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pAkIStAN’S FIrSt INDepth NewSpAper oN cuStoMS

Daily

Vol 1 Issue No. 238

Karachi, Wed November 18, 2015

ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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easoned ofSicial Nisar Muhammad Khan has just taken the charge of new FBR Chairman in a ceremony held in FBR House.

Nisar Muhammad Khan talking to the ceremony attended by outgoing FBR Chairman Tarif

Bajwa, Shahid Hussain Asad, Shahid Hussain Jatoi, Ashraf Khan and other members and ofSicials of FBR said that he really enjoyed working with Tariq Bajwa.

Praising Tariq Bajwa, new FBR Chairman Nisar Muhammad said, “He was an honest person and thorough professional.

He introduced wonderful policies at FBR to increase tax revenue. He played his best role for re-

Price Rs. 14.00

solving issues of Grade-18-19 ofSicers regarding promotion and performance allowance. His tenure was the best tenure in FBR”.

Other outgoing Members of FBR including Shahid Hussain Asad, Shahid Hussain Jatoi and Ashraf Khan also praised outgoing Chairman Tariq Bajwa and they also commended appointment of Nisar Muhammad Khan as FBR Chairman.

Customs seizes 1,248 cell phones, arrests three at Islamabad airport

Outgoing FBR Chairman Bajwa made Secretary Economic Affairs Division

Farmers package suspended in 12 districts: CM Shehbaz

Collector Dr Saifuddin in China to attend seminar on textile management

Pharma industry seeks govt support to enhance exports

Customs confiscated 1,248 pieces of smuggled smart cell phones and 12 tabs | See pAge 02 |

Outgoing FBR Chairman Bajwa has been given the assignment of SecretaryEAD. | See pAge 03 |

Shehbaz has temporarily suspended PM Farmers Relief Package in 12 districts | See pAge 04 |

MCC Exports Dr Saifuddin Junejo is in Fuzhou, China to represent Pak Customs | See pAge 12 |

The prevailing drug laws and regulations are not favoring | See pAge 09 |

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Gujranwala Excise issues final notices to 30,000 tax defaulters Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National

SIALKOT: The Excise and Taxation Department has issued final notices to as many as 30,000 defaulters for the recovery of their outstanding professional taxes in Gujranwala Division.

The excise has also formulated as many as 14 special recovery teams to recover the Rs.66 million as professional taxes during the special campaign to be started from December 1, 2015 in Gujranwala Division.

The officials added that the said special recovery teams were also carrying the special locks to seal the properties of the defaulters there

customs seizes 1,248 cell phones, arrests three at Islamabad airport

customs Adjudication issues show-cause notice in rs 6.7m seizure case MULTAN

IMrAN ALI

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he Customs Adjudication Multan Office has served a show cause notice on the owner of the non-customs duty paid goods worth Rs.6.7 million.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan seized smuggled goods from Dera Ghazi Khan region during an operation.

The Customs team impounded various smuggled goods including tyres of various brands and 17200 kilograms of zinc ingots in the form of solid zinc bars.

During the operation 4000 kilograms of Land Cruiser vehicle frame and 3000 kilograms of remelt able iron scrap were also recovered. Customs Intelligence and Investigation also seized vehicle having registration number of TKW-595 in the same operation.

Additional Collector Customs Adjudication Fayaz Anwar issued show-cause notice in the seizure case no.215 of miscellaneous goods to owners for reply of their seizure case.

Customs Adjudication Multan Office will hear further proceedings of seizure case on 18th November in Multan.

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ISLAMABAD

ShAhID MINhAS/M FAIZAN www.customsbulletin.com

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akistan Customs confiscated 1,248 pieces of smuggled smart cell phones and 12 pieces of tabs, besides arresting three suspect persons at Benazir

International Airport Islamabad.

Deputy Collector Shahid Jan told Customs Today that credible information was received regarding the smuggling of cell phones, adding that the officials deputed at airport were asked to keep an eye on smugglers following the tip-off.

The customs officials intercepted three passengers arrived in Pakistan from Dubai through a

flight No. PK-212 and recovered cell phones of different brands including Samsun, iPhone, Nokia.

Huawei and others while checking their luggage.

After recovery of cell phones, the officials asked the owners to provide the documents showing the legal import and possession of the items, but they remained failed to do so; therefore, three accused

personas namely Minhajuddin, Muhammad Azeem and Ali Usman have been arrested.

The value of seized items was estimated at millions as all the cell phones and tabs were of latest models.

The deputy collector said that cases have been registered against the suspects while further investigation is underway in this regard.

two-week training on Air cargo profiling unit begins KARACHI

AFtAB chANNA

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nited Nations OfSice on Drugs and Crime, Pakistan, has organized a two-week theoretical training on “Air Cargo ProSiling Unit” under its Global Container Program, at a local hotel here.

The Global Container Control Pro-

gram is a joint initiative of the United Nations OfSice on Drugs and Crime and the World Customs Organization.

This initiative helps states to set in place an effective inter-agency law enforcement structure, to minimize the exploitation of containers for illicit drug trafSicking and the smuggling of various illicit consignments such as chemical precursors, arms and ammunition, endangered species, and items relating to intellectual property rights. This program was launched in 2005 with pilot proj-

ects in Ecuador, Pakistan, and Senegal. Karachi was among the Sirst ports to establish a (maritime) Container Control Unit. Jinnah International Karachi is the country’s biggest airport with the approximate passenger movement of 6 million per year. It also handles more than 50 % of the country’s air cargo with an average of 150 tons per year. This highlights the signiSicance of having an effective proSiling unit at Karachi Airport, especially given its geopolitical importance in the region’s trade, and

Pakistan’s contiguity to Afghanistan.

