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PAKISTAN’S FIRST INDEPTH NEWSPAPER ON CUSTOMS
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Karachi, Sat March 3, 2018
ISLAMABAD
M ARSHAD
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he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is following a policy of gradual reduction of corporate tax rates and rationalization of the tariff regime in customs for better trade and business activities. Through these measures, the board wants to achieve revenue targets without passing through the process of revising the revenue collection targets because the FBR
authorities are of the view that reduced corporate tax rates and rationalized tariff regime in customs will automatically expand the tax base. Sources at the FBR told Customs Today that FBR collected Rs 3,367.9 billion during FY 2016-17 against Rs 3,112.5 billion collected during FY 2015-16 entailing a growth of 8.2 percent. The revised revenue target for FY 2016- 17 of Rs 3,521 billion has been achieved to the extent of around 96 percent. An additional amount of about Rs 255.4 billion has been collected over and above the collection of Rs3,112.5
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billion realized in FY 2015-16. To a question about possible reasons for shortfall in revenue collection leading to revision of revenue collection target, the source said that in the year 2016-17, the target could not be met due to major reasons related to sales tax. “In POL products sales tax rates on per liter basis remained 26-31 percent lower in 2016-17 as compared to 2015-16 sales tax rates. Whereas sales tax rate of urea fertilizers was reduced to 5 percent in current year as compared to 17 percent in the previous year.
FBR to gradually reduce corporate tax rates, rationalize customs tariffs
DG Valuation Surriya to revise VR No 773/2-15 on April 23
US Customs Protection plan Nexus enrollment workshop
US Customs and Border Protection plan Nexus enrollment workshop
Quetta Customs seizes 0.12m litre diesel worth Rs8.1m
FBR is following a policy of gradual reduction of corporate tax rates | SEE PAGE 01 |
DG Valuation has decided to revise the Valuation Ruling No: 773/2015 | SEE PAGE 02 |
Second consignment of the smuggled betel nuts has been intercepted | SEE PAGE 05 |
US Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, announces | SEE PAGE 07 |
Customs officials, with the help of FC, has seized huge quantity of smuggled diesel | SEE PAGE 08 |
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FIA arrests accused of harassment, blackmailing Saturday, March 3, 2018
National
FAISALABAD: Cyber Crime Cell of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore reportedly arrested a man from Faisalabad accused of harassing and blackmailing woman by using her inappropriate photos. The accused, identified as Muhammad Amir, was taken into custody by the FIA officials at a renowned multinational food chain restaurant. The arrest was made after the cyber cell was tipped-off.
DG Valuation Surriya to revise VR No 773/2-15 on April 23
ISLAMABAD
KARACHI
CUSTOMS BULLETIN REPORT
WAQAR AHMED ANSARI
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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued names of 1.26 million taxpayers who filed income tax returns for tax year 2017. According to the latest FBR’s Active Taxpayers List (ATL), about 160,000 taxpayers become non-filers and will be deprived of availing the benefit of lower withholding tax rates. The FBR issues ATL on March 1 every year of those taxpayers who filed their returns during the preceding tax year. The appearance of taxpayer names is mandatory for availing the reduced rate of withholding tax applicable on various transactions including bank, properties, sale/purchase of securities, motor vehicles etc. The number of return filers was 1.01 million when FBR issued ATL last year, which shows growth in return filers at 25 percent. However, the return filers for tax year 2016 increased up to February 28 to 1.42 million, showing 0.41 million more returns filed after issuance of previous ATL. In 2007, 2.1 million people filed their income tax returns. In 2013, when the PML-N came into power, active taxpayers in Pakistan were only 935,776, which gradually increased to 1.391 million last year.
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he Directorate General, Customs Valuation, Director General Surriya Ahmed Butt has decided to revise the Valuation Ruling No: 773/2015 on April 23, 2018, it is learnt here. Surriya Butt said the department was reviewing suggestions from various importers to set new prices of stainless steel sheets, coils, and circles (secondary quality). She said some valuations issued in 2015 were being reviewed from the beginning. Moreover, the valuations will be set in view of the rising prices in the international market. Sources told CT that a petition was Niled with the Customs Valuation in which change in prices stainless steel sheets, coils, circles (Secondary Quality) was requested. Sources further said Valuation Ruling No: 773/2015 was issued on November 27, 2015. A meeting was held with the stakeholders on today 1st March 2018. Importers were advised to furnish the import invoices of the last three months showing factual values as well as websites, names and e-mail addresses of known foreign manufacturers of the item in question through which the actual current value could be ascertained. Meanwhile, The Directorate General, Customs Valuation, Director
Latest ATL: 1.26m taxpayers filed income tax returns in 2017
General Surriya Ahmed Butt has decided to revise Valuation Ruling No: 843/2016 on April 24, 2018, it is learnt Surriya Butt said the department was reviewing suggestions from various importers to set new prices of skimmed milk, powder and instant milk powder ( HS Code
0402-1000, 1092, 9020, 1902,9090). She said some valuations issued in 2016 were being reviewed from the beginning. Moreover, the valuations will be set in view of the rising prices in the international market. Sources told Customs Today that a petition was
Niled with the Customs Valuation in which change in prices of skimmed milk, powder and instant milk powder was requested. Sources further said Valuation Ruling No: 843/2016 was issued on May 2, 2016. A meeting was held with the stakeholders on 28th February 2018.
