benefited big land owners and curbed its smuggling to Afghanistan and the central Asian states, but it has given a severe blow the poor and fixed income classes in the country. The mounting speculative pressure on price has also has worked as incentive for hoarders and black marketers, changing the dynamics of the flour market. The flour price has increased by Rs500 and wheat by Rs 800 per 40kg during the last five years, increasing disproportional increase in the cost of living.

Dilemma of fake currency notes P

LAHORE

DR AftAB AfZAL

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olice have arrested a gang of criminals involved in printing fake currency notes of various denominations, including US dollars and UAE dirhams during a raid in Lahore.

Earlier, Saeed Ahmad, acting governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, had warned of anti-state elements involved in circulating counterfeit Pakistani currency in the country not only putting the individuals, who happened to accept the fake notes accidently, in pain and agony, but also undermining the national economy.

Though the central bank is vigilant to foil the attempts of crim-

inals by devising a course of currency management and strategies, the arrest of the criminals indicate that counterfeit banknotes are a reality and an imminent danger to the economy.

The bank is ready to launch a campaign to create awareness among the masses about counterfeit notes and counter the gangs of criminals active in this business across the country. A documentary has been prepared to be broadcast on TV channels and a smart-phone application is also being developed to help people detect fake currency notes. However, the gangs are not the partners of the crime alone as Indian intelligence agency RAW is actively pursuing a goal to spoil the economy of

this nation.

The official circles are fully aware of the Indian designs against the national economy as secret agencies are not only spreading fake currency across the country through its agents, but is also using it to launch terrorist activities in the country.

The most pathetic part of the campaign is that Indian agencies use the quality paper and print it on sophisticated machines which makes it difficult for the common man to detect the counterfeit currency. The State Bank is proud of the security features incorporated in the currency notes, but the fact remains the quality of paper used in the original currency is questionable.

The nation is already facing

various kinds of economic woes and the matter of the counterfeit currency needs to be taken seriously. The government will have to change the quality of paper and colours schemes used in the currency notes which are apparently substandard in the current denominations. Meanwhile, the arrest of seven criminals involved in printing fake currency notes is tip of the iceberg as deep investigations is required to unearth the gangs involved in the business. There is a need to understand how fake currency is utilized at a large scale. The banks staff should also be trained to detect the fake currency as some individuals even drew fake currency notes from the ATM machines.

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Russia exported more than 200 KMT of soybean MOSCOW: Soybeans exports from Russia reached 210 KMT over the first six months of the current season, including 70 KMT in January 2016. Exports increase from month being almost completely bought out by Chinese importers. At the moment soybean exports from Russia are almost twice higher than during the previous season (107 KMT in January-September 2014/15 MY).

Currently UkrAgroConsult estimates total soybean exports from Russia at 500 KMT. However, this estimate may be raised to 550-600 KMT if export pace remains record high in coming months.

Further development of oilseed/vegoils market in Ukraine and Black Sea countries will be discussed at the IV International Conference “Black Sea Oil Trade-2016” on September 7, 2016 in HILTON hotel, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Khurram Dastagir addresses meeting at fccI overnment has decided in principal to introduce zero-rating regime for exports form next financial year, said Federal Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastagir during addressing a meeting in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI). He said that the present government has to face multifarious and multi dimensional challenges. However, with its sincere efforts positive improvements could be witnessed in energy sector. Similarly the hydra headed monster of terrorism has also been nailed down.

He said that sixteen hour long load shedding of electricity has been re-

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duced to only four hours and efforts are now being made to give further relief to the people of Pakistan. He said that initially a proposal was under consideration to allow zero rating to only five export sectors but now his ministry was contemplating to extend it to the nine vale added sectors. He said that we have done a lot but more has to be done to put the country on the road to progress and claimed that PML-N Government has earned political stability with its 1000 days and as soon as the economic situation improves more relief will be doled out to the business community. Regarding refund claims, he said that this issue will be eliminated with the introduction of zerorating regime for export sectors and then all efforts would be diverted to the payment of pending refund claims. Regarding exports, the federal minister said that the GSP-Plus status is one of the biggest facility earned by this government which has played an instrumental role in enhancing 33 percent increase in our exports to the EU countries. —CB Report

Friday March 11, 2016

Chambers

pak-Russia private sector should play role to boost bilateral trade: Dedov T

FAISALABAD

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he trade relations between Pakistan and Russia are growing satisfactorily at the government level and a huge investment of two billion dollars is indicative of this cooperation.

