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HYDERABAD

ASLAM ANJUM QURESHI www.customsbulletin.com

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he MCC Hyderabad has surpassed the revenue targets of Customs Duty, Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty as well as overall target for the 1st-quarter of the current Pinancial year. The MCC Hyderabad collected Rs3.362billion against the target of Rs2.491billion assigned by the FBR, which is 35% higher. The MCC generated 58% more revenue compared to the revenue done

during the corresponding period of the previous FY i.e.

Rs2.122billion.

This was stated by Collector Hyderabad Akhlaq Ahmad Khattak while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today. On a special initiative taken by Akhlaq Ahmad Khattak, Collector, MCC Hyderabad, the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Customs Preventive Hyderabad and Sukkur, geared up the anti-smuggling efforts and made 67 seizures of smuggling goods including cigarettes of different brands including Pine Light of Korea, Reds Virgin of England, Gutka, foreign origin cloths and other

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contraband items. The computer sets, CPUs of Dell, hard discs, different GB DVDs, laptops and other items worth millions of rupees were also seized during three months of July, August and September 2017-18 valued at Rs115million compared to 40 seizures worth Rs71million made during corresponding period of the last Pinancial year, which shows 61% increase in number of seizure cases and 64% increase in term of value.

The collector told CT that, despite prevention of foreign trafPicking, the staff was emphasized to frustrate every bid of smuggling in the jurisdiction.

Akhlaq performs brilliantly by generating Rs1b more revenue than

NDP vehicles & smuggling goods impounded by Hyderabad Intelligence

Pakistan Customs officers, staff remarkably outstanding: Collector Faiz

US Customs puts trade enforcement tools to work

Customs Adjudication adjourns hearing of 54 smuggling cases

MCC Hyderabad has surpassed the revenue targets of Customs Duty, ST | SEE pAgE 01 |

Customs I&I Field Investigation Hyderabad has taken into possession NDP vehicles | SEE pAgE 02 |

Pak istan Customs officers and staff everywhere are remarkably outstanding | SEE pAgE 05 |

As criminals grow more creative in efforts to circumvent the law | SEE pAgE 07 |

Customs Adjudication has adjourned the hearing of 54 seizure cases | SEE pAgE 08 |

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Sahiwal RTO made operational Saturday, October 14, 2017

National

SAHIWAL: Regional Tax Office (RTO), Sahiwal has been made operational as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued codes to the banks for collection.

Dr Khalil Ahmed was appointed as the first chief commissioner. Codes for income tax and sales tax are 72 & 73 respectively. The Sahiwal RTO will oversee four districts – Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari and Okara.

The Multan RTO and the Lahore RTO-II have transferred the jurisdiction of 365 limited companies to newly-created RTO Sahiwal. The FBR has also transferred nine officers to RTO Sahiwal.

NDp vehicles & smuggling goods impounded by Hyderabad Intelligence

SIALKOT

HYDERABAD

ZAfAR MALIk

ASLAM ANJUM QURESHI

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hairman Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Haji Muhammad Akram has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to avoid freezing bank accounts of ginners for recovery of taxes. While addressing a press conference here Thursday, Haji Akram asked the government to make payments against sales tax refund claims of ginners that were pending for long.

He said that Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) and other Discos should ensure smooth supply of electricity to ginning industry pleading that fixed charges were being received from ginners for 24 hours supply. Haji Akram urged the ginners to pay attention to business while keeping in view the ground realities and avoid turning their ginning factories into godowns. He said that business activities have begun in Punjab with full force and ginners should continue business activities while considering the bank mark-up rates. He also advised ginners to buy contamination-free cotton to avoid facing losses. He asked the government to exempt South Punjab ginning industry from power load shedding.

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he Customs Investigation and Intelligence’s Field Investigation Hyderabad has taken into possession non-duty-paid vehicles and contraband items worth millions of rupees during different operations inHyderabad region in the month of September 2017-18.

The Customs Hyderabad, following directives of Customs Intelligence Director General (FBR) Shaukat Ali and Director Intelligence and Investigation Hyderabad Region (ASO) Tahir Qureshi, thwarted several attempts to smuggle items into Pakistan.

Sources told Customs Today that, on the special guidelines of Director General FBR Shaukat Ali, a crackdown was launched to curb the smugglings in the region. The raiding party, under the supervision of customs authorities comprising Superintendent, Inspectors, Sepoy, Driver and others, took active part in various actions against smugglers during the month of September 2017-18.