Pakistan, Iran discuss counter narcotics measures
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RAWALPINDI
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four-member Iranian delegation has visited Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) Headquarters and discussed issues of bilateral interest in connection with drug situation in the region with special focus on counter narcotics measures and initiatives taken by Pakistan and Iran. The delegation was headed by Iran’s Anti-Narcotics Police Head
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Masoud Zabetian, while ANF DG Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik headed the dialogue from Pakistani side. Other members of Iranian delegation included Seyed Ali Mir Ghaderi, Consultant of Head of Anti Narcotics Police, Mohammad Nasiri, Chief of Anti Narcotics Police of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Iran, Mehdi Honardoost, Ambassador of Embassy of Iran, Islamabad and DLO Iran in Pakistan Omid Sarvari. ANF participants included the ofNi-
cers from Nields of International Cooperation, Law, Intelligence and Enforcement. The delegates from both sides emphasized the need to further enhance the brotherly relations of both the countries, result-oriented implementation of MoU signed in1999, effective utilization of Bilateral/Regional CN Mechanisms, Timely intelligence sharing and elimination of impediments in coordinated and internationally controlled delivery operations. Furthermore they also updated on
establishment of Taftan/Mirjaveh Border Liaison OfNice (BLO). Moreover, the delegation discussed the strengthening of Joint Planning Cell (JPC) established under the triangular initiative. Need for regular interaction, communication and sharing of best practices were also discussed. In near-past, cooperation of Narcotics Control Agencies of both the countries had resulted into many successful seizures of drugs and precursor chemicals. The Iranian delegation was apprised about the appreciation
given by relevant Pakistani stakeholders for signing the Letter of Cooperation between the two sides during the visit of DG ANF to Iran last year. The visit of Iranian delegation is regarded as a milestone for bilateral cooperation on drug issues between the two countries. In the past, Narcotics Control Agencies of both the countries had remained in cooperation with each other in the Nields of capacity building, including Canine, Technical up-gradation and Drug Law Enforcement Training.
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KARACHI
IMRAN K AWAN
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he second consignment of the smuggled betel nuts has been intercepted by the Customs Appraisement East Karachi within the last Nive days as R&D team of Appraisement East has seized 25.250 MT betel nuts smuggled by the Lahore based company under the garb of galvanized plain sheets. After introduction of additional health and safety requirements by the government on import of betel nuts, unscrupulous elements are using illicit means to smuggle betel nuts under garb of miscellaneous goods through mis-declaration. Under the supervision of Collector Saeed Akram Collectorate of Appraisement East, Karachi is endeavoring hard to curb these elements for the safety of general public. The Collectorate foiled another such attempt on Thursday, information was received to the Deputy Collector
Research and Development (R&D) Muhammad Ali Malik that some Lahore based importers are misusing the facility of transshipment for smuggling of betel nuts into the country through mis-declaration the information further revealed that the betel nuts after getting cleared from Karachi port would be replaced with the goods mis-declared in the relevant goods declaration and en route to the Ninal destination. The collector constituted the team of the officers (R&D) comprising Deputy Collector Muhammad Ali Malik and Principal Appraiser Dost Muhammad beside other officers for strict survelliance to curb the menace. Under the supervision of the Principle Appraiser R&D Dost Muhammad, the team raided at Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) and intercepted consignment of M/s Ajmair Impex Lahore, comprising of one forty feet container number CRXU-9852726 en route to Lahore. Detailed examination was carried
out by the R&D team resulted into the recovery of 25.50 MT betel nuts that was cleared under the garb of galvanized plain sheets. The recovered betel nuts have been conNiscated and seized under proper Musheernama prepared on the spot. Preliminary inquiry revealed that M/s Ajmair Impex based in Lahore has imported the consignment from Jebel Ali UAE, declaring the description of the good as galvanized plain sheets smelling interception by R&D team they did not Niled any goods deceleration for the clearance of the goods from the PICT despite laps of eight days from the arrival of the vessel. The open market value of the seized betel nuts is around Rs 65 million while the duties and tax tried to be evaded calculated as more then Rs 5 million. It is pertinent to mention that Nive days earlier another Lahore based company M/s Al-Noor tried to smuggle betel nuts through Transshipment permit and the consignment was Nix towards Lahore dry port to be cleared.