However, the private sector of two countries should also come forward to play its role in giving a quantum jump to the bilateral trade, said Russian Federation Ambassador Alexey y. Dedov.

He was addressing a function organized by Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), which was also attended by leading industrialists, traders and exporters of the city. He said that Russia started a number of energy projects while an agreement was also signed to lay gas pipe line from Karachi to Lahore and now the balance of trade is in favor of Russia. However, the trade volume is still far less than their potentialities of the two countries and business communities of the two countries should take necessary measures to exploit this available potential. He told that a ministerial level

meeting will be held in Islamabad in November and December to remove the bottlenecks hampering our bi lateral trade. He said that many Russian companies are already working in Pakistan while more are willing to invest in Pakistan as the situation in this country was improving considerably. Quoting the hurdles in bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia, he said that one of the major causes was unrest in Afghanistan. He said that Russia is importing wheat

and Kinno from Pakistan and more commodities could also be imported provided the roads passing through Afghanistan are made safe and secure. Regarding possibilities of MOUs, Preferential Trade Agreements (PTA) and Free Trade Agreements (FTA), he said that in this connection negotiations at the ofQicial level are required. However, as regards cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries, it needs reliable and credible banking

LccI for early resolution of steel melter’s issues

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LAHORE

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he Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to focus on the rehabilitation of steel melting industry that is in deep trouble because of General Sales Tax on electricity bills and various other issues.

While talking to a group of Steel Melters Association, president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Muhammad Arshad, Senior Vice President Almas Hyder and Vice President Nasir Saeed said that the General Sales Tax on the electricity bills of Steel Melters should be reduced to four rupees from existing nine rupees which is very high and one of the biggest reasons of high input cost of the Steel Melting Industry.

The delegation informed the LCCI office-bearers that the steel melting sector has a production capacity of 7.5 million tonnes which has been reduced to 3.5 million tonnes, mainly because of import of finished and semi-finished steel products. The local industry produces iron billets, girder, angle and other products thus generating a substantial amount of revenue to the national exchequer.

Yet, they agreed that the Federal Board of Revenue in 2007 had taken all stakeholders including steel melters, steel re-rollers, ship breakers, and Pakistan Steel Mills into confidence and evolved the Special Procedure 2007 which it resolved that the general sales tax at the rate of Rs 4.75 per unit would be levied on electricity bills, which was later enhanced to Rs 9 per unit in the federal budget 2015-16. At that time, the raw ma-

terial-shredded steel scrap was $350 to $360 per tonne that has been declined to $190 to $200 per tonne. According to the Pakistan Steel Melters Association, the steel melting furnaces utilize electricity on very large scale as its raw material. Though it is the largest revenue generating sector in Pakistan till to date but in deep trouble due to unfavorable policies.

They also urged the government to withdraw adjustable sales tax at import stage as it blocks the working capital for a long time span. They also demanded withdrawal of 15% regulatory duty on steel scrap which is also one of the basic raw materials of the steel melting industry.

The LCCI office-bearers said that concerned authorities should keep in view the ground realities and solve the issues of steel melting industry at the earliest.

system. He told that government of Pakistan was ready to open a branch of National Bank of Pakistan in Moscow which will have salutary impact on the promotion of bilateral trade between the two countries. Regarding sanctions clamped on Turkey by Russia, he said that it provides a unique opportunity to Pakistani exporters to Qill up this gap by making arrangements with their Russian counterparts particularly for the export of textile products.

‘Russia intends to boost mutual trade ties with pakistan’ he Ambassador of Russia to Pakistan Alexey Dedov showed keen interest in the Sialkot-made sports goods and surgical instruments during his visit to several leading industrial units in Sialkot amid tight security. Russian Ambassador witnessed the production process of the sports goods and she highly hailed the international standard craftsmanship of the Sialkot based artisans. Alexey Dedov said that the Sialkot exporters have a great potential to explore and capture the international trade markets of Russia by exporting their world class traditional and non-traditional export products. He also highly hailed the unique export culture of Sialkot.—CB Report

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South Africa gold firms obtain lift from weak rand Friday March 11, 2016

World

CAPE TOWN: A sinking rand has sparked a buying spree and rerating of South African gold mining shares which have doubled in value in 2016, but the volatile currency is a double-edged sword that could cut the gains back down to size. The crumbling currency is the main driver behind the rally. It has shed 15 percent against the dollar since October and its decline has coincided with a spike in spot gold, pushing the rand/bullion price to record highs of almost 20,000 rand an ounce. The result: South African gold producers which were struggling are now suddenly flush with cash. Harmony Gold, which gets 90 percent of its production from South Africa, recorded a profit of 74 million rand ($4.8 million) in the December quarter last year after losing 523 million rand in the previous three months.

customs fish £2.5 million drug haul from sea MADRID

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ustoms ofQicers recovered 22 bales of cannabis resin worth £2.5m yesterday.