In this regard, the UNODC has organized a two week theoretical practical training of the Karachi Airport “Air Cargo ProSiling Unit” with the participation of representatives from Denmark, France, Japan, UK, international organizations UNODC, WCO, ICAO as well as ofSicials from Pakistan Federal Board of Revenue, AntiNarcotics Force and Civil Aviation Authority. The training is being conducted by Instructors from World Customs Organization and UK Bor-

der Police. In the long term UNODC plans to expand it to major airports of Pakistan including Lahore and Islamabad. Addressing the audience at the launch Cesar Guedes, Country Representative said “it is an honour to see that Pakistan in launching yet another world pilot project in the Sield of drug control and border security”. He also stated – “I would like to highlight that the Global Container Control Programme has been one the most successful UNODC initiatives: starting in 2005.

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Customs Preventive seizes 209 mobile phones KARACHI: The staff of Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of the Customs Preventive seized 209 mobile phones from three passengers at the Jinnah International Airport Karachi on Monday.

According to details, on a tip-off, the customs authorities intercepted three passengers landed at the Karachi airport and flown from Dubai. And, while checking, some 209 cellular phones of different brands were recovered from their luggage. The arrested passengers were later identified as Salman, Tariq and Masood. Among the arrested passengers, one was wanted to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) who was handed over to the investigating authority. Further progress in this case is still underway till the filing of this report.

Anti-Narcotics court rejects bail plea of female drug peddler

Wednesday November 18, 2015

National

outgoing FBr chairman Bajwa made secretary of economic Affairs Division

LAHORE

M IMrAN MehAr

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he Special Anti-Narcotics Court has rejected bail plea of a suspected lady drug peddler, Rashida Nadeem, in a case of narcotics. According to details available to Customs Today, a huge quantity of heroin, weighing 30 kilogram, was recovered from her possession by Anti-Narcotics Force. She was booked from her house during raid but her husband Nadeem fled from the spot. The Anti-Narcotics Force recovered 30 kilograms of heroin from their residence at Garhi Shahu Lahore. Accused Rashida Nadeem applied for her bail but Special Judge Khalid Naveed Dar rejected bail plea as there were strong proofs against her.

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excise decides to seal property of tax defaulters ISLAMABAD

ShAhID MINhAS

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he Excise and Taxation Department, Rawalpindi, has decided to seal the property of 805 property tax defaulters from today (Tuesday).

According to details, on the special direction of Director Excise Rawalpindi Tanveer Abbas Gondal, 23 inspectors have been assigned the task to seal the property of tax defaulters of Rs 100,000 or more.

Every inspector has the task to seal around 35 defaulters in two to three days. Sources added that the department has sent notices that attached at their doors to 805 big defaulters who dues are from Rs 1000,00 to Rs 1.5 million.

Sources also added that after the sealing of property they department can also arrested these owners in this regard.

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ISLAMABAD

M FAIZAN

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utgoing FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa has been given the assignment of Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD). Finance Minister Ishaq Dar lauded the performance and contribution of the outgoing Tariq Bajwa and members of his team for augmenting growth in revenue collection and improving overall working of FBR during the Sirst two Siscal years of the present government. He said that Tariq Bajwa was a key member of his economic team and that his transfer from FBR is being carried out on his own request.

The minister said achievement of 33 percent growth in revenue collection in the last two years was a commendable job done by Chairman Bajwa and his colleagues. During the period the number of tax payers increased from 700,000 to nearly a million. He also appreciated the process of reforms that has been undertaken under the leadership of Chairman Bajwa and added that it contributed to taxpayers facilitation and also helped promote tax culture in the country. He said that he expected the newly appointed chairman FBR, and his team to further consolidate and build these achievements and gains so as to achieve the revenue collection targets for 201516. Tariq Bajwa, it may be stated shall assume responsibilities as Sec-

retary Economic Affairs Division in place of Saleem Sethi. He will also act as Alternate Governor to the Finance Minister on the World Bank Board of Governors. Mr. Saleem Sethi will assume responsibilities as Chairman National Commission for Governmental Reforms. The Minister also appreciated the performance of Saleem Sethi as Secretary EAD and wished him all the best for his new assignment.

Meanwhile, The federal govern-

Dar lauded the performance and contribution of the outgoing tariq Bajwa and members of his team for augmenting growth in revenue collection and improving overall working of FBr during the first two fiscal years of the present govt

customs prosecution branch lodges three FIrs LAHORE

M hAYAt

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he Customs Preventive’s Investigation and Prosecution branch has lodged three FIRs against the accused persons who were attempting to smuggle gold jewelry and foreign currencies during the Sirst four months of the

current Financial Year 2015-16.

According to details, the suspects were allegedly involved in more than Rs 10 million gold and currency smuggling. The Investigation and Prosecution branch registered the Sirst case on September 30, when a bid to smuggle Rs 5.2 million foreign currency from Lahore To Muscat was foiled by Allama Iqbal International Airport Customs authorities. The Customs authorities arrested Shahbaz Ahmad, a resident of Gujranwala, who was hiding

20,412 Omani currency notes.

The Investigation and Prosecution branch registered another FIR on November 6 against an accused, Rai Umer, who was allegedly attempting to smuggle Rs 5. million gold jewelry and coins from Lahore to Dubai.

The Investigation and Prosecution registered third FIR on August 13 when the Lahore Airport authorities unearthed import and export worth Rs 0.8 million on fake documents.

ment has called a meeting of provincial revenue authorities to resolve all the outstanding issues among them on Nov 16.

The meeting will be attended by all the heads of provincial revenue authorities and will be presided over by FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa.