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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
Poor ranking of Pakistan in CPI
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ransparency International has ranked Pakistan at 117th on the global Corruption Perceptions Index 2017 out of 180 nations. The worldwide ranking is based on the level of perceived public sector corruption in Pakistan and the government’s failure to curb financial misconduct. The country showed no improvement in its ranking of 2016 when it was placed at 116th out of 176 countries. Experts opine the score was 32 in 2016 and in fact the level dropped down from 116 to 117 on the global list. The score is still 32. The international non-government organization index ranks the countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption and uses a scale from zero to 100, where zero indicates high level of corruption and 100 is clean. The agency believes most of the countries are not improving their ranks on the Corruption Perception Index or moving too slow to curb the menace. It says the countries with lowest press protections and the non-governmental organizations also tend to have the worst rates of corruption. It also observed various countries have failed to make any progress to streamline their financial aairs. According to the agency, New Zealand and Denmark ranked the highest by obtaining the scores of 89 and 88, respectively while Syria stood at 14, South Sudan 12 and Somalia 9. The agency also reveals that more than two-thirds of countries have scored below 50 with an average score of 43. These countries could not improve their ranking despite several efforts. The Western Europe has emerged as the best performing region with an average score of 66 whereas Sub-Saharan Africa bagged an average score 32 and Eastern Europe and Central Asia 34. The world still regards corruption as curse, but in Pakistan’s case any effort to curb corruption is labeled as political victimization by the suspects. The recent cases, in which senior leaders of various political parties are struggling to absolve themselves of corruption charges by getting clean chits form the courts. However, the situation has drastically changes. The country took a loan of $45 billion in four and half years, but where the money has gone is unclear. There is no ledger in any government department with details of expenditures it has done during the period in question.
Investment in real estate sector T
LAHORE
DR AFTAB AFZAL
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he government has been apparently fighting tooth to nail for the last few years to discourage investment in the real estate sector. According to official circles, involvement of corrupt money in the real estate sector has not only provided a safe passage to the crook and dishonest elements to avoid the law but also disturbed the balance of property prices in the market. However, the policymakers always find a novel solution to any problem in this country which still has very poor ranking in the global
corruption perception index. The real estate and construction sectors are the engine of growth for any economy in the world, but these sectors are snubbed to stop investment in it. As a result, people are now investing in offshore companies and real estate sectors of the United Arab Emirates and Britain. Imposition of withholding tax on the banking transactions as well as the condition to reveal sources of income has added to the miseries of not only the property sector, but also the construction industry. As a result, the real estate sector has failed to use its potentials to promote investment, push in-
dustrial growth and generate employment. At least 250 industries are directly or indirectly associated with the construction industry and anything disturbing the property business will adversely affect the whole economy. However, with little knowledge and myopic vision, the government policymakers have always caused losses to the economy rather than bringing any good to it. At least 40,000 real estate dealers were working in branded housing societies across the country, most of which have now closed their offices or shifted their businesses. Many others have not only left the
sector, but also the country. Industries, including cement, brick, aluminum and dozens of others are struggling to stay in the running mod. The real estate sector is the economy of Pakistan and the government should work out a plan to lower the tax ratio to create business-friendly and investment-friendly environment in the country. The government is in the habit of launching amnesty schemes, allowing the tax evaders and others to whiten their black money. Instead, policies should be introduced to attract investment and there would be no need to bring any amnesty scheme in this case.
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Dutch economy sees strongest growth in 10 years Saturday March 3, 2018
World
AMSTERDAM: The Dutch economy grew by 3.1 percent in 2017, the strongest growth in 10 years, Statistics Netherlands reported on Wednesday. In the last quarter of 2017, the economy’s growth decreased somewhat, but was still strong at 2.9 percent compared to the last quarter of 2016. Compared to the third quarter of 2017, the GDP grew by 0.8 percent and exports in particular contributed to economic growth in the fourth quarter. Household consumption decreased somewhat, but the industry grew more. “The Dutch economy is in good shape”, Minister Eric Wiebes of Economic Affairs and Climate commented to NOS.