The haul, which weighed a total of 650 kilograms, was Qished out of the sea off the east side of the Rock.

OfQicers from HM Customs (Gibraltar) spotted the bales while patrolling through British Gibraltar territorial waters. “It is believed that these must have been jettisoned by smugglers but no arrests have been made,” a Customs spokesman said.

Customs and the Royal Gibraltar Police have reported increased smuggling activity at sea in recent months, as have law enforcement agencies in Spain. Often when chased, smugglers ditch their shipments in order to increase the speed and manoeuvrability of their vessels during high-speed pursuits. The

malaysia customs seizes 159kg smuggled ivory alaysian authorities said Wednesday they had confiscated 159 kilograms (350 pounds) of ivory smuggled by air passengers, the latest seizures in a country used as a key Asian transit point in the illegal trade. Customs officials, who said the haul was worth $382,200, displayed the seized elephant tusks at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. They said two Vietnamese men were arrested at the airport upon arrival last Saturday after they were found to be carrying bags containing 101 kilograms of ivory.

Later that day, another bag containing 58 kilograms was discovered at the airport. Authorities believe that bag belonged to a Vietnamese passenger who had flown in from Ethiopia, bound for Hanoi. Authorities said they were still looking for that third suspect.—CB Report

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bales were in good condition and it is not believed that they were in sea for long. “There’s a lot of trafQic out there and these drugs were fresh,” the Customs spokesman said. “They hadn’t been Qloating around for long.” This is the latest in a string of similar drug hauls in British waters.

Yesterday evening, Customs and RGP units were still combing the shoreline and had not ruled out recovering more bales of drugs.

Meanwhile, The Bureau of Customs has threatened the private consignee of the 600,000 vehicle license plates that it will put the shipment up for auction if the company will not pay around P40 million in duties and taxes this week. This is the warning of Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina to the Dutch-Filipino consortium Knieriem BV Goes and Power Plates Development Concept Inc. (JKG-PPI). “The importer promised that they would pay us in a while, so we would wait for them for a week. If they fail, we would consider the process of abandonment.

philippines authorities seize smuggled sugar worth p22.4m ZAMBOANGA CITY

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uthorities seized some P22.4 million worth of smuggled reQined white sugar off Barangay (village) Recodo here the other evening.

Philippine Navy Commander Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said on Friday that the smuggled sugar totaling around 7,000 sacks was on a large boat, which was spotted and intercepted by a routine maritime patrol around 10 p.m.

“Upon questioning of the patron, it was learned that the said motor vessel was loaded with sugar and was reportedly from Sandakan.

Coast Guard personnel, who were aboard the navy ships, directed the motor vessel to proceed to the city pier for documentation and proper

South African petro chemical giant to invest $1b in mozambique

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outh Africa’s petro-chemical giant, SASOL has conQirmed it will be investing over $1b in the exploitation of light oil for gas and energy production in Inhassoro district of the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane as from 2018.The project kicks off this year with the construction of a processing plant in Inhassoro, a Mozambican coastal town, situated some 750 kilometers north of the country’s capital, Maputo. This is likely to make SASOL become the Qirst commercial oil producer in Mozambique

to extend a gas pipeline that will increase exports to neighbouring South Africa. According to a statement seen

by APA on Sunday, the petrochemicals giant, which makes 40pc of its revenue from oil, said the project will be rolled out in stages. It said the Qirst phase will include an oil, liqueQied petroleum oil and gas project adjacent to its Pande and Temane Qields. Natural gas from Pande and Temane Qields, in which Sasol holds a majority stake, is currently produced and processed at a central facility.—CB Report

disposition,” Trinidad said.

Meanwhile, The Bureau of Customs has threatened the private consignee of the 600,000 vehicle license plates that it will put the shipment up for auction if the company will not pay around P40 million in duties and taxes this week.

This is the warning of Customs

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Commissioner Alberto Lina to the Dutch-Filipino consortium Knieriem BV Goes and Power Plates Development Concept Inc. (JKG-PPI).