In the meeting, the authorities will discuss general sales tax on services and non-issuance of notiSication of removing GST on Internet services in the provinces.

Customs Court adjourns 27 cases on Monday n the Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling, 27 cases were scheduled for hearing on Monday.

On the day in the Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti Smuggling, a total of 27 cases were heard in which court proceeded on many cases while a few were adjourned without any progress.—CB Report

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FIA monitoring fake BISP SMS senders, case registered: Marvi Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Business

ISLAMABAD: Benzair Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Marvi Memon Monday said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is monitoring the fake message senders of BISP and a case has also been registered against the people involved in this scam. Talking to APP, she said those involved in this fraud through sending fake messages to people across the country on behalf of the BISP will face investigation of FIA as “we have registered this complaint”. For last few years, people were sent text messages and calls on their cell phones saying that they have been granted some amount on behalf of BISP posing them.

kSe bids to recoup losses, gains 119pts to close at 34066 level KARACHI

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he Karachi Stock Exchange benchmark KSE-100 index Tuesday tried to recoup previous losses and up 0.35 per cent by adding 119.46 points to close at 34065.87 points level.

The market recorded the highest trading level of 34170.05 points and lowest level of 33946.41 points, with the total volume of

oil prices up in Asia but gains limited SINGAPORE

cuStoMS BuLLetIN report

206,057,238 shares, having Rs8,363,421,223 value. As many as 369 companies were active; of which 207 advanced, 140 declined

PESHAWAR

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LAHORE/ISLAMABAD

cuStoMS BuLLetIN report

by chemicals with a total traded volume of 28,541,180 shares.

The three top traded companies were Pace (Pak) Ltd. with a volume of 30,763,000 and price per share of 8.75 ( 0.14), TRG Pak Ltd with a volume 13,680,500 of price per share of 40.50 (-0.13), Sui South Gas with a volume 13,055,500 of price per share of 40.25 (0.01).

The top three advancers were Nestle Pak XD with price per share 9000 (100) and 20 shares; Mari Petroleum with price per share of 471.60 (22.45) and 750,600 shares; and Ghandhara Ind.XD share of 315.01 (15.00) and 299,600.

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unjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has temporarily suspended Prime Minister’s Farmers Relief Package in 12 districts included in second phase of local bodies’ elections.

According to spokesman of Punjab government, implementation of farmers package has been stopped till the holding of local bodies’ elections to be held on November 19 in 12 districts of second phase.

This action has been taken for transparent conduct of local bodies’ elections, he added. Immediate after local bodies’ elections, Prime Minister’s Farmers Relief Package will be restored in these districts and amounts of financial assistance will be distributed among the farmers. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Monday chaired a meeting of senior officials of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of National Food Security and Ministry of Commerce to review the implementation status of the Kissan Package.

The meeting expressed satisfaction on the effective and prompt implementation of the package throughout the country.

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SMeDA distributes rs 44m cheques under MDtF-funded project

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il prices extended gains in Asia Tuesday but the uptick was capped as investors waited for data on US crude stockpiles expected to further underscore a global supply glut. Prices pushed higher on Monday after US-led coalition jets bombed the Daesh group´s oil operations following the deadly attacks on Paris, but analysts said the impact of geopolitical tensions on the oil market is limited.

and 22 remained unchanged.

Miscellaneous was the top traded sector with total traded volume of 32,095,800shares. It was followed

Farmers’ package suspended in 12 districts

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mall and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) distributed 80 grants’ cheques worth Rs44 million under Multi-Donors Trust Fundfunded Economic Revitalization of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA (ERKF) project here on Monday.

The ceremony was held under

the auspices of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KPCCI). Senior Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sikandar Hayat Sherpao was the chief guest on the occasion. Besides, Special Assistant to KP CM on Industries & Trade Abdul Karim Khan, KPCCI president ZulSikar Ali, provincial chief Smeda, KP Javed Iqbal Khattak, ofSicials of the industries department and a large number of local traders, particularly SME traders affected by insurgency, attended the ceremony.

The US$ 14 million project was

launched under the auspices of the World Bank through SMEDA for the rehabilitation of the insurgency and Slood affected SMEs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. The project was framed for a total of 850 SMEs however with the better Sinancial management and monitoring the number of the beneSiciaries had reached to 1300. The time duration of the project was from June 2012 to June 2015, but the traditional bureaucratic hurdles delayed the disbursement of grants. Later, the matter was handed over to NAB, which certiSied it as corruption free project.

cpec western route to be built as dual carriageway ISLAMABAD

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he government has Sinally decided to construct the Western route as dual carriageway and Sinance it from the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure development fund, it is learnt reliably here yesterday.

In the meeting of the 5th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of

CPEC, held in Karachi last week, Federal Minister Planning, Development & Reforms Ahsan Iqbal pursued the Chinese delegation to include the Western route in the infrastructure/road development project of the CPEC, ofSicial sources told The Nation here on Monday.

The source informed that now the project has been included in the infrastructure development projects of CPEC. “It has been decided that the roads on Western route will be

constructed as a dual carriageway and the funds will be provided from the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure development fund,” the source added.

CPEC is multi-sectoral project that includes energy, infrastructure/roads, Gwadar port, social projects, and industrial zones.

Although the government earlier had claimed that the Western route was part of the CPEC but actually it was a single road and was being

constructed with the Asian Development Bank funds.