US Customs Protection plan Nexus enrollment workshop
Iran bans using dollars in import documents TEHRAN
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NEW YORK
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nited States Customs and Border Protection, OfNice of Field Operations, announces a Nexus enrollment workshop to be held by CBP in Grand Portage. During this enrollment event, CBP and Canada Border Services Agency will conduct interviews for conditionally approved Nexus applicants. Nexus is a voluntary expedited clearance initiative for pre-approved low-risk international travelers. The Nexus program will allow prescreened travelers expedited processing when entering the U.S. and Canada. Program members use dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry, Nexus kiosks when entering Canada by air and Global Entry kiosks when entering the United
China’s scrap steel exports surged in 2017 xports of scrap steel from China rose sharply during 2017 as domestic demand was hit by curbs on production of steel made from scrap metal, the official Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday, citing China Iron and Steel Association data. China exported 2.2 million tonnes of scrap steel during the year, up from about 1,000 tonnes in 2016, the report said, despite a 40 percent tariff on scrap steel exports. The bulk of the exports went to Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, the report said. China has sought to cut capacity in its steel sector, shutting down 115 million tonnes of capacity between 2016 and 2017Meanwhile, Chinese Super League after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for a football revolution prompted a surge in investment by local tycoons. –CB Report
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States via Canadian Preclearance airports. Nexus members also receive expedited processing at marine reporting locations. To become a conditionally approved Nexus applicant, individuals must apply online, undergo a background investigation and complete an in-person interview with a
CBP officer. If no disqualifying information is found, travelers receive the benefit of expedited processing. The $50 application fee allows for five years of membership and travelers can use nearly 300 kiosks located at 34 U.S. airports and nine preclearance locations in Canada.
PBA import Brown braced for Gilas Pilipinas physicality
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ormer PBA import Ira Brown returned to the Philippines as part of the Japanese national team that faced Gilas Pilipinas for the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian QualiNiers at the Mall of Asia Arena. Gilas won, 89-84. For Brown, playing against hostile crowds is nothing new. In fact, he looks forward to playing in front of a sold-out audience. “For me, it is not tough. I mean is
just like every game. No matter how you look at it, whether we are at home or here,” Brown said. “You just block out all the noise and overcome adversity and continue to push forward.” Brown had a short stint with the San Miguel Beermen back in 2011. Regardless, he says that the PBA experience was a memorable one. “It is good to be back. I had a great time when I was here, it was a great experience. –CB Report
ran’s domestic media reported that the policy was in line with an official request by the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and was specifically meant to address fluctuations in market rates of the dollar. IRNA news agency quoted Mehdi Kasraeipour, CBI’s director of Foreign Exchange Rules and Policies Affairs, as saying that the move had become effective from Wednesday by virtue of a letter sent to the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade. US banks are still banned from dealing with Iran as part of an old US trade embargo that still remains in place. Accordingly, this is believed to have already effectively blocked any transactions with Iran which is based on US dollars because they would ulti-
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mately have to be cleared in the US. “Considering that the use of the dollar is banned for Iran and traders are literally using alternative currencies in their transactions, there is no longer any reason to proceed with invoices that use the dollar as the base rate?” Kasraeipour said. The official further emphasized that Iranian merchants would need to inform their suppliers to change the base currency from the dollar to other currencies so that the related import documentations can be proceeded at Iran’s entry points. He said the merchants also needed to specify whether they would proceed with their payments through banks or currency exchange shops. Kasraeipour said when an invoice is issued in dollars, a demand naturally develops in the network of exchange shops for dollars. He further suggested that this could eventually lead to a rise in the rates of the hard currency.
Brexit plan threatens UK trade deal ritish Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has potentially canned any future trade deal with Australia, by saying he wants the UK to remain in the EU customs union. The Opposition leader said on Monday if elected he’d seek a “new and comprehensive” UK-EU customs union to ensure tariff-free trade after Brexit. The stance puts him at direct odds with Prime Minister Theresa May, who wants to be outside any customs union so Britain can sign free trade deals with countries around the world after leaving the EU. Australia’s is seeking a free trade deal with the UK as soon as Brexit is
formalised. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop made it clear during a visit to London earlier this month that a trade deal with the UK was reliant on leaving the customs union. “Australia is very keen to pursue negotiations for a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom,” Ms Bishop said during her visit. “I think that would be precluded if the United Kingdom were to join the (EU) customs union, so our national interest, our priority, would be served by negotiating a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom.” Corbyn said Labour would demand the EU ensures the government. –CB Report
Russia remains China’s top oil supplier as pipeline expands
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MOSCOW
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ussia remained the top crude oil supplier to China in January, data showed, beginning 2018 on a strong note after the start-up of an expanded transSiberia pipeline and as Beijing released more crude import quotas to
independent reNiners. Angola and Iraq took the second and third positions for the month, leapfrogging Saudi Arabia, which was the secondlargest supplier to China in 2017. Russian supplies came in at 5.67 million tonnes, or 1.34 million barrels per day (bpd), up 23.4 percent from a year earlier, data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed on Saturday.