The customs team seized goods and forwarded the case to the Customs Adjudication for further proceedings.

After registering cases, the team deposited the conPiscated items into Hyderabad state warehouse. The Customs Intelligence Director appreciated the performance of Customs Intelligence team, which foiled

pcgA urges fBR not to freeze ginners’ accounts for recovery of taxes

various smuggling bids in the region.

Meanwhile, The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Sukkur division, has confiscated foreign origin non-duty-paid 25 smuggling bags, each containing 50 packets of 100 pouch of total sachets of Gutka made in India valued at Rs1.3million involving duties and taxes of

Rs653125, during an action at a check-post of Jacobabad-Sukkur in the last week of September 201718. Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Hyderabad Akhlaq Ahmed Khattaq directed his staff to abort the smuggling attempts in the region. The customs authorities received a tip-off regarding the

smuggling of said foreign origin non-duty-paid items, also including auto parts. He formed a team, comprising ASO Customs Preventive Sukkur In-Charge Customs Check-Post Jacobabad Aziz Katpar and other inspectors, sepoys and a driver, which participated in the execution of the operation.

Agp transfers 14 senior officers from pA&AS T

ISLAMABAD

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he Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has issued orders of posting/transfer of 14 senior ofPicers of Pakistan Audit and Accounts service (PA&AS).

According to notiPications No. 114-Dir(A)/2-3/2017-II issued here, Muhammad Ikram Khan presently posted as Member (Finance), Railways has been trans-

ferred and posted as Member (Finance), WAPDA, Irshad Ahmed Kaleemi, Deputy Controller General of Accounts Islamabad has been posted/transferred as Deputy Auditor Gerenal (Policy) in OfPice of the Auditor General of Pakistan, Muhammad Farooq Mohsin Chief Finance & Accounts OfPicer Cabinet Division Islamabad has been transferred and posted at the disposal of CGA ofPice for further posting while Muhammad Siddique Tariq Joya Deputy Auditor General (Policy),

AGP OfPice Islamabad (OPS), has been transferred and posted as Deputy Auditor General (IRV&MT), AGP OfPice Islamabad.

Similarly, Sheeren Akhtar Deputy Auditor General (IRV&MT) AGP OfPice Islamabad (OPS), has been transferred and posted as Deputy Controller General of Accounts, Islamabad (OPS), Muhammad Jan Director NSPP Islamabad (on Deputation), has been transferred and posted as Chief Finance & Accounts OfPicer, Railways Divi-

sion, Islamabad, Muhammad Idress Mian Chief Finance & Accounts OfPicer, Establishment Division, Islamabad, has been transferred and posted as Controller Military Accounts (POF), Wah, Hasan Masud Controller Military Accounts (ISOs) Rawalpindi has been transferred and posted as Additional AGPR Islamabad, Syed Umar Ali Shah Banoori awaiting posting has been transferred and posted as Director Audit (Federal Government), while Muhammad Qasim Chatta Repatri-

ated from deputation as Deputy Secretary/ Director to Minister, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Islamabad, has been transferred and posted as Controller Military Accounts (ISOs) Rawalpindi. In addition, Imran Ali Noor Deputy Director Audit, O/o DG Audit, Defence Services Rawalpindi has been transferred and posted as Deputy Controller Military Accounts (RC),Rawalpindi, Ashfaque Ahmed Deputy Director Audit, PT&T Sub OfPice, Karachi.

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Saturday, October 14, 2017

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LAHORE M HAYAt www.customsbulletin.com akistan Customs ofPicers and staff everywhere are remarkably outstanding and they can yield exceptionally good results if led by example and trust.

Collectorate of Customs Preventive Lahore revenue growth has touched to a record high of 47 percent during the Pirst quarter. Guidance of Member Customs Zahid Khokhar also proved instrumental in enabling the Collectorate to attain the growth.

These views were expressed by Collector of Customs Preventive Faiz Ahmad while exclusively talking to Customs Today the other day at his ofPice.

Ahmad enjoys a good reputation in customs circles and is known as an upright and honest ofPicer of the service. He belongs to province of Punjab and has extensive experience in management and customs related affairs.