Ahsan Iqbal has time and again reiterated that building of the Western alignment of CPEC is the Sirst and foremost priority of the government and the work on missing Gwadar-Quetta link of Western route would be completed by December 2016. But the Opposition parties are contesting his claim by asserting that not a single penny has been allocated for the Western

route, under CPEC, in the PSDP. The Opposition parties were also upset with the government by not following the commitment made by the Prime Minister at the APC for construction of the Western route. The provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa have alleged that the Federal government is giving priority to the Eastern route and ignoring the Western route. Opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah also criticised the government.

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PESHAWAR NADIr khAN www.customsbulletin.com

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he Customs Peshawar has made a total of Rs 3973.14 million revenue collections under the head of customs duty, sales tax on import, federal excise duty and import duty in October 2015 while the total collection during the last Sive months of the new Sinancial year were recorded as Rs 18,756 million.

According to statistical section of Peshawar Customs House, Rs 768.81 million were collected under the head of import duty, Rs 1.36 million as warehouse surcharge, Rs 44.21 million as regulatory duty on import and Rs 19.27 million on export. Similarly, under the head of customs duty, Rs 833.65 million

were collected while the total Sigure of the last Sive months is Rs 2588 million.

Likewise in head of customs duty net collection Rs 827.64 were collected while the total Sigure of the last Sive months was Rs 2353.12 million. In head of sales tax on import Rs 478.08 million were collected while the Sigure of last Sive months were Rs 1617 million. Sales Tax on value addition Rs 71.94 collected while the total Sigure of last Sive months was Rs 836.72 million.

Sales Tax levied as FED on palm oil was Rs 202.71 million rupees and the total Sigure of collection of the last Sive years were Rs 836.72 million rupees. In

head of federal excise duty on import 0.10 million rupee revenue collected while the Sigure of the last Sive months in this category was Rs 0.89 million.

The federal excise duty in gross was recorded Rs 22.36 million while the total collection of the last Sive years of the new Sinancial year is Rs 82.70 million.

In head of other miscellaneous collections Customs Peshawar collected Rs 486.789 million while in last Sive year of the Sinancial year this Sigure rose to Rs 1487.70 million.

ied as Sales tax leev duty on federal excisil was palm o illion and rs 202.71 mfigure of the total last five collection orfs 836.72 years was on. milli

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

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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

thar coal project

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he Sindh government successfully generated one megawatt of electricity from the Thar Coal Power Plant in May this year through an underground coal gasification process thanks to the best efforts of Dr Samar Mubarakmand.

Dr Mubarakmand had tried to develop a scientific process to tap vast coal reserves, but he was discouraged on occasions by the red-tape to leave the job. To highlight the hurdles, the world renowned scientist once said that the pen which is authorized to approve funds for the project does not move until it gets the ink of money.

Now the Ministry of Finance has approved a draft to pave the way for foreign currency loans for the Thar Coal Mining Project.

The federal government also wants to give legal cover to the loans for the project, which is a part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to newspaper reports, the money will be provided by a consortium of top Chinese banks, including China Development Bank. The ministry has also given a go-ahead signal to the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company to obtain local currency loan for the Thar Coal Mining Project.

According to reports, the federal government will also issue sovereign guarantees for the project by a provision of backup guarantee by the Sindh government while Engro Powergen Thar Limited is constructing a power plant, spending around Rs 4 billion to start work before the financial close. The development of mine will hopefully produce around four million tons per annum coal and the power project will produce 660 megawatt in Thar. Both the projects will cost around $2 billion. Another news report says that 180 billion tons coal reserves were discovered in Tharparkar district in the early 1990s, but could not be exploited due to lack of interest of the successive governments in the country. However, now a consortium of local banks has pledged Rs 50 billion to harness the untapped natural resources in Sindh. Once the two projects are completed, it is hoped that not only the quality of life of the local people will improve, the country will also overcome energy crisis to some extent. The most important factors hindering the implementation of the promising projects are red-tape as well as corruption.

Billions of rupees are syphoned off the development schemes, leaving the nation in lurch as the benefit of progress seldom reach common man. It is hoped that the present government, without going into political consideration, will consult Dr Mubarakmand and try to develop indigenous technology.

Need to salvage textile industry T

LAHORE

Dr AFtAB AFZAL

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extile is the prime earning sector of the country, but persistent energy crisis, rising cost of production and absence of an incentive package from the government are adversely affecting the production and export of textile goods. Pakistan is a major cotton producer and has potential to earn $15 billion annual foreign exchange by exporting value added goods, but absence of sincerity on the official level is the root cause of every woe in this country.

The capacity of the textile sector to utilize cotton is likely to reduce from 14 million bales

last year to 8.5 million bales this year as thousands of industrial units have restricted their production or have been closed down due to rising cost of doing business. The capacity of the textile sector to convert cotton into value added goods is reducing fast and Pakistan even could not fully utilize the business concessions given by the European Union.

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association has already expressed concern over the state of affairs and demanded Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to announce a textile package to salvage the industry from collapse.

Due to the high cost of doing business, up to eight million textile workers are likely to lose

their jobs. The export of yarn and greige fabric worth $3 billion is also in doldrums due to increase in electricity tariff to Rs 15 per unit from Rs 9 per unit, making the textile industry unviable.

At a time when Bangladesh and India are capturing most of the world market, the country’s textile industry is running on a reverse gear. According to the association, the export-dependent spindles and looms are falling down one after another and Pakistan is losing its place in the world market.

The government has raised regulatory customs duty on import of Indian cotton yarn and fabric-coarse cloth by 10 percent against the demand of the

textile millers to raise the duty up to 25 percent. However, the government should also give the Pakistani missions abroad a wake up call, telling them in black and white that it means business. Japan is $100 billion annual market for import of textile goods, but the officials in the mission are sleeping and there is a need to ask them how much they have created demand for the Pakistani products. Most of the Pakistani foreign officials enjoy hefty salaries and perks but fail to bring any business for the country. The Pakistani businessmen should also change their old habits and diversify their products to grab lion share in the world market.