“The importer promised that they would pay us in a while, so we would wait for them for a week. If they fail, we would consider the process of abandonment.

Japanese iron ore imports fall in Jan

he trade statistics released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance (MoF) for the month of January this year indicates signiQicant drop in iron ore imports by the country. The Japanese iron ore imports during the month totaled 10.384 Million tonnes, 5.9% lower when compared with the imports during the same month a year ago.

The country’s iron ore imports had totaled 11.030 Million tonnes during January 2015. The import prices averaged at ¥ 7,010 per tonne, nearly 34.6% lower year-on-year. The iron ore import prices had averaged at ¥ 10,720 per tonne during January

2015. The largest exporter of iron ore to Japan during January this year was Australia. The imports from Australia totaled 5.683 Million tonnes, accounting for almost 55% of the total imports by Japan during the month. The import prices of iron ore from Australia averaged at ¥6,134 per tonne during the month. The other key exporters of iron ore to Japan during Jan ’16 were Brazil (2.992 Mt at average price of ¥8,097 per tonne) and South Africa (604,848 tonnes at average price of ¥8,458 per tonne). The imports of non-agglomerated iron ore by Japan totaled 9.320 Million tonnes.—CB Report

Drugs worth S$235,000 seized in islandwide operation

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SINGAPORE

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total of 103 suspected drug offenders were arrested in a sixday islandwide operation which kicked off on Feb 27, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) announced on Friday.

OfQicers also seized drugs worth

S$235,000 in total, including 1.8kg of heroin, 338 Ecstasy tablets, 1,462 Erimin-5 tablets and 454g of Ice. One of the cases accounted for S$210,000 worth of drugs. It saw six suspects rounded up and cash of more than S$29,000 seized.

On Wednesday, a suspected drug courier, a 43-year-old Malaysian was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint after he was found with 1.3kg

of heroin, 77g of Ice and 1,000 Erimin-5 tablets.

CNB nabbed three people who were intended recipients of the seized drugs. The Qirst was a 60year-old Singaporean man arrested at Teck Whye Lane and the second, a 33-year-old Singaporean male, arrested along Bencoolen Street with a 35-year-old suspected accomplice.

Cannabis, Yaba tablets and sus-

pected synthetic cannabinoids were found on the 35-year-old. He and his alleged accomplice led ofQicers to a nearby hotel room where 334 Ecstasy tablets, 112 Yaba tablets, some Erimin-5 tablets, 60g of Ice were recovered, CNB said.

A raid of the 33-year-old man’s home in Woodlands found a small assortment of drugs including Ice, and Ecstasy and Yaba tablets.

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Glencore announces loss of $5 billion in 2015 GENEVA: Debt-laden mining and commodities giant Glencore on Tuesday reported results deep in the red for 2015 due to plunging prices for metals and oil. The Switzerland-based company posted a loss of $4.96 billion (4.5 billion euros) last year, compared to a net profit of $2.3 billion just a year earlier. Not counting $6.3 billion in so-called significant items, including losses linked to bankruptcy proceedings at its optimum coal mine in South Africa, the company said it had raked in a net profit of $1.3 billion last year. But even this adjusted profit ticked in 69 percent lower than in 2014. Glencore saw its commodities marketing activities slide 11 percent to $2.7 billion, hit by a slumping metals market as well as by a strong base-line comparison on agricultural products in 2014.

Surprise fall in malaysia’s January exports alaysia’s January exports fell for the first time in eight months on weak global economic conditions and a slide in oil and gas shipments, government data showed on Friday (March 4), confounding economists’expectations for a rise. Exports in January declined 2.8 per cent from a year earlier, compared with 1.4 per cent growth in December and a Reuters poll forecast of 2.5 per cent. It last declined in May 2015.

The Southeast Asian country’s exports had expanded at a slower pace in the last two months, hit by weak global prices for commodity shipments and a slowdown in China, Malaysia’s largest trading partner. Imports in January rose 3.3 per cent from a year earlier, picking up from 3.2 per cent the previous month. January’s trade surplus was a smaller RM5.39 billion (S$1.81 billion) compared with RM7.99 billion in December. Exports to the EU grew 6.4 per cent, while US exports rose 7.9 per cent supported by higher exports

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of manufactured goods.