The January number compared with 1.194 million bpd in December. Last month, data showed Russia notched up its second year as China’s largest supplier in 2017, surpassing Saudi Arabia – OPEC’s top exporter – by some 150,000 barrels each day. The strong Russian exports to the world’s largest crude oil buyer came as a second East Siberia-PaciNic Ocean (ESPO)
pipeline, as well as expanded domestic connections in China, started commercial operation in January. In a reshufNle of the pack, Angola ranked second with 4.68 million tonnes, or 1.1 million bpd, of crude in January, down 5.4 percent from a year earlier. China imported 4.45 million tonnes, or 1.05 million bpd, of crude from Iraq, up 28 percent from a year ago.
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ASO impounds non duty paid Toyota Corolla car FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization has impounded a smuggled Toyota Corolla worth Rs 16,28,160 involving duty and taxes to the tune of Rs828160. Sources told Customs Today, that in pursuance of information the ASO special team intercepted a non duty paid Toyota Corolla car bearing registration number HD-474 Islamabad model 1993 near Bhalwal Road Sargodha. At the time of detection the vehicle was found and parked on road.
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Quetta Customs seizes 0.12 million litre diesel worth Rs 8.1 million QUETTA WAQAR AHMED ANSARI www.customsbulletin.com
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he Customs officials, with the help of Frontier Corps (FC), has seized huge quantity of smuggled diesel. The six mobile squads and FC personnel, on the directives of Collector Ashraf Ali, raided three dumping grounds of smuggled diesel at Saryab Road, Quetta. Around 120,000 litres of diesel was recovered from underground tanks and drums. Moreover two trucks for supplying of the goods were also detained on the spot. The value of recovered diesel is estimated at Rs8.1 million while value of trucks is Rs7.0 million. A case has been registered and investigations are underway. Meanwhile, The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation successfully confiscated Iranian diesel worth Rs 2 million. Sources told Customs Today that Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Quetta Muhammad Akram Chaudhary received a tipoff that some smugglers are trying to smuggle Iranian diesel from Quetta into different cities.
NAB court indicts Dr Asim in Rs17 billion corruption case ISLAMABAD
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n accountability court has indicted former petroleum minister and owner of Ziauddin chain of hospitals Dr Asim Hussain and 10 others accused in a NAB reference Niled against them in Rs 17 billion corruption scam in Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited Company case. According to the details, the Na-
tional Accountability Bureau (NAB) court has indicted Dr Asim almost a year after the matter was taken up by the court. The accused leveled objections over the indictment upon which the court ordered NAB authorities to present produce witnesses. Talking to the media after the hearing, Dr Asim maintained that he was not informed of the allegations leveled against him. “I have faced the false cases in past and would also face them in future,” he said. The next hearing is scheduled for March 17 in which NAB authorities are supposed to produce
the witnesses against Dr Asim. Meanwhile, The Regional Board Meeting (RBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approved three investigations for Niling of reference. The meeting, held with Director General, NAB Rawalpindi, Irfan Naeem Mangi in chair, was attended by Deputy Prosecutor General Accountability, Nouman Aslam Director Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Directors and other concerned ofNicers. The Nirst investigation, approved for reference, was against Ismail Zafar Ex-Conservator, Saleemullah Khan EX-DFO and Qadardan EX-RFO, regarding illegal cutting/transporta-
tion of timber from Makhley Forest and Minar Forest Gilgit-Baltistan during Timber Policy 2013. The second investigation, approved for Niling of reference, was against Saleemullah Khan Ex-DFO Astore, Fareedullah Khan Ex-Superintendent and Muhammad Iqbal, Forest Lessee regarding transportation of illegal cutting timber from Chilas Forest Division without collection of Nine during Timber Policy 2013. The responsible ofNicers/ofNicials of Forest Department have already been arrested and are presently in judicial custody. The third investigation, approved for Niling of reference, was
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regarding illegal appointments/ adjustments in National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care GB wherein ofNicials of lower grades were appointed against higher posts in violation of rules/regulations and on basis of fake documents by the then Secretary Health, Provincial Coordinator, and Director Health. In addition, a new investigation against ofNicials of forest department GB was also authorized regarding illegal cutting of timber in HookarGah, Gilgit forest due to which loss caused to national exchequer was estimated to be around Rs. 40 million.