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Thailand, Russia business forum held in Bangkok MOSCOW: A special forum titled ‘Thailand and Russia – Bilateral cooperation through the lens of Thai business’ was held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok on November 3.

Russian Ambassador to Thailand Kirill Barsky opened the forum with a speech on the present economic situation in Russia and focused on the trends in Thai-Russian bilateral trade. He spoke about the success stories of 2015, such as Thailand’s largest meat and animal feed producer, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods), which bought a Russian poultry business from Dutch firm Agro-Invest Brinky B.V. for $680 million.

Barksy also named Sutech Engineering Co. Ltd., which is in the process of building a Sugar Refinery Plant in the Khabarovsk Territory. The state of the art sugar refinery complex with a logistics area and vessel terminal will have an annual capacity of 500,000 metric tons.

corpus christi to merge with hispanic chambers he Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, known for its advocacy of small Hispanic business and startups, is in talks to merge with the larger Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce.

In a joint statement Friday, the agencies said the move would leverage their separate strengths and will better serve their members and sponsors.

“The Hispanic Chamber is recognized

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for our support of small, minority and women owned businesses,” Hispanic chamber chairman Eddie Garcia said in the statement. “Finding the common elements and ensuring that no services would be lost are fundamental in the discussions. Ultimately, it is imperative that the members, our stakeholders, have the final say on this matter.”

Boards of each chamber have signed off on the merger, said Gabriel Guerra, chairman of the Corpus Christi chamber. The Hispanic chamber’s board notified members of its decision in an email Friday afternoon.

Rosie Collin, chair-elect for the 77year-old Hispanic chamber, said the move would give its 400 members more reach for business growth, and prevents overlap. Many Hispanic chamber members also pay dues to the Corpus Christi chamber, which has roughly 1,000 members. “This has been an ongoing dialogue over multiple meetings,” she said. “We feel this is the best way for our members to expand their business opportunities.”Last month, Teresa Rodriguez Bartlett announced she would step down as the Hispanic chamber’s president and CEO after three years. —CB Report

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Chambers

pharma industry seeks govt support to enhance exports T

ISLAMABAD

cuStoMS BuLLetIN report www.customsbulletin.com

he prevailing drug laws and regulations are not favoring the local pharmaceutical industry due to which this important industry could not realize its full growth potential as yet.

However, if government formulates favorable policies and rules and provide the needed support, the pharmaceutical industry has the potential to change the destiny of the nation and take its annual exports up to $10 billion by 2020, observed Hamid Raza, chairman, of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with a delegation. He said over 700 pharmaceutical companies are working in Pakistan meeting 95% domestic needs of medicines and providing jobs to thousands of people, but the government was treating it as a charity industry. He said government has not revised medicines prices since 2002 while overregulation and bureaucracy’s rigid approach towards this industry was

quite discouraging due to which pharma industry was facing myriad problems.

He said Pakistani pharmaceutical companies were on top in Philippines and Philippines parliament recognized it, but our own government was neglecting it despite the fact that this industry has huge potential to grow. He said India developed free zones, provided soft loans

and other facilities to its pharma industry due to which their exports have gone up to US$ 22 billion, but due to lack of attention of government, our exports have come down to US$140 million from US$200 million in 2013. He stressed that government should listen to our woes and address all issues of pharma industry on priority so that it could play more effective role in the eco-

Gulport Chamber of Commerce hosts breakfast

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NEW YORK

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he chamber invited military representatives to the business community to get an update about what’s happening on their bases, and also Sind more ways to support them. With two military installations in Gulfport, community members are always wanting to stay connected.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber CEO Kimberly Nastasi says because the United States military is intertwined with everything on the Gulf Coast, she found it important to invite military leaders into the business community. She says communication and shared information is vital. “It’s very important that we understand what each is doing and really capitalize on the relationship because it just strengthens each

other’s mission,” Nastasi said.

Commander of the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Drake says the support from the community is crucial and keeps the bond strong between organizations. He also says its what keeps his troops in South Mississippi.

“There are communities that support the military in different levels.

This community supports tremendously and so people want to come back here, because they not only know they’re welcome but they’re appreciated,” Lt. Col Drake said. Installation Commanding OfSicer of Gulfport’s Naval Construction Battalion Center Capt. Cheryl Hansen agrees. “Across the board this community accepts us, values us, and works hard to let us know that,” Capt. Hansen said. “I think it’s two fold — one in that we feel the support from the community for our

service, but as one of the largest employers in the city of Gulfport. I think it’s also important that we have a vested interest in what happens here on the Gulf Coast.”

The chamber’s mission is to connect, inform, advocate and develop.

Nastasi believes Friday’s program helps display that mission and at the same time, thank our military for what they continue to do for Gulf Coast communities. Also at the chamber’s breakfast, three of Sirst responders were honored and awarded for Gulfport’s third quarter award ceremony. Meanwhile, The state of higher education was on the menu Thursday during the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce membership breakfast. About 100 chamber members heard from four area college presidents about their efforts to prepare a future workforce, support the current workforce and some of the challenges they face.

nomic development of the country.

At this occasion, PPMA members announced full support for Abdul Rauf, former president ICCI and presidential candidate for FPCCI. Addressing the delegation, Atif Ikram Sheikh, president, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that only 25 countries are independent in medicines and Pakistan is one of them.

Vancouver chamber introduces contest for ‘Small Business Saturday’ he Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Columbia Credit Union have launched a November hashtag contest called local thanks as part of the Chamber’s Get Out On …

Small Business Saturday campaign.