The collector said that despite the fact that the Collectorate of Customs Preventive issued a large number of rebates to the importers, its revenue growth has touched to record high of 47 percent during the Pirst quarter against the same period last Pinancial year while it also posted 31 percent growth against the target for the period by collecting Rs7019 million.

The Collectorte posted 97 percent

growth in collection of customs duty during the month of September 2017 as compared to last the September 2016 while overall growth in collection of all duty and taxes touched 66 percent during the month as compared to the collection of same period last Pinancial year, Ahmad stated, disclosing that the Collectorate posted 47 percent growth in collection of the all duty and taxes for the Pirst quarter of Pinancial year 201718 as compared to the same period last Pinancial year. The growth is excluding all rebate and refunds which is 113 percent more than that of the rebate and refunds issued during the last Pinancial year, he indicated.

Ahmad indicated that the Collectorate collected Rs 9176 million all duty and taxes which is Rs 3000 million during the current Pinancial as compared to the collection of Rs 6287 million during the IQ of Pinancial year 2016-17. The Collectorate said that in attaining the unprecedented growth in revenue collection various measures taken at the Collectorate’s level played vital role. “I mainly ensured appointments of the, effective, honest and professional ofPicers staff at the various establishments of the Collectorate including Wagha Border, Airport, T-10 and AntiSmuggling under the limits of the collectorate and adopted zero tolerance against the corrupt ofPicers and ofPicial if there is any. At the same time trade facil-

itation was prioritized while quality of assessment has improved signiPicantly,” the Collectorate pointed out. While talking about Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), the collector said that performance of ASO has improved to 300 percent mark as the ASO team is given targets on daily basis and monitored.

The effective measures have curtailed smuggling to a substantial level as earlier trucks of smuggled goods and articles w e r e

dumped in the market, however now the smugglers have no other way and resorted to smuggle their goods and articles by misusing passengers in far smaller quantities, he explained, adding that the ASO registered worth Rs271 million showing a growth of 300 percent during the Pirst quarter of 2017-18 as compared to Rs 80 million’s cases during the same period last Pinancial year. Ahmad said that this was due to the ASO staff’s teamwork which is being conducted under the experienced and brave customs ofPicers and staff especially at the time when smuggling from Quetta and Peshawar has been reduced due to comprehensive and effective strategy adopted by the Customs authorities in these areas. The collector disclosed that most of the seized goods were dumped in the godowns e in Lahore and were hat th t d e t ica d n 6 conPiscated when the i 7 d 1 s9 hma cted R good were attempted e faiz A l l s i o c h hic rate w o s to be supplied in the t e c x e l d ta col rent markets of the city. r uty an u d c l l e a n ng th i The number of r u millio d n e millio seizures, arrests, d to th 0 e r 0 a 0 3 p Rs com FIRs has also been during ial as illion m financ 7 increased that en8 2 7 6 1 s R 6 f sured deterrence ar 201 tion o cial ye collec n a n against the smuggling fi f o Q the I activities, the collector also highlighted.

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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

outlook of national economy

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he Asian Development Bank has reviewed the rate of economic progress in various countries, including Pakistan and discussed the issues facing the nations. In its report ‘Asian Development Outlook 2017,’ the bank maintains projections for annual growth and inflation in Pakistan Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. However, the report says that current account deficit is not only a problem for Pakistan but also for many other countries. The bank expects 5.5 percent growth in gross domestic products in advanced and developing economies due to continuous revival in world trade volume and overall improvement in the security and business environment. It also hopes that investments in infrastructure projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will give impetus to industrial and services sectors.The government is trying to improve energy supply and address fiscal and external sector issues and handle the growing current account deficit. The foreign exchange reserves are falling, debt obligations are growing and fiscal vulnerabilities are increasing which could force the government to seek financial assistance from international donor agencies.

The government has apparently lost its momentum to prepare financial and economic policies which could resist growth prospects. The country is facing burgeoning trade deficit due to low export volume while its foreign exchange reserves are also shrinking due to decrease in inflows of remittance sent by Pakistani expatriates from abroad. Economists fear that the country may also face inflation in coming months.