Meanwhile, The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has confiscated some 9,000 metric tonnes of timber logs and seized two ships and a barge off the coast of Miri on suspicion of illegal transportation of logs. The agency has been carrying out surveillance operations 11 nautical miles in the South China Sea off Miri since March 4. Late on Sunday, the patrol teams sprang into action and made the seizures, said its enforcement chief for Miri Admiral Abim Sungom yesterday. “The barge with 1,844 logs weighing 9,000 metric tonnes have been seized along with the two ships.

“The ships may have contravened the law,” he said, adding that MMEA was probing whether they have valid permits to transport the logs.—CB Report

Ports & Shipping

Azeri oil shipment from ceyhan by late feb falls

Friday March 11, 2016

port of Hamburg to receive first Iranian petchem shipment fter seven years, the first consignment of Iranian petrochemical products to Europe will arrive in the Port of Hamburg within the next few days, said the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) Managing director Mohammad Saeidi.

Following 2520 days of travel, Saeidi said, the ship would first dock at the Port of Hamburg and then it would set sail for the port of Antwerp in Belgium, the Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday. After the removal of U.S. and UN sanctions against Iran on January 16, shipping cargo to European ports is back on track. Referring to the establishment of joint shipping companies in Germany and Italy to cover the northern and southern ports of Europe, the official said, “We are also planning to launch shipping lines to the ports in Latin America.” According to Saeidi, Iran is planning to launch shipping lines to the ports in Latin America, Central America and North Africa in the coming months, adding that the country would also resume overseas trade with Canada in near future. The official noted that the IRISL fleet is aiming to rise to the place of 15th largest shipping line in the next two years with a broad objective to get among the top ten in the course of five years.—CB Report

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BBAKU

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he State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has announced the latest statistical data on Azeri oil export via main export pipeline Baku–Tbilisi– Ceyhan (BTC) named after Heydar Aliyev: shipment of oil from Ceyhan fell by 16% in February against January 2016. SOCAR informs that it was shipped 2.387 million tons of Azeri oil from the Turkish port of Ceyhan in February against 2.848

million tons in January.

This February 1.3 million tons of overall shipping accounted for the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) against 1.5 million tons in January. Over Jan-Feb it was shipped 5.235 million tons of Azeri oil from Ceyhan and 2.85 million tons accounted for SOFAZ. From the very start of transshipment to 1 March 2016 the overall shipment of Azeri oil from Ceyhan reached 296.429 million tons. In 2015 shipment of Azeri oil from Ceyhan reached 29.079 million tons.

Shipment in SOFAZ interests was estimated at 18.546 million tons.

Meanwhile, Plans for a new

worker village in Lake Charles are moving forward, but that’s not all the Port of Lake Charles has planned. The port owns roughly 350 acres of land between La. 397 and James Sudduth Parkway.

The port’s executive director, Bill Rase, said tentatively, 50 acres of land will be dedicated to South Korean company Dongsung Finetec.

They will take over the former Spartech-Polycom facility.

“That’s going to a production facility that’s going to produce insulation for the LNGs and all the products that are going to be developed in this area so that’s the Qirst part of the puzzle,” Rase said.

uS customs seizes $2.8m marijuana at mariposa port

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WASHINGTON

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ederal officers in Nogales have made yet another million-dollar marijuana bust at the Mariposa Port of Entry. The latest seizure came March 1 when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers sent a tractor-trailer driven by a 45-year-old man from Guaymas, Sonora for a secondary inspection.

After a drug-sniffing dog alerted

to the trailer’s shipment of Italian squash, officers found 240 bundles of marijuana weighing a total of 5,700 pounds. The load was valued at $2.8 million. CBP said the driver, who was not identified by name, was arrested and referred to federal investigators. The tractortrailer and its contents were seized.

It was the fourth reported pot bust of $1 million or more at the Mariposa port so far in 2016. On Feb. 24, officers seized $2.75 million worth of marijuana from a load labeled as electronic parts. The

dope weighed approximately 5,500 pounds. On Feb. 12, CBP made the second-largest marijuana seizure in Arizona port history by nabbing 17,000 pounds of pot worth an estimated $8.5 million from a shipment identified as airplane parts.

On Jan. 2, officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility found more than 3,300 pounds of marijuana, valued at approximately $1.65 million, hidden in a shipment of wooden furniture.

Meanwhile, The Port of Trincomalee has recoded Rs. 9 million of

increased income during the last two months by re-establishing the weigh bridge system at port. The total income received by the port was reported as at Rs.71 million for the said period.