This year’s campaign features a $500 business grant to a mentioned business for the best post put online by Nov. 28, which is national Small Business Saturday. The Chamber’s Small Business Advisory Council will select the best post. It is looking for posts from customers or staff that tell a story about small businesses within the community. All posts must be set to public and include the hashtag localthanks. —CB Report

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Customs arrests Russian tourist in cocaine smuggling case Wednesday November 18, 2015

World

MOSCOW: A Russian tourist has been arrested on Koh Samui for allegedly smuggling in 6.5 kilogrammes of cocaine. Lelekov Sergei, 24, the suspect was paraded at press conference at the Customs Department.

Customs Department chief Kulis Sombatsiri told the press conference that Sergei arrived at Samui International airport from Singapore on Saturday and filed a complaint with the airport that he lost his two bags.

But the bags were handed over by officials of Silk Air to customs officials after the two bags were left unclaimed. The customs officials checked the bags on Sunday and found the drug hidden in secret compartments of the bags.

Man held in kSA for smuggling uS agents intercept human, meth smuggling attempts 48,000 beer cans as pepsi E

SALTON CITY

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l Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio Station arrested three people in two separate smuggling attempts at the Highway 86 checkpoint this past Saturday.

The Sirst incident occurred at 4 p.m., when a 31-year-old male driver and his two passengers, a 34year-old female and a 21-year-old male, arrived at the Highway 86 checkpoint in a Honda Civic coupe.

During an immigration inspection a Border Patrol agent referred the driver to secondary inspection for further questioning. During the inspection the male passenger admitted to agents of being a Mexican citizen illegally present in the United

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man was arrested by Saudi Arabian authorities while allegedly attempting to smuggle 48,000 cans of Heineken beer disguised as Pepsi Cola into the country from the United Arab Emirates. Alcohol is strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia and the penalty includes a prison sentence and flogging.

“A truck carrying what first seemed to be normal cans of the soft drink Pepsi was stopped and after the standard process of searching the products, it became clear that the alcoholic beers were covered with Pepsi’s sticker logos,” Abdulrahman al Mahna, the general manager of Al Batha border crossing said.

The man was apprehended after Saudi customs ofSicers detected the beer cans.

oman customs foils bid to smuggle drugs he Directorate for Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (DCNPS) at the Police Command in the Governorate of North Al Batinah arrested a citizen and an Asian national for possessing 70 kg of hashish in the Wilayat of Saham. In a separate case, the DCNPS arrested a citizen on charges of possessing and trafficking drugs and recovered 186 tablets of psychotropic substances from him. The Directorate for Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (DCNPS) at the Police Command in Dhofar Governorate in cooperation with the Coast Guard Police foiled an attempt to smuggle in a large amount of Khat. An official source with Dhofar Governorate Police Command said that a boat laden with Khat was put under surveillance and seized in the Al Hafa area in the Wilayat of Salalah.—CB Report

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Al-Mahna said the latest attempt was one of “many new innovative ways” adopted by smugglers to sneak alcohol into the country but his men “are always ready and alert to catch” the contraband.

On its ofSicial Twitter handle, Saudi Arabian customs posted photos of the beer cans covered with Pepsi stickers and a brief video of an ofSicial cutting away the sticker to reveal a beer can.

uS customs seizes over $224k in meth at eagle pass port of entry

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S Customs and Border Protection ofSicers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry intercepted a shipment of alleged methamphetamine valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars from a vehicle driven by a Mexican national on Nov. 9.CBP ofSicers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry intercepted a shipment of alleged methamphetamine valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

The interception occurred at the

Camino Real International Bridge, when CBP ofSicers inspected a 2008 Hyundai Sonata, driven by a Mexican citizen, as it arrived from Mexico.

OfSicers used a non-intrusive imaging system and CBP canine for inspection. CBP ofSicers retrieved 12 packages of methamphetamine from the rocker panels of the vehicle. OfSicers seized a total of 15.87 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $224,641.—CB Report

States. Border Patrol agents also determined that the driver was member of the “Norteno” prison gang.

The man and woman, both United States citizens, were arrested on suspicion of alien smuggling and booked into the Imperial County Jail.

The Mexican national will be processed for removal to Mexico.

The Border Patrol seized the vehicle.

The second incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m., when a 35-year-old man approached the Highway 86 checkpoint in a 1995 Chevrolet S-10 truck. A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the truck and agents referred the man to secondary inspection area for further investigation. After an extensive search, agents discovered 31 bundles of methamphetamine stuffed inside of the vehicle’s fuel tank.

Malaysian customs foils attempt to smuggle contraband in school bus

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wo attempts of illegal smuggling of contraband cigarettes were foiled by ofSicers at the custom checkpoints over the previous weekend. Contraband cigarettes were found concealed in a school bus with students on board at Woodlands Checkpoint and boxes of contraband cigarettes were found in the luggage compartment of a bus at Tuas Checkpoint.

The Sirst case took place on 6 November 2015 at about 6.40am. A Malaysia-registered school bus driven by a 30-year-old female Malaysian was directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint. The school bus was ferrying six students attending schools in Singapore. During the course of

inspection, duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modiSied storage areas of both sides of the bus were uncovered.

A total of 69 cartons and 112 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.

Three days later, on 9 November 2015 at about 1.00am, ofSicers directed an empty Malaysia-registered bus driven by a lone 19-yearold male Malaysian for further checks upon arrival at Tuas Checkpoint. During the course of inspection, ofSicers found contraband cigarettes hidden in the rear luggage compartment of the bus.