They also expect increase in global oil prices, but easing of global food prices.The bank report projects inflation at 4.8 percent due to active vigilance by the State Bank. However, at least 18 percent increase in tax collection and non-tax revenues will generate and push up the revenues to 17.2 percent of the gross domestic product. The bank forecasts development expenditures at 6.3 percent of the GDP as allocations of public sector development programmes have been increased by half in financial year 2017. In the next year budget, the federal government has already assumed that it will be able to get two-thirds of deficit financing from domestic sources.

potentials of agriculture sector A

LAHORE

DR AftAB AfZAL

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ccording to newspaper reports, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has stressed the need for establishing public and private partnership to strengthen and promote agriculture sector. In the view of growing population, which has increased by 57 percent since the last census held in 1999, the country needs assurance of food security which could only be achieved if the farming sector is improved. The United Nations has already kept Pakistan in the group of countries which are threatened by food scarcity in the coming

years. Meanwhile, the country has acquired the position of the fifth most populated country in the world from sixth position in nearly two decades. The agriculture is the most neglected sector in the country despite the fact that Pakistan is labelled as the agrarian economy. The small land owners hardly make both ends meet due to shrinking of land and most of them still use old methods of cultivation. More work and little yield always keep them in the lower income groups. The big land owners have more interest in other things than agriculture as most of them have already shifted to the posh localities of cities and land is just is a matter

of pride and not a main source of income for them.

In his meeting with farmers, the prime minister has discussed a host of issues relating to the agriculture sector, including cost of production, methods to improve per acre yield and market ability of the agricultural products which sometime perish in the fields due to low sale prices in the market. The agriculture sector has vast export potentials and there is a need to explore new opportunities under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. As water is depleting in rivers, the farmers have to rely on artificial methods of irrigation but electricity is in short supply and expensive.

This renders the agriculture produces uncompetitive in the international markets. Though the government has its share of responsibility to boost the agriculture sector, but the farming community should also take initiatives to improve the situation.

Despite the fact that the corporate sector has various evils, still it has merits and can play a vital role in the development of agriculture sector and contribute toward economic growth. It is all about the matter of priorities.

The agriculture sector alone can push the country into the first world economies, but prudent policies, commitment and management are the basic factors to achieve the goals.

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Residential rents in Dubai continue to drop in Q3 Saturday October 14, 2017

World

DUBAI: Residential rents in Dubai continued their low single-digit declines in the third quarter of the year, according to a new report issued by research agency JLL. Numerous residential buildings even within the prime areas such as Downtown and Marina are seeing increased vacancies, it stated, citing anecdotal evidence. Hence tenants have been able to renegotiate their rents downwards by an average of 5 per cent to 7 per cent. Meanwhile sales prices for both villas and apartments remained largely stable over the quarter, it found. “Direct sales of UAE properties were allowed at Cityscape for the first time in 10 years and this peaked the interest of potential buyers by allowing them to compare between the various launch offers across a variety of properties,” the report said.

US customs puts trade enforcement tools to work

UAE banking sector outlook to remain stable DUBAI

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WASHINGTON

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s criminals grow more creative in efforts to circumvent the law, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is implementing new enforcement tools.

One new tool is worth considering, and one existing tool is worth revisiting. The new tool is the Importer of Record Task Force, which cuts across all product lines. CBP is requiring Pirst-time importers and companies to establish they are real before goods are released. The long-standing approach criminals have relied on is to Pind a relative or friend in the United States to act as a middleman.

The friend or relative is paid a small fee to act as importer. When confronted, most say they know the oversees supplier has asked them to act as a middleman in order to reduce the duty paid. The trouble is

Singapore pMI inched up to 52.0 in Sep ingapore’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose 0.2 points from August to 52.0 in September. According to the Singapore Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management (SIPMM), the expansion is the highest since April 2011. SIPMM said a faster rate of expansion in all key indicators boosted the reading. Finished goods and input prices expanded but at a slower pace. “The slower rate of expansion for stocks of finished goods was on the back of higher new orders, and this should bode well for the manufacturing economy,” SIPMM said. Manufacturing employment went back into expansion after four months of contractions. SIPMM said this indicated sustained growth for the manufacturing economy since last year. –CB Report

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those middlemen do not really appreciate the consequences of their actions. The transaction takes place between the often Chinese seller and the US buyer. In these cases, the proper term of sale is delivered duty paid. However, the criminal consigns the goods to the designated US middleman at an FOB cost of goods that is frequently well below market price. The fact the value is too low is itself a trigger in CBP’s risk manage-

ment analysis, but the poor middleman gets nailed nonetheless. CBP detains the shipment upon arrival with the requirement the middleman Pirst establish his as a real company. This inquiry requires the company to provide its formation documents and evidence of the identity of its principals. The company must then also provide the purchase order between it and the factory and it and the ultimate US buyer.