The port introduced Weigh Bridge system first, in the year of 2006 but it was not been used properly until the system was restored in last December. Hence, the cargo volumes calculated for Coal, Clinker and Gypsum using the previous Weigh Bridge system were reported with inaccurate statistics.

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Sialkot FIA apprehends 7 human traffickers SIALKOT: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team has nabbed 7 human traffickers from Gujranwala, Sialkot during different raids.

Reportedly, FIA deputy director and his team raided at Gujranwala and Sialkot and nabbed 7 human traffickers namely as Waqar Ahmed, Mushtaq, Asif, Majid, Iftikhar, Noor Din and Rasheed.

These human traffickers were involved human trafficking since long.

They send people on fake documents and visas. FIA has registered the cases against accused and further investigation is under the way.

Friday, March 11, 2016

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

multan customs seizes smuggled goods, vehicles worth Rs 72.191m in february MULTAN ImRAN ALI

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he Directorate of Custom Intelligence and Investigation has seized a huge quantity of smuggled items and vehicles worth Rs 72.191 million in February. According to details, anti-smuggling operations were conducted by various teams of Customs Intelligence and Investigation in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Sadiqabad.

The special Customs teams seized various smuggled goods which include foreign origin cigarettes, cloth, electronics goods, tyres, and other miscellaneous items . The Customs Intelligence also seized 21 non-customs paid vehicles of new and old models.

The seized vehicles include Toyota Corolla X, Hino Ranger Trailer, Toyota Fielders, Vitz, Premio, Suzuki Alto, Toyota Passo,Land Cruiser etc. during various activities of the Customs anti-smuggling unit. During the operation huge quantity of smuggled foreign origin cigarettes and others items were seized in February. Customs have formed 24 seizure cases in the month of February during extensive anti-smuggling activities of the

Customs department against noncustom paid vehicles and goods. Customs have formed 16 seizure cases in Dera Ghazi Khan location after effective crackdown against smugglers in

the region, Qive cases in Multan and only three cases in the Sadiqabad region. Anti-smuggling operations were conducted under the guidance and supervision of Additional Direc-

tor Nisar Ahmad and Director Saud Imran with new strategy to curb smuggling in the region and Director General Imtiaz Ahmad. Due to extensive campaign against non-customs

paid goods and vehicles customs authorities have protected millions of rupees with the actions of anti-smuggling activities in order to save the resultant loss to national economy.

customs court sends four cloth smugglers on judicial remand LAHORE

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he Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti Smuggling has approved the judicial remand of four cloth smugglers for 14 days who were arrested from Sialkot.

According to details, the accused persons were arrested from Sambrial while a Customs team intercepted a truck bearing No. TKV

6423 near Sambrial and found a huge quantity of non-duty paid Indian cloth. Total weight of the smuggled clothes was almost 6,423 kilogram worth more than Rs 10 million in local market.

The Customs Collectorate Sambrial arrested four accused namely Muhammad RaQique, Basit RaQique, Nasir Khan and Muhammad Riaz.

Customs authorities presented all the accused before the court and asked for physical remand as to dig out the main chain behind the smuggling activities in Sialkot and Sambrial. Customs court approved their three days physical remand

which was ended and now all accused have sent to jail for further judicial trial.

Meanwhile, The Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has approved extension in judicial remand of a suspect for another 14 days. The suspect is involved in a gold smuggling case. As per details, Airport Security Force (ASF) had recovered two and half kilogram of gold from a passenger’s luggage at the Lahore airport. The passenger, identiQied as Rai Umar, was going to Sharjah through a private airline. The clue of gold was found on

search through scanning machine at the airport. The ASF conducted the initial interrogation and handed him over to the Custom Department for further investigation. The customs team presented the accused before Customs Court, where Special Judge Chaudhary Ameer Muhammad Khan sent him to jail for judicial remand for fourteen days. It is necessary to mention here that worth of the gold is more than 8 millions in international market.

Meanwhile, The Special Federal Court of Customs, Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has asked the

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customs prosecution team to submit interim challan of the mobile smuggling case. According to details, three alleged smugglers, who were identified as Naseer Khan Afghani, Mukhtar Ahmad and Humayun, were presented before Customs Court Judge Ameer Muhammad Khan. The court adjourned the hearing of the case until next week. All of the accused have got bail from the court. It is pertinent to mention here that Customs authorities had intercepted a truck carrying 330 costly mobile phones from Lahore to Peshawar.