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Vol 1 Issue No. 199

Karachi, Sat October 10, 2015

LAHORE

M HAYAT

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ustoms Intelligence and Investigations Directorate impounded smuggled tyres and auto parts worth Rs 10.25 million, ofRicial sources told Customs Today here Thursday. The sources added that on the information of Director Saud Imran Custom Intelligence and In-

Price Rs. 14.00

vestigations intercepted a truck coming from Peshawar on Multan Road and seized the truck loaded with smuggled motor-bike parts and tyres. The sources said that the truck was bound for Misri Shah in Lahore. It was reported that 150 carton of motor-cycle chains and 400 tyres of trucks, vans and motorcycles were seized. It was said that the operation against the smugglers was conducted under the supervision of Additional Director Rizwan Slabat.

DG Customs Valuation determines values of cotton fabric

Customs Appellate Tribunal hears 40 cases

Funds for Insaf Food Programme increased to Rs1.2b from Rs190m

Customs Appeals Collector Asif Jah issues first ONO in Urdu

US businessmen keen to invest in Pakistan: US diplomat

The DG of Customs Valuation under the supervision of DG Samaira Nazir | See pAge 02 |

CAT Chairman Ghulam Murtaza Bhatti on Thursday chaired hearing of 40 cases. | See pAge 03 |

CM Khattak, presiding over a meeting, has increased allocation for the Insaf | See pAge 04 |

The Collectorate of Customs Appeal has issued the first Order -in-Original in Urdu | See pAge 12 |

ISLAMABAD: Despite security issues and other concerns, many US companies | See pAge 09 |

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RTO-II to finalise physical verification of sales taxpayers Saturday, October 10, 2015

National

LAHORE: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Regional Tax Office two (RTO-II) finalizing the physical verification of sales taxpayers who are paying taxes through old methods and registration numbers were already issued to them by the FBR. As per details, the FBR empowered to all 18 RTOs in Pakistan for the registration of sales taxpayers and issuing of registration numbers. The fifty cases that registration numbers were issued by the board, FBR assigns RTO-II for the physical verification of these cases.

customs Valuation Dg determines values of cotton fabric

LAHORE

M iMrAn MeHAr

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KARACHI

AfTAB cHAnnA

pecial Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling heard 19 different cases which were scheduled for hearing, including pre-arrest bail pleas of accused persons on Thursday.

Most of the cases were adjourned without any proceedings because no lawyer and parties concerned appeared in the court. Hearing of bail pleas of three suspects adjourned till the next hearing.

Cases scheduled for hearing on Thursday including tax evasion, customs, smuggling and narcotics.

Cases of pre-arrest bail pleas of Mohammad Aslam and Usman were also scheduled in the Customs Court for their pre-arrest bails in a alleged smuggling case but the Court adjourned these cases until next hearing. The court also proceeded on statements of witnesses on five different cases on the day.

The cases, including those of tax evasion, customs, smuggling and narcotics, were scheduled for the day’s hearing.

Meanwhile, In the Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling, different cases were scheduled for hearing on Wednesday.

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he Directorate General of Customs Valuation under the supervision of DG Samaira Nazir has determined the customs values of cotton fabric vide Valuation Ruling No 764/2015. The customs values of cotton fabric were determined under Section 25-A of the Customs Act, 1969.

According to details, the Model Customs Collectorate MCC Appraisement East contested that the said ruling needs revision being on the lower-side.

The Appraisement Collectorates West and East pointed out that fabric values determined by the Directorate General of Customs Valuation needs upward revision keeping in view the international prices of the cotton fabric.

Therefore, an exercise to determine customs values of cotton fabric under Section 25-A of the Customs Act, 1969 was initiated.

As per the Valuation Ruling, cotton fabric (printed/plain) imported from China, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Turkey would be assessed to C&F $ 4.5/kg, India at $4.4/kg, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea at $ 4.6/kg, Europe, United States of America and Canada at $ 5.1/kg.

customs court hears 19 cases on Thursday

While cotton fabric blended (printed/plain) imported from China, UAE, Bangladesh and Turkey at $4.75/kg, India at $4.65/kg, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea at $4.85/kg and of Europe, USA and Canada at $5.5/kg.

And, other cotton fabric (printed/plain) from China, UAE,

Bangladesh and Turkey at $ 4.5/kg, India at $4.4/kg, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea at $4.6/kg and Europe, USA and Canada at $5.1/kg.

In cases where declared/transaction values are higher than the Customs values determined in this Ruling, the assessing officer shall

apply those values in terms of Sub Section (1) of Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1969. In case of consignments imported by air, the assessing officer shall take into account the differential between air freight and sea freight while applying the Customs values determined in this Ruling.

FIA arrests 17 suspects involved in human trafficking SIALKOT

ZAfAr MALik

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ontinuing its vigorous crackdown against the human trafRicking, the special raiding teams of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), led by senior ofRicials, have arrested 17 more human trafRickers including six no-

torious proclaimed offenders from Gujrat, Gujranwala, Jalalpur Jattan and Lahore.