Australia’s gas exports set to surge as new projects come on tap

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he value of gas exports will surge by nearly 60% in the next two years, from $22.3bn to $35.4bn, as Australia becomes the world’s biggest exporter of LNG. Last week gas exporters agreed to guarantee supply for Australia’s eastern gas market to prevent a looming shortfall next year. Figures published in Resources and Energy Quarterly on Friday show the surge in gas production will predomi-

nantly come from Australia’s western and northern gas markets, when three large LNG projects under construction (Wheatstone, Icthys, and Prelude) come online. But there could be strong growth in exports from the eastern gas market, depending on the deal struck with Malcolm Turnbull last week. “That might be price growth or volume growth, or it might be both,” the head of the Australian. –CB Report

oody’s Investors Service has maintained its outlook for the UAE’s banking sector at stable, with faster economic growth in 2018 expected to support the credit growth in 2018.

According to Moody’s analyst Mik Kabeya, credit growth of approximately Pive percent is forecast for 2018, after a forecast lower growth of 2 percent in 2017, compared to 5.8 percent in 2016 and 8 percent in 2015. The Mooody’s report found that loan performance is expected to soften, following “sluggish” economic growth in 2017, while problem loans will go higher, reaching 5.5-6 percent of gross loans by 2018, compared to 5.3 percent in June. A high concentration of loans to government-related entities and to a volatile realestate sector pose downside risks to

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loan quality, the report added. The capital levels of UAE banks will remain strong over the coming 12 to 18 months, at between 14 and 16 percent of risk-weighted assets, which Moody’s attributes to banks’ internal capital generation and lower growth in risk-weighted assets, which provide a “substantial” cushion against softening loan performance.

“Stabilising oil prices and international bond issuances will continue to support funding and liquidity conditions in the country, following a tightening during 2016 amid oil price weakness,” Kabeya added. Over the next 12 to 18 months, proPitability is expected to remain strong, with a net income of between 1.5 and 1.7 percent of tangible banking assets, with thinner margins balanced by lower operating expenses and stabilising provision charges. According to a study conducted by the First Bank of Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s banking system remains the top banking system in the GCC in terms of assets in the Pirst half of 2017.

Hk customs makes big cookie bust downright delicious HK$320,000 (about US$50,000) worth of cookies have been seized by those vigilant folks from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise department, who smelled and possibly tasted something strange was up with their purported origin. The batch of 4,603 cookie tins, which were decorated with adorable teddy bears, was intercepted when customs ofPicers at Man Kam To control point inspected an incoming truck on September 29, according to a statement on the department’s website.

The cookies, stowed in the cargo

compartment, were labeled as originating from Hong Kong. However “initial investigations,” say customs, revealed otherwise and the cookies were sent to a government laboratory for further (taste?) tests. The 59-year-old driver, meanwhile, found himself jammed up. Arrested, he faces a possible HK$500,000 Pine and up to Pive years in prison for breaching the Trade Descriptions Ordinance with the false description of the goods. The suspect cookies have not yet been found available for sale at retail shops, the department further noted, just in case you were wondering. –CB Report

Uk central bank unveils blockchain data privacy pilot

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LONDON

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he Bank of England, the UK’s central bank, has added yet another blockchain proof-ofconcept (PoC) to its growing Pintech accelerator program. The institution is working with blockchain startup Chain on a data privacy pilot, ac-

cording to a new announcement.

The project is one of four unveiled today, all of which focus on Pinancial information processing.

Bank of England ofPicials have been working with a number of startups and companies on blockchain applications through its accelerator since it launched late last year. Among those were a real-time gross settlement (RTGS) trial involv-

ing technology developed by Ripple, as well as an asset exchange pilot involving PwC. In a speech to Pintech Pirms in Cambridge this morning, Andrew Hauser, the central bank’s executive director for banking, payments and Pinancial resilience, highlighted additional details about the new pilot. “The PoC will examine the extent to which [distributed ledger technology] based systems

can be conPigured to enable privacy amongst participants, whilst keeping data on a shared ledger: one of the holy grails of DLT design,” he told event attendees. The UK central bank Pirst voiced its interest in a blockchain data privacy pilot in April.

At the time, Bank of England governor Mark Carney said that the institution wanted to explore “maintaining privacy in a distributed ledger.”

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Quetta Intelligence thwarts smuggling of various items QUETTA: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations Quetta expedited its efforts to foil the attempts of smuggling. The collectorate seized smuggling items worth Rs13.34million in the month of September. Sources told reporter that confiscated goods include plastic powder, Iranian juices, commercial molding machines, commercial generators, Iranian grease and break oil, hashish, plastic Dana, computer accessories, Iranian diesel, electronic items and other goods in the last monthe.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

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customs Adjudication adjourns hearing of 54 smuggling cases FAISALABAD NAEEM SHEIkH

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he Customs Adjudication has adjourned the hearing of 54 seizure cases worth Rs138.635 million during the month of September 2017.

According to the details, Customs Adjudication Collector Mirza Mubashir Baig has adjourned hearing of 13 cases worth Rs 86.265 million pertaining to the seizures of various items. The cases were made by customs authorities. The collector directed the owners of seized goods and their counsel to present their arguments in next hearing.

Furthermore, Additional Collector Muhammad Saeed Asad adjourned hearing of 19 cases worth Rs 42.643 million, while Deputy Collector Asma Hameed adjourned 22 cases involving Rs 9.727 million.

Most of the adjourned seizure cases were detected and registered by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation while few cases were made by the Anti smuggling Organization (ASO) Faisalabad.

The seizure cases pertaining to smuggled vehicles, mobile

phones, base oil, tyres, tubes and auto parts were heard by the Cus-

toms Adjudication.

Meanwhile, The Collectorate of

Customs Adjudication settled as many as 59 cases involving rev-

enue of Rs 292.648 million during three months July to September of fiscal year 2017-18.

Sources told Customs Today that Customs Adjudication issued Order in Original (ONO) in favor of the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) and Customs Intelligence and Investigations Faisalabad and Field Investigation Unit (FIU) Khushab. The sources further said that all 59 cases include seizures of cloth, Indian origin food grains, Iranian diesel, cell phones, foreign origin cigarettes, auto parts, Toyota Corolla vehicles with different registration numbers, ladies cloths and toys.

The goods were confiscated during different raids by the customs authorities. According to a monthly statement, Faisalabad Adjudication Collector Mirza Mubashir Baig decided 11 cases involving Rs 257.580 million whereas Additional Collector Muhammad Saeed Asad decided 9 smuggling cases involving Rs 14.986 million. Additional Collector Asma Hameed settled 39 cases involving Rs 20.082 million and announced decisions in favor of the Customs Intelligence and Investigations and Anti Smuggling Organizations (ASO) Faisalabad, Mianwali, Sargodha, Jhang and Sara-e-Muhajir.

Sindh cabinet reviewing NAB repeal bill, SHc told KARACHI

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed by the provincial government that it has formed a committee to review the repeal of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999. The SHC bench headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh was hearing bunch of petitions Piled by several political parties

including Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim LeagueFunctional (PML-F), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pasban-ePakistan and some other NGOs who have moved the court against Sindh government for repealing NAO, better known as NAB ordinance, in the province.

In Monday’s hearing, Sindh Advocate General Barrister Zameer Hussain Ghumro informed the judges that the provincial cabinet had formed a committee to review the NAO 1999 Sindh Repeal Bill, 2017. “The committee is directed

to convene its meetings and to submit its report within six weeks,” he added. The bench put off the hearing and directed the NAB to continue its operation in the province.

Earlier, the Sindh government had formed a committee comprising provincial ministers Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Nisar Khuhro, Nasir Hussain Shah, Sardar Shah and Zameer

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Ghumro, and law secretary. Several opposition parties and NGOs had moved the court after the provincial government had decided to replace NAB with its own ‘Sindh Accountability Agency’. The petitioners said that the repeal NAO is an attempt by the PPP to protect its corruption and is against the basic scheme of the Constitution.

The provincial assembly had on July 3 passed the NAO 1999 Sindh Repeal Bill, 2017 that repealed the applicability of the NAB ordinance to departments and autonomous bodies controlled by the provincial government.