A total of 1,850 cartons and 499 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.—CB Report

7 dead in Amman customs firework container explosion

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AMMAN

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he Cabinet has issued directives to Finance Minister Omar Malhas to amend the Customs Law, allowing the conSiscation or destruction under an administrative decision of illegally imported goods that endanger public safety.

Seven people died in a Sire that erupted at one of the Amman Customs Department’s yards on October 26 after two Sirework containers exploded. All the victims were workers at the yard from Jordan and Egypt.

Civil Defence Department (CDD) Media Director Brig. Gen. Farid Sharaa said at the time that more than 40 Sire engines, ambulances and rescue vehicles, and 150 individuals from the

CDD, the customs department and the police took part in the Sive-hour operation to extinguish the blaze and transport the dead and injured to nearby hospitals. After the incident, Jordan Customs Department director general Munther Assaf was referred to retirement under a Cabinet decision. In a brieSing to the Lower House Economy and Investment Committee on Monday, Amman Customs De-

partment Director Col. Odeh Qteishat said the containers were moved from Aqaba to Amman after the Aqaba Container Terminal closed the yards allocated for storing dangerous items.

But a government ofSicial told The Jordan Times previously that the containers were seized by customs ofSicers several weeks ago and were stored at the yards before being re-exported to Nigeria.

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DSD Shipping found guilty of dumping waste in Gulf of Mexico NEW YORK: Norwegian shipping line DSD Shipping – full name Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab AS – and three of the company’s employees were convicted in a US court of dumping waste oil and contaminated waste water in the Gulf of Mexico in early 2010.

A federal court in Mobil, Alabama, found the parties in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for knowingly using an inoperable oily-water separator (equipment which, when working properly, prevents the discharge of waste materials) on board the vessel Stavanger Blossom. They also failed to log the discharge in an oil record book as required.

Auto exports from major ports decline during April-Sept period MUMBAI

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xports of cars from Indian major ports and particularly from Chennai and Kamarajar ports in Tamil Nadu declined during the April-September period, mirroring the negative

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growth reported by the manufacturing sector in the first six months of the financial year. For the first half of the current year, India exported 2.67 lakh units according to Society of Indian Auto Manufacturers (SIAM), against 2.69 lakh units for last year.

Out of the 12 major ports in the country, six are in the east coast. Roll-on Roll-off vessels call at Chennai and Kamarajar ports, located in Tamil Nadu, regularly to carry automobiles such as cars, trucks, vans, bus, tractors and excavators. Till 2013-14, Chennai Port was leading the way in automobile shipment. But, things started to change, once Ennore Port, now called as Kamarajar Port, entered the scene.

During the first half of 2015-16, these two ports collectively handled 1.93 lakh cars against 1.95 lakh units for the same period during 2014-15, registering a decline of 1,751 units. Once again, Kamarajar Port has proved that it had toppled Chennai Port in handling car shipments.

During the period under review, Kamarajar Port handled 1.10 lakh cars and the rest by Chennai Port. When computed individually, Chennai Port reported a decline of 12,396 cars against the previous year, while Kamarajar Port posted an increase of 10,645 cars. During the period under review, Chennai Port exported 83,105 cars consisting of Hyundai, Ford and Nissan against 95,501 for the corresponding period a year-ago.

Ports & Shipping

Wednesday November 18, 2015

port of Antwerp partners with Flanders port Area mission to Brazil, chile BRASILIA

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he Antwerp Port Authority participates in the Flanders Port Area mission to Brasil and Chile from 12 to 19 November, led by Flemish minister for Mobility, Public Works, the Vlaamse Rand, Tourism and Animal Welfare Ben Weyts. The mission will focus on economic and trade relations between Brazil and Belgium and the Flemish ports. The programme includes an APEC-seminar and port seminars, in which the Port of Antwerp, the second port of Europe, and the other Flemish ports will present their strengths and opportunities to local businesspeople.

The mission kicked off on Thursday 12 November with the ofSicial opening by minister Weyts of an APEC seminar on Port Logistics Strategy as pillar for trade and business development in Sao Paolo for Brazilian importers, exporters, customs agents and logistics service providers. APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center, a subsidiary of the Antwerp Port Authority, has

played an important role in transferring the extensive know-how in all aspects of port activities from Flanders to the rest of the world ever since 1977.

APEC has been training +14000 maritime and logistics professionals from 150 countries on a variety of port management topics, among which 475 Brazilians. Since several years now, APEC also offers seminars in Brazil. In 2013, APEC signed an agreement with the Brazilian Ministry of Ports (SEP, Secretaria Espe-

cial de Portos da Presidência da República) for the provision of customised training packages for and a train-the-trainer course for Brazilian port professionals in 2014-15. APEC both trains white and blue collars and recently also expanded its training offer to private maritime, logistics and manufacturing companies in Brazil. Brazil is the port of Antwerp’s 6th most important trade partner with more than 6 mio tonnes of maritime cargo being exchanged between Brazil and Antwerp in 2014.

uS terminals post decline in imports during peak shipping season ain U.S. terminals post decline in imports during peak shipping season for first time in a decade America’s busiest ports are sending a warning about the U.S. economy.

For the first time in at least a decade, imports fell in both September and October at each of the three busiest U.S. seaports, according to data from trade researcher Zepol Corp. analyzed by The Wall Street Journal. Combined, imports at the container terminals at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Calif. and around New York harbor, which handle just over half of the goods entering the country by sea, fell by just over 10% between August and October.

The declines came during a stretch from late summer to early fall known in the transportation world as peak shipping season, when cargo volumes typically surge through U.S. ports. It is a crucial few months for the U.S. economy as well: High import volumes can signal a confident view on the economy among retailers and manufacturers, while fears of a slowdown grow when ports are quiet.—CB Report

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traders pick cheaper Lr2s as freight discount to Lr1s widens

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ATHENS

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rading companies are increasingly preferring the bigger LR2 tankers to move naphtha from the Middle East to Asia, as they are currently much cheaper to hire compared with the LR1s, market participants said. There has been a marked shift towards the LR2s from the LR1s as charterers seize the opportunity to reduce their transportation expenses amid the sharp fall in LR2 rates. Close to 10 LR2s have been chartered this week for moving naphtha cargoes on the Persian Gulf to North Asia routes.

Another three have been taken

to do runs within the Persian Gulf and at least two for a PG-UKC voyage, brokers said. In contrast, LR1 Sixtures on the PG-Japan route are few and market participants blame it on the freight economics.

There is a piling up of LR2 tonnage in the Persian Gulf, which is dragging down the rates and making it more attractive to load cargoes of larger sizes on ships, market participants said.

The LR2s typically carry clean product cargoes of 75,000 mt90,000 mt while the LR1s load cargoes of up to 65,000 mt.

“If a charterer has the ability to buy and supply cargoes of larger sizes, at current freight rates they will prefer to use LR2s which will

grab market share from the LR1s,” said a source with a clean tankers’ owner. Since late last month, chartering activity for LR2s had slowed down and excess tonnage in the Persian Gulf widened Worldscale discounts to the LR1s. The cost of moving a 75,000-mt cargo on the PG-Japan route was assessed at $18.73/mt Thursday, compared with $22.39/mt for a 55,000-mt cargo, Platts data showed. “There are too many prompt LR2s available in the Persian Gulf,” said a Tokyo-based chartering source with a Japanese trading company. According to the latest position list with sources, there are now at least three LR2s available for prompt loading in the Persian Gulf and another is due to arrive in

the next few days, which is yet to be chartered for a voyage. “There is not much East-to-West movement and ships are getting stuck in the East of Suez region,” said a clean tanker broker in Singapore. A lack of demand to move gasoil on the Middle East to Europe routes has resulted in an increase in the supply of LR2s around the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Under the current circumstances, most owners are doing short haul voyages around the Persian Gulf instead of waiting out in the hope of longer PGEast or PG-UKC runs. Naphtha traders smell an opportunity in the lower rates for the LR2s but even the latest bout of chartering on the PGNorth Asia routes hasn’t diminished the supply of ships.

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Customs imposes penalty on M/s Ahsan Feed Mills KARACHI: Customs Adjudication-I has fined M/s. Ahsan Feed Mills on paying less sales tax for the clearance of Green Silos consignment from Customs Collectorate Port Qasim (PQ).

According to the sources, M/s. Ahsan Feed Mills has cleared its Green Silos consignment by taking advantage of 8th schedule and brought about a loss of over Rs 5,000,00 in terms of sales tax to national kitty four months ago. The Post Clearance Audit has already sent its sales tax theft, contravention report to the respective adjudication.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

collector Dr Saifuddin Juenjo in china to attend seminar on textile management KARACHI AFtAB chANNA

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ollector, Model Customs Collectorate Exports Dr Saifuddin Junejo is in Fuzhou, China to represent Pakistan Customs in a month-long seminar on Textile Management-I for Pakistan.

OfSicials told Customs Today that Collector Exports Dr Saifuddin Junejo will represent Pakistan Customs in a 28-day seminar on Textile Management-I, being held in Fuzhou, China.

At least 30 government ofSicials from Pakistan are participating in the seminar that would conclude on November 23.

The Economic Affairs Division sought nominations from Pakistan Customs and other departments and these ofSicials are in China as Ministry of Commerce’s foreign tour scheme.

Meanwhile, The Model Customs Collectorate-Exports under supervision of Dr Saifuddin Junejo collected at least Rs 4.41 million under the head of sales tax in the Sirst quarter i.e. July 1, 2015 to October 31, 2015.

The revenue collection for the last year was Rs 2.97 million.

According to sources, the Federal

Board of Revenue set a target of Rs 3.36 million.

The ofSicial sources told Customs

Today that Chief Collector instructed the Collectors to motivate their staff in achieving the revenue target.

Besides, efforts should be made to enhance the tax collection mechanism.

NAB adjourns hearing of embezzlement case against ex-BZu Vc MULTAN

IMrAN ALI

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he Accountability Court Multan adjourned hearing of arrested Bahauddin Zakariya University’s former vice chancellor Dr Khwaja Alqama over misuse of power and Sinancial embezzlement for the establishment of Lahore sub-campus. According to details, NAB ofSicials presented the former VC Khawaja Muhammad

Alqama in the NAB court Multan and former VC was handcuffed when he presented to an accountability court and sought his Sifteen days physical remand for further investigation. he Judge Akhtar Bahadur Khan, however granted 15 days remand of the suspect and ordered NAB to again present him on December 2nd.

Other accused including BZU registrar Malik Munir Hussain has got protective bail from Lahore High Court Multan Bench. Sources told that NAB is also investigating Punjab government spokesman Syed Zaeem Qadri in connection with the scam of BZU Sub Campus lahore.

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NAB has also allegedly collected an evidence of kick back from director of sub campus for its illegal permission. NAB surfaced allegation on West Continental Group owners for collecting Rs 925 million from the students through cheating and fraud. Now NAB Court adjourned further proceedings of the case till 2nd December after hearing arguments of accused Counsel Advocate Sidhu . Meanwhile during hearing of NAB against former VC students and faculty members have staged protest in the MDA chowk for humiliating BZU former VC Khawaja Muhammad Alqama .