According to the Deputy Director FIA Gujranwala Ch Khalid Anees, the FIA has tightened its circle around the human trafRickers to save innocent people from their clutches. He said that the FIA arrested six notorious human trafRickers-turnedproclaimed offenders, including Nawab Din, his son Irfan Nawab, Zaman, Abdul Razzaq , Muhammad Afzal, Rehmat Ali and Iftikhar

Ahmed. Besides, the FIA arrested 11 other suspected human trafRickers, including Qamar Sajjad, Muneer Hussain, Asim Chughtai, Muhammad Afzal, Waheed Gujjar and Idrees Ahmed from Shahdara-Lahore, Gujrat, Wahndo-Gujranwala, Mandi Bahaud Din, Jalalpur Jattan and surrounding areas. Deputy Director FIA added that the FIA team also raided at a money exchange in Jalalpur Jattan and arrested its owner Muhammad Jabbar, besides, seizing Rs 1 million cash in Pakistani currency and a

big amount of different foreign currencies from there. The FIA also raided an illegal education consultant institute and arrested two suspected human trafRickers Imran Khokhar and Imran Baig. The accused were indulged in a business of sending the innocent students and people abroad, especially to European, African and Gulf counties through fake student visas after getting big amounts from them.

Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched a vigorous

crackdown against students’ visa consultants-turned-travel agents and arrested as many as 11 notorious human trafRickers including the heads of two students consultancy institutions during this crackdown in Gujranwala Division. Deputy Director FIA Gujranwala Division Ch Khalid Anees told Customs Today that the special commando teams of the FIA led by senior ofRicials were conducting raids at various students visa consultancy institutes and travel agencies.

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Excise pensioners still await 10pc increase KARACHI: The Excise and Taxation Department’s retired employees are still waiting for 10 percent increase in their pensions.

According to the sources, the Sindh government has stated in 2015-16 budgets to increase the salaries and pensions of government employees, but nothing has been done for the pensioners. Therefore, pensioners of ET are worried for not getting their 10 percent increase. Sindh government has not issued the notification of retired employee’s increment while on the other hand increment notification of regular employees has already been issued.

ASo confiscates smuggled iranian oil worth rs 1.3m KARACHI

Saturday October 10, 2015

National

customs Appellate Tribunal hears 40 cases

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ISLAMABAD

nAeeM uLLAH TAriQ he Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of the Model Customs Preventive Collectorate (MCC) has confiscated smuggled Iranian diesel and petrol during a raid.

According to the sources, the ASO raided three petrol pumps in Sher Shah, Karachi on the directives of Chief Collector Enforcement.

During the raid, the ASO has recovered over 13,000 liters Iranian diesel and 3,000 litters petrol worth Rs 1.3 million and sealed all three petrol pumps.

In another raid, the ASO has seized 22,000 liters Iranian diesel in SITE area Karachi and started further investigation in this regard.

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govt asked to implement zero duty on solar equipment LAHORE

M HAYAT

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he Pakistan Solar Association (PSA) on Thursday urged the government to ensure zero duty on import of solar equipment to overcome electricity load-shedding. PSA Chairman Engineer Faiz Bhutta said here that in its proposals for the next federal budget 2015-16, the association recommended that all solar equipment, including solar panels, batteries, charge controllers (offgrid, on-grid and hybrid) should be exempted from all kinds of taxes and duties. This step, he claimed, would help end power load-shedding completely within next two to three years. He said, the association also called for including the control unit and solar energy monitoring devices in duty-free schedule and excluding these from the tax and duties tariff list, besides making the standard certification mandatory for import of quality solar equipment.

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ustoms Appellate Tribunal (CAT) Chairman Ghulam Murtaza Bhatti on Thursday chaired hearing of 40 cases.

A single bench comprising Customs Appellate Tribunal chairman heard cases of Azad Khan, Khaista Khan, Mushtaq Khan and Fazal Akber. DG Intelligence and Investigation Islamabad was respondent in all the cases heard by the single bench.

A division bench comprising CAT chairman and CAT member Khalid Mehmood held proceedings of cases pertaining to TCS, Smart Zone, National Institute of Health Sciences Islamabad, Expanded Program on Immunization, China Water, Prime Poly Tax, Mian and Co and others.

Meanwhile, Federal Service Tribunal (FST) on Thursday held hearings of as many as 126 petitions containing variety of grievances and complaints. FST Court-I heard 8 FBR related cases, Court-III heard 100 and Court-IV heard 18 cases.

Out of these numerous cases, 94 were containing complaint about ‘special allowance equal to 100 percent basic pay’, four sought ‘implementation’ on FDT decisions, 10 petitioners complained about pending ‘up-gradation’ matters, three sought ‘interim relief’ and 15 petitioners complained about ‘promotion’ matter. Three different benches of FST heard the cases. Court-I bench was

consisted of FST Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Farooq and Arshad Bhatti (Member). Court-III bench comprised of Member, Syed RaRique Hassan Shah and Muhammad Hamid, while Members, Dr Nazir Saeed and Ishtiaq Ahmed were part of the bench formed for Court-IV. Meanwhile, The Federal Service Tribunal (FST) on Tuesday heard the petition, challenging Regional Tax OfRicer’s (RTO’s), Peshawar decision and praying the tribunal to set the

A single bench comprising customs Appellate Tribunal chairman heard cases of Azad khan, khaista khan, Mushtaq khan and fazal Akber. Dg intelligence and investigation islamabad was respondent in all the cases heard by the single bench.

RTO-II appoints receiver in Vita Pakistan case LAHORE

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he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Regional Tax Office (RTO-II) has appointed advocate Lal Badshah as receiver for getting tax amount from Vita Pakistan (Pvt) Limited beverage and food company.

As per details, Vita Pakistan was tax defaulter of Rs 5 million and the company had not been submitting tax returns for the last few years.

The RTO-II sent a number of notices to Vita Pakistan for payment of taxes but Vita Pakistan didn’t submit its dues and filed an appeal before the adjudication authority. The commissioner appeals fined the company Rs 5 million and order it to pay 25 percent of the taxable amount till October 5.

After the decision, the Vita Pakistan filed a case in the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the court ordered to pay 10 percent of taxable amount within 15 days after hearing of the company’s arguments.

After the court decision, the RT0-II appointed advocate Lal Badshah as a receiver to get the tax money from the Vita Pakistan.

The tax amount will be submitted in the banks after this the FBR will issue 10 percent to the receiver.

decision aside. The petitioner, Syed Sajjad, prayed the tribunal to promote him to the post of inspector with effect from the date his colleagues were promoted by the department Rive years ago. Petitioner’s counsel argued before the bench, comprising of Members, Dr Nazir Saeed, Syed Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Javed Iqbal Kasi, that the respondent (RTO, Peshawar) submitted misleading information in the tribunal which tantamount to fraud.

126 fBr cases heard in fST ederal Service Tribunal (FST) on Thursday held hearings of as many as 126 petitions containing variety of grievances and complaints.

FST Court-I heard 8 FBR related cases, Court-III heard 100 and Court-IV heard 18 cases. Out of these numerous cases, 94 were containing complaint about ‘special allowance equal to 100 percent.– CB REPORT

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Coca Cola starts implementing plan to invest $350m in Pakistan Saturday, October 10, 2015

Business

ISLAMABAD: The world biggest beverage company, Coca Cola, has announced to initiate its investment plan in Pakistan.

The company will invest more than $350 million in Pakistan, as it is the leading US investor in the country. Coca cola of Eurasia & Africa Group President Nathan Kalumbu has stated this during a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. He briefed the finance minister about the company’s investment plans. Ishaq Dar welcomed the delegation and said the present government offers a liberal investment regime and facilitates all foreign investors in accordance with existing regulations of the country.

‘funds for insaf food programme increased to rs 1.2b from rs 190m’ PESHAWAR

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hief Minister Pervez Khattak, presiding over a meeting, has increased allocation for the Insaf Food Security Programme (IFSP) from Rs190 million to Rs1,200 million for the Rirst year of the three-year project.

The CM directed the Agriculture Department to work out Rinancial implications and beneRits of the provision of subsidised fertilizers to

Urea companies to decrease fertiliser rates

by Rs 105 per bag

farmers. The amount would be used to procure certiRied wheat seed for distribution among farmers holding one to12.5 acres land, said a handout. The project is part of the government agenda for making the province self-reliant in wheat production. The chief minister also announced subsidy on fertilizers from the next year to further increase wheat production.

The government initiated a three years scheme under ISFP at a cost of Rs3.778 billion to provide free and certiRied wheat seed to farmers.

The farmers will have to sell half of the produce to the provincial government. The chief minister also

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he urea companies have announced to decrease prices of fertilizer bag of 50kg by Rs105 after the government has committed to give them subsidy in gas tariffs.Fatima group has already decreased its fertilizer bag prices by Rs146 to Rs1,823/bag to encourage dealers to clear stocks immediately.

However, no other manufacturer has yet reduced fertilizer prices yet.

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ISLAMABAD

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ith the aim to improve performance of power distribution companies, the Ministry of Water and Power has chosen highly-qualified directors and representatives of the Sindh government for the boards of Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) and Hyderabad

ISLAMABAD

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he National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has announced to reduce power tariff by Rs2.60 per unit for the month of August 2015 on account of fuel adjustment.

The consumers using lower than 300 units will be benefited with the refund of Rs22 billion in the bills of November. Nepra took this decision at a public hearing on the monthly fuel adjust mechanism attended by officials of Central Power Purchase Agency (CPPA) and officials of the tariff section of Nepra.The CPPA, which is responsible for the purchase and sale of electricity, had proposed Rs2.40 per unit refund to the consumers.

According to CPPA’s petition, the fuel cost of electricity delivered to distribution companies (DISCOs) was Rs4.0525 per unit in August 2015 against a reference price of Rs6.4562 per unit, suggesting reimbursement of Rs2.4037 per unit.

Total energy generated from all sources was 10,519.2 GWh in August at a cost of Rs43.783 billion (Rs4.1622 per unit). However, CPPA delivered 10,221 GWh to Discos at Rs41.420 billion (Rs4.0525 per unit).

T asked the Agriculture Department to expedite the process of seed procurement and distribution. The de-

partment was directed to make effective publicity to inform the beneRiciaries.

Ministry appoints ‘qualified’ Sindh officials for Sepco, Hesco

LAHORE

power tariff reduced by rs2.6 per unit

Electric Supply Company (Hesco).

As per the ministry’s statement, the step was imperative in view of the fact that previous board members had failed to live up to expected performance standards and were unable to achieve the targets agreed in a performance contract signed with the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) in 2014.

Among representatives of the Sindh government, the commissioners of Sukkur and Larkana have assumed charge in the Sepco board and the commissioners of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas have

become part of the Hesco board.

In Sepco, Nisar Ahmed Siddique, an MBA from Boston University who was awarded Sitara-eImtiaz recently, has been picked by the board as its chairman. In Hesco, Nazar Hussain Mahar has been elected as the board chairman. He has experience of managing public-sector entities and retired from government service in 2010 as a federal secretary.He has experience of managing publicsector entities and retired from government service in 2010 as a federal secretary.

world Bank cautions pakistan over delay in tax reforms BEIJING

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akistan has reasonably bright prospects for economic growth in the near term, says a World Bank report, but cautions that China’s economic slowdown and delay in energy and

taxation reforms may threaten this outlook. A report titled “South Asia Economic Focus Fall 2015” that the Washington-based lending agency released on Monday, disagreed with the government’s projection that the economy would grow 5.5% in the current Riscal year.

It not only put the growth projection at 4.5%, which is in line with estimates of other multilateral lending agencies, but also predicted next Rinancial year’s growth at 4.8%.

This pace of expansion is far lower than the required 7% to absorb young entrants in the job market. In its election manifesto, the PML-N had promised to take the growth rate to 7% in Riscal year 2016-17.

Another bad news in the report was that exports would remain on the negative trajectory, for at least one more year.

“A mild recovery is under way, macroeconomic stability has largely

been restored,” the report said, adding prospects for continued growth appeared reasonably bright, supported by strong Riscal consolidation and an improved external position. However, it said the downside risks, chieRly the China slowdown, might affect this outlook. For a sustained and inclusive growth, Pakistan needs to successfully implement reforms in energy and taxation, and increase investment.

The report stated the slowdown

in China, if protracted, could have adverse effects on investment and trade, and Pakistan may not have the ability to absorb external shocks in the absence of strong buffers. Furthermore, realisation of tax revenue targets largely hinges on a steady implementation of tax reform agenda.

Fiscal consolidation may also be negatively affected by delayed implementation of the government’s privatisation agenda.

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Saturday, October 10, 2015

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ederal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa said FBR has 700 legal advisers (advocates) while the success rate of court case stands at 10 percent. However, the number of legal advisers is decreased from 1900 to 700.

According to sources, the FBR chairman informed Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that during the last three years, FBR succeeded in 22 percent cases in courts. And it was 15 percent in 2005 while success rate in court cases was 10 percent in 2009.

Sources added that Tariq Bajwa told the PAC that only 0.5 percent of Pakistanis paid taxes. Sources said that PAC Chairman Khurshid Shah directed FBR to decrease number of legal advisers to 200 and hire those advisers having 10 years of experience in the high courts.

Tariq Bajwa informed the PAC that the board has prepared the law draft about

the unnamed accounts and efforts are underway to bring Rs 200 billion from Switzerland to Pakistan. While the

board is trying to sign agreement with Global Transparency, which will be helpful to access the foreign accounts of Pakistanis from July 2017. Chairman FBR also told the PAC that at least 65,000 more people are inducted in the tax net.

The PAC directed Chairman FBR to submit the workers welfare fund and other taxes data should be provided to the audit ofRicials within 15 days.

Meanwhile, The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has Rinished the condition of printing barcode on recovery notices sent to banks.

According to sources, FBR has directed the chief commissioners of Large Taxpayers Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax OfRices (RTOs) in a letter that the notices sent to taxpayers must be printed with bar code but recovery notices to the banks can be sent without printed bar code.

Sources said that the main reason of Rinishing the printed bar code is to make the recovery process fast. Sources added that FBR has issued notices to the banks for recovery of dues as all the rules and regulations are followed in this regard so there is no need of a bar code printed on notices for banks.

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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

Textile parks need of hour

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ccording to the newspaper reports, the textile industry is utilizing only 70 percent of its production capacity as six major sub-sectors have already been closed down and more are in line due to persistent energy crisis, high cost of doing business and inconsistency in government policies. It is to be noted that 30 percent production loss means the country is incurring an annual loss of around $3.5 billion in its exports. All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association Chairman Tariq Saud says that the country’s share in the international market has reduced from 2.2 percent in 2006 to 1.8 percent in 2013 whereas the share of regional competitors, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has increased by 75 percent from 1.9 percent to 3.3 percent in international market in seven years. Saud says that if this situation is allowed to continue, Pakistan will soon be excluded from the club of the textile exporting countries. Meanwhile, he says that the imported cloth has penetrated the domestic market as the foreign items are dumped in the country due to low customs duties and taxes.

A glaring example is the import and export of yarn which can be imported to Pakistan from India by paying only five percent customs duty while India has blocked the import by imposing 28 percent customs duty on the Pakistani yarn. The result is the closure of the textile mills in Pakistan as it cannot compete with Indian textile industry. India has recently introduced the Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme to promote the textile industry and is also setting up seven textile parks in Rajasthan under its scheme for integrated textile parks with around over $ 600 million investment. In contrast, the Pakistani businessmen are still looking toward the government to announced Textile Policy for 2014-19. The decreasing share of Pakistani textile in the global market should be a point to ponder for the country’s policymakers and they should have a look over the textile policies of India, Bangladesh and China which have recorded a significant progress in this sector despite facing hostile climate for cotton yield.

Many Asian nations import Pakistani cotton and turn it into value added goods earning billions of dollars annually on the basis of technology, but we are still reeling under energy crisis, law and order and mismanagement. The government should also set up textile parks in cotton belt in collaboration with world renowned companies with tax relief. The introduction of “make in Pakistan” scheme is the need of the hour.

Corruption and economy LAHORE

Dr AfTAB AfZAL

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ccording to a report issued by the World Bank, Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow around 4.5 percent in 201516. However, other economies in the region are growing much faster than Pakistan like India 7.3 percent, Bangladesh 6.5 percent and Sri Lanka 5.6 percent. In its South Asian Growth report, the World Bank says that the economy of Pakistan is gradually recovering and is expected to grow by 4.5 percent in the current fis-

cal year thanks to low inflation, fiscal discipline, increases in remittances and stable agricultural performance. The pace of growth can be accelerated by improving shortage of electricity, soften the business environment and further consolidation of financial situation. The report says that the South Asia is emerging as the fastest-growing region in the world, with projected economic growth from 7 percent in 2015 to 7.4 percent in 2016. According to South Asia Economic Focus, the performance of economies hinges on solid growth in services, domestic consumption, and a gradual rise of investments while avoidance of any financial turmoil and improvement in external position have given important

policy space to most of the South Asian countries.

The condition of the Indian economy is very important as its performance greatly inRluences South Asia as a whole. Due to Improved investment sentiments and resilience to external shocks, the Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent in Riscal year 2015 and further to 7.8 percent in 2016. Projecting Indian economic growth and its inRluence in the region, the world institutions ignore ground realities as their research and projections are based on the information provided by Indian entrepreneurs. India is spending more than $50 billion annually on its defense whereas majority of its people lives less than $2 a day. India lacks basic amenities of life as

even toilet facility is not available to the people and the country is short of woods for the cremation of its dead citizens.The biggest problem of Pakistan is corruption and not resources. If the government sincerely wants to develop the country, it has to curtail corruption which is the mother of all evils. If corruption is minimized, there will be not dearth of funds for health, education and electricity generation. Police is the main force to maintain law and order and is drenched in corruption which affects its performance as a peace force. The South Asian region needs unity and not divisions and India is the bone of contention which is not allowing the countries to come close to achieve common goals.

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Smeda proposes establishment of fund for loans to SMEs PESHAWAR: The representatives of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), during a meeting with Peshawar Chamber of Small Traders and Industry, have suggested the establishment of revolving fund for provision of interest-free loans to the SMEs. The meeting discussed proposals for establishment of revolving fund, Research & Development Cell and holding of business excellence award to acknowledge the efforts of the outstanding businessmen.

Ziaul Haq elected as president of customs agent group KP PESHAWAR

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irector Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vice Chairman All Pakistan Customs Agent Association Zia-ul Haq Sarhadi elected president of Customs agent group Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while Saqib Benori elected chairman of the same group.

The meeting was held under the chair of Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi. The participants on the occasion unanimously elected Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi chairman for the customs agent groups for two years while other newly elected office bearers include Khalid Shehzad Senior Vice President, Haji Azeem, Khial Hussain Shinwari, Imtiaz Ahmad Ali, Farooq Ahmad Asif Jamal elected vice president and the executive members include Syed Zakir Ali Shah, Asif Belal, Khwar Saddiq, Samar Abbas Sherazi, Usman Ansari, Mansoor Ahmad, Rasool Khan, Noman-ul-Haq, Ismail Marwat Amil Raza, Mohammad Javed, Mohammad Rehan, Mian Fezan Shah and Nasir Shinwari.

Addressing on the occasion newly elected president Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi thanked the members and assured them to resolve their basic problems. He said that he will serve the agents community at every forum and soon will hold dialogue with FBR and custom house to remove their grievances. He hoped that like the previous term he will fulfill his responsibilities with the support of the members and no stone will left unturned to resolve their issues. It is pertinent to mention that custom agents group was established in 1976 and it serving the community from that time. Earlier to this Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi remained General Secretary for 12 years and remained chairman for 15 years. The groups of helping hand customs agents groups also merged in this organization and they were also got elected for various offices in this recent election.

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Saturday October 10, 2015

Chambers

uS businessmen keen to invest in pakistan: uS diplomat ISLAMABAD

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espite security issues and other concerns, many US companies were showing keen interest to explore Pakistan for investment and joint ventures, observed Cheryl J. Dukelow, Commercial Counselor, Embassy of the United States of America during an interaction with business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She said it was unfortunate that foreign media was not portraying true picture of Pakistan and giving a negative image. However, despite all these things, US companies were curious about Pakistan and were interested to come here. She said US wanted to enhance trade with Pakistan as Pakistan was a potential market for high quality US products.

The US Commercial Counselor said that US organized 10 to 15 trade shows every year and shared 2016 Trade Show schedule of US Department of Commerce International

Buyer Program with businessmen. She stressed that Pakistani entrepreneurs should attend these trade shows in US to explore new opportunities of promoting business. She emphasized that Pakistan should address Intellectual Property Rights concerns and ensure strong enforcement of laws that would attract more foreign investment in the country. She assured that US Embassy

would help genuine businessmen in visa matters. Speaking at the occasion, Atif Ikram Sheikh, president, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that there were great investment opportunities for foreign investors in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy and stressed that more US investors should come here to invest in areas of interest along with

Trade between iran, pakistan decreases to $43m from $1.32b: pBif

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ISLAMABAD

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wo way trade between Pakistan and Iran has decreased to $43 million from $1,321 million ($1.32 billion) in 2008-9.

This was revealed by Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) President Mian Zahid Hussain, in a statement. He said that PTA signed with Iran in 2006 has lost its efRicacy as mutual trade has reduced by 75 percent in the last six years which calls for immediate action. The PBIF president said that the PTA should be revived or converted into FTA otherwise decision of the both countries to boost bilateral trade to Rive billion dollars in

Rive years would remain a dream.

He said, adding that Iran’s trade with India, Turkey and China has picked up during the same period which indicates incompetence of our export managers.

Pakistani rice, services, agricultural products, meat, beef, pharmaceuticals, cotton, yarn and chemicals have demand in Iran but our 63 percent export comprise of rice only, he said. Trade should be facilitated while smuggling should be discouraged which is threatening local oil and gas companies and tile manufacturers, he said.

He said that nuclear deal has renewed interest of many countries and investors in west-Asian nation while India is also trying to sign a trade deal with Tehran to penetrate

in Afghanistan and Central Asia. India’s trade with Iran was 16 billion dollars which contracted to 13 billion after sanctions which will get a boost now therefore Pakistan should not waste time.

Meanwhile, The private sector was the driver of economic growth in Pakistan and it should be more proactive to focus on utilizing market intelligence tools in order to make informed decisions and compete more effectively in national and international markets. This was observed by Esam Alqarara, UNIDO Representative while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said these tools greatly help in identifying new opportunities for promoting trade and exports.

establishing joint ventures. He said presence of US investors in Pakistan would give conRidence to investors of other countries to explore Pakistan for investment. He said US should share advanced technology and expertise in the Rields of agriculture, energy and other sectors with Pakistan to improve our productivity and produce value added products.

Lcci forms council on kalabagh Dam he Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) decided to constitute “Council on Kalabagh Dam” that would pave way for early completion of this mega project. The Council would have experts, technocrats, business community leaders, ex-officio and representatives of the Chambers and other trade bodies in its fold. The decision of formation of this Council was made by the LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad.

He said that sole objective of the initiative is to make environment conducive for early construction of Kalabagh Dam as economic survival lies in cheap and sufficient hydro power generation.– CB REPORT

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US Customs seizes more than $74,500 in unreported currency Saturday October 10, 2015

World

SAN JUAN: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized over $74,500 in unreported currency in three separate incidents last weekend.

In the first incident, after arrival at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport from St. Thomas on October 2, a canine alerted to a passenger’s belongings. CBP officers interviewed him and his traveling companion. An inspection revealed over $15,000 of unreported currency, on their person and hidden within a suitcase. The currency was seized. Concealed currency that went unreported by travelers.

That same day, CBP officers were conducting outbound inspection on a flight destined to the Dominican Republic and interviewed three passengers after a canine alerted to their luggage.

canada charges 13 suspects for smuggling drugs, guns

Customs seizes fake inspection stickers at JFK airport

TORONTO

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hirteen people are facing 48 charges in an investigation into an international drugand weapon-smuggling operation.

Ontario Provincial Police say illegal drugs mostly cocaine were being brought into Canada from Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Guyana, then distributed through the Toronto area and in Newfoundland and Labrador.

OPP say prohibited guns were also being brought in from Florida.

They say officers seized 123 kilograms of cocaine, 22 firearms, $146,000 in Canadian currency and four vehicles over the course of the investigation, dubbed Project Monto.

OPP Chief Superintendent Rick Barnum says the people charged are those who orchestrated, rather than carried out, the smuggling.

Twelve of those charged — all from the Toronto area — have been arrested.

They are David Blevins, 36, of

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Oakville; Jermaine Wilson, 38, of Mississauga; Sandra Lewis, 48, of Milton; Dainnia Cameron, 40, of Milton; Kenton LnaRhorne, 42, of Vaughan; Rionne Martelly, 38, of Milton; Donovan Brown, 44, of Oakville; Dexter GrifRith, 43, of Toronto; Natasha Ruddock, 24, of Toronto; Rocco Petrucci, 49, of Toronto; Michael Robinson, 44, of Toronto; Fitz Prince, 63, of Toronto. All face drug trafRicking charges. Blevins and Brown are also charged with weapons trafRicking offences.

Dwidth Ferguson, 32, of Guyana, is wanted on drug trafRicking charges.

Meanwhile, Regional police serv-

ices working with provincial, national and international partners have seized 123,000 grams of cocaine, worth an estimated $12.2 million slated for distribution across Canada. “That’s a huge impact when an average drug user would maybe use a gram a day and we’ve seized 123,000 grams of that,” said Chf. Supt. Rick Barnum, OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

The law enforcement partners also seized 22 Rirearms, more than $100,000 in cash, money-counting machines and four vehicles. Thirteen people have been charged, most of them in the Toronto area.

Iran exports 25,200 t pistachio in H1 of 2015 ran’s pistachio exports tripled in the Rirst half of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21.

The country exported over 25,200 tons of pistachio worth $208 million in the Rirst six months of the current year, showing 315 percent and 310 percent rise in weight and value, respectively, compared to the same pe-

riod of time in the previous year. Iran sold pistachio to 52 countries including Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Brazil, Chile, China, Japan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during the six-month period. On April 17, Ali Mohseni, an ofRicial with

the Iranian Agriculture Ministry, said that Iran ousted the U.S. as the leading producer of pistachio nuts last year and reclaimed the position which it has long held to its credit. He said production of the nut surpassed 235,000 tons thanks to satisfactory precipitations and Iran’s implementation of development measures for better yield.– CB REPORT

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NEW YORK

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S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ofRicers at John F. Kennedy International Airport seized 935 fake New York State Vehicle Safety/Emissions Inspection stickers.

On October 6, Mr. Luis Jose Cabral, a Dominican Republic citizen, arrived on a flight from Santiago, Dominican Republic and presented himself for examination by CBP officers. During a luggage examination, CBP officers discovered stacks of New York State Vehicle Safety/Emissions Inspection stickers inside sneakers and a photo album.

In total, 935 counterfeit New York State Vehicle Safety/Emissions Inspection stickers were seized and Mr. Cabral was placed under arrest.

The counterfeit emission safety stickers and all evidence have been turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New

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Police seize cocaine worth $12.2m in Canada egional police services working with provincial, national and international partners have seized 123,000 grams of cocaine, worth an estimated $12.2 million slated for distribution across Canada. “That’s a huge impact when an average drug user would maybe use a gram a day and we’ve seized 123,000 grams of that,” said Chf. Supt. Rick Barnum, OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

The law enforcement partners also seized 22 Rirearms, more than $100,000 in cash, money-counting machines and four vehicles.

Thirteen people have been

Saudi Arabia, oman to construct mega road project

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RIYADH

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audi Arabia and Oman have completed the construction of a mega road project linking the two countries.

“The new road, which will cut the distance between Saudi Arabia and Oman by about 800 km, will be

opened soon for public,” said Ahmad Hilal Al-Busaidi, Omani ambassador, Wednesday. Al-Busaidi said the two countries were currently building the administrative infrastructures including immigration posts and check points across the two ends of the road.

“This has delayed the inauguration of the road project,” said the diplomat, adding that this will be Rirst overland direct link between the two countries.

Oman and Saudi Arabia are currently linked via road through the UAE, spanning a total distance of 2,000 km.

He said that travelers shuttling between Saudi Arabia and Oman would no longer need to cross the UAE. The Kingdom has spent about SR1.6 billion on the motorway that passes through the eastern Saudi province of Al-Ahsa and the Rub’ al-Khali desert (Empty Quarter) ending at Oman bor-

York Police Department for prosecution by the Queens County District Attorney’s ofRice.

“CBP has a diverse mission, and this seizure of counterfeit New York State Vehicle Safety/Emissions Inspection stickers illustrates the vigilance of our CBP ofRicers,” said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. All defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ofRicers seized over $74,500 in unreported currency in three separate incidents last weekend.

In the Rirst incident, after arrival at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport from St. Thomas on October 2, a canine alerted to a passenger’s belongings. CBP ofRicers interviewed him and his traveling companion. An inspection revealed over $15,000 of unreported currency, on their person and hidden within a suitcase. The currency was seized. Concealed currency that went unreported by travelers.

der. The road inside Oman is around 160 km long, starting from Tanam in Ibri province, passing through oilRields until it reaches the Oman-Saudi border in the Empty Quarter. “The road has a direct access to south Oman,” said the diplomat. Inside Saudi Arabia, the road is 519-km long, including a 247-km stretch from the Omani border to Shaybah and the 319-km stretch from Shaybah to the

charged, most of them in the Toronto area. Members of the Ontario Provincial Police worked with a number of GTA police forces, the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency ofRicers, and U.S. Homeland Security and called the project Operation MONTO. Barnum said, “When you look at our communities that are represented here today that we’re responsible to provide policing for we’re proud of the fact that we’ve taken that amount of drugs and the individuals that bring that amount of drugs into our province and into our country off their game and out of the system.”– CB REPORT

Batha-Haradh road, which leads to AlKharj and then to Riyadh. Al-Rosan Contracting, which had been commissioned to build 256 km of the road on the Saudi side, said the project had been a big challenge because the road is constructed through shifting sands across the Rub’ al Khali Desert, the largest and most barren sand desert in the world covering 600,000 square kilometers.

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Import of non-tyre rubber goods jumps 32% in 2 years NEW DELHI: Imports have gone up substantially during last couple of years across several rubber product categories. According to Chemical and Allied Export promotion Council [Capexil] data, import of latex, dipped & medical rubber products including contraceptives has gone up from $ 48.77 million in 2011-12 to $ 64.18 million in 2014-15, recording a whopping 32% jump in just two years.The inverted duty structure and the various trade agreements between India and South East Asian countries are the main villain in the game as import is much cheaper than producing in India. The increase in cost of production, availability of raw materials like natural rubber and advent of imported goods in the market have put the local manufacturers in doldrums. Lately other countries like Vietnam have emerged as tough competitors to Chinese goods. So a large chunk of Indian manufacturers have become distributors of rubber products.

Auckland port study to consider shift to new location AUCKLAND

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he final scope of the Auckland Council-commissioned study shows it will weigh up the merits of options ranging from little change, through to building a new port entirely some time in the next half-century.

Rick Boven – who is the chair of the working group overseeing the eight-month review – said external consultants would be chosen in coming weeks and will start work in November.

The study was commissioned after heated debate over plans by the council-owned Ports of Auckland to extend two wharves further into the inner harbour.

The company changed its mind over one extension, and decided to delay plans for the second after the resource consent was found to have been wrongly granted.

The company changed its mind over one extension, and decided to delay plans for the second after the resource consent was found to have been wrongly granted.

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indonesia to build 22 ports with $3.5 billion in next 5 years

PUCKET

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Port of Tauranga to begin dredging shipping channel four-year legal battle will finally reach fruition next week when dredging vessels start to widen and deepen the shipping channel leading to the Port of Tauranga. The project will allow ships carrying 6500 containers to enter the port at low tide. At present most big ships entering New Zealand waters carry 4500.

Port chief executive Mark Cairns said moves like this were essential for a trading nation like New Zealand. He said vessels were getting larger and unless ports here got bigger, the country would have to send its exports via Australia.– CB REPORT

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Ports & Shipping

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hile the Panama Canal expansion has led ports in close proximity to prepare to compete, a similar scenario is taking place in South East

Asia. Indonesia Port Corporations (IPC) or PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo), Indonesia’s state-owned port operator is to build 22 ports in the country in the next Rive years for an anticipated cost of around $3.5 billion. This is in order to support the Indonesian government’s plan to turn Indonesia into a maritime axis, according to Deal Street Asia.

The move is seen as strategy to compete with Indonesia’s close neigh-

bor, Singapore.

It is a similar strategy that regional PaciRic coast ports have to compete with Panama, where they are getting advantage as Panama’s politicians dither over the proposed port of Corozal. The Port of Rotterdam is planning to build a seaport in partnership with Pelindo I. The purpose of this initiative is to create more opportunities for Dutch companies abroad.

Saturday October 10, 2015

work starts to widen port of Tauranga harbour entrance channel TAURANGA

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he work that starts this week will widen the Port of Tauranga harbour entrance channel and deepen the shipping lane from 12.9 metres to 14.5m inside the harbour and to 15.8m outside. Dredging will allow ships to enter the port 50 percent more laden than existing vessels.

But it took a four year legal battle to make this happen and exporters say this process was too slow, especially with a widened Panama Canal due to send ever-bigger ships into the Pacific Ocean. Port company chief executive Mark Cairns said the work was essential if New Zealand was to keep building export capacity as the government wanted.

“This first stage of dredging will allow us to handle 6500 container vessels at low tide,” he said.That contrasts with an average of 4500 containers per ship now and will be carried on ships around 300 metres long.

New Zealand Shippers Council chairman Mike Knowles applauds this, along with a similar development in Otago – but said it was all too hard to achieve. For Port of Tauranga it has taken four years and Port Chalmers has been the same just to get their consents approved, and they have paid quite a few million dollars in costs as well,” he said.

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port Hedland fires back at 'trip to woolworths' cruise ship stop

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HONG KONG

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ort Hedland has defended its attractions in the wake of complaints by cruise ship passengers who docked at the Pilbara town - rather than at the more scenic Broome. Fairfax Media reported on Thursday that up to 400 passengers aboard the Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas, most of them from Perth,

were upset to learn the vessel's itinerary had been revised to stop at Port Hedland. One couple were set to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary and were left disappointed, while another man quipped that the highlight of the stop was "a trip to Woolworths". "We live on the east coast [of Australia] and had never experienced Broome. Apart from not stopping there, we were given a Rlimsy excuse that the ship could not cope with the tides.

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Hungary starts oil imports from Iraq instead of Russia MOSCOW: Hungary has increased oil imports from Iraq’s Kurdistan region at the expense of Russian crude in a sign that Middle East producers could be gaining ground in a battle with Moscow for global market share, according to trading sources.

This would also be the first confirmation of large Kurdish oil shipments to Europe as autonomous Kurdistan is locked in a standoff with Baghdad over lucrative exports and faces repeated sabotage of the pipeline carrying crude to Turkey’s Ceyhan port.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

customs Appeals collector Asif Jah issues first ono in urdu MULTAN iMrAn ALi

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he Collectorate of Customs Appeal has issued the Rirst Order -in-Original in Urdu language after implementation of Urdu in the country.

Collector Appeal Dr Asif Mehmud Jah also awarded “Pride of Performance” recently by the government of Pakistan. Collector Dr Asif Mehmud Jah became the Rirst Customs ofRicial who implemented the Supreme Court decision by issuing an Orderin Original in Urdu language. Collector Appeal Dr Asif Mehmud Jah decided the case of smuggled vehicle seized by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Multan Range in their jurisdiction. Customs Intelligence and Investigation seized a six wheeler vehicle with the assistance of Border Military Police. The seized vehicle was loaded with 97 drums of mobil oil containing 52 drums of high speed diesel mobil oil, 41 drums of used black mobil oil and four empty drums of mobil oil.

Customs authorities seized the vehicle and smuggled mobil oil after formation of seizure report. The seizure report of the seized goods and vehi-

cles was forwarded to Customs Adjudication for further proceeding. The owner was served a show-cause no-

tice in this case. During the hearing of whole case no representative from the accused attended the hearing of

the seized items and vehicles in the Customs Adjudication .After several hearings Customs Adjudication con-

cluded the seizure case by passing the verdict of conRiscated seized goods and vehicles out rightly.

Faisalabad Customs Intelligence seizes items worth Rs 25m in Sept NAEEM SHEIKH

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he Customs Investigation and Intelligence Faisalabad and its Field Investigation Unity (FIU) Khushab has collectively conRiscated smuggled items, including vehicles worth Ts 25.063 million in September 2015, involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 20.20 million.

As per details, the Customs In-

telligence teams on the instructions of the Additional Director Azmat Tahira detected many case of revenue realisation and conducted raids to curb smuggling in the region. The Customs Intelligence Faisalabad seized 2124 kilograms of ladies cloth, generators, 2,760 kg of cumin seeds, Hino Ranger Truck bearing Registration No. TKA-450, Dumper Truck No. TKJ347, Mazda Mini Truck No. SBA052 during the September worth Rs 19.20 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 17.28 million. On the other hand, FIU Khushab impounded two vehicles,

including Honda City bearing Registration No. DGA-393 and Toyota Vitz No. B-3422, truck No. TLQ448 loaded with smuggled dates and another truck No. TLE-831 with total value of Rs 5.863 million involving duty/taxes amounting to Rs 2.919 million.

Customs Intelligence team comprising Superintendent Muhammad Tahir Iqbal. Senior Intelligence OfRicer Muhammad Saeed Khan, Mansoor Khan, Mian Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Saleem and Sepoys Javed Iqbal, Allah Buksh, Masood Iqbal and Ghulam Ghous conducted raids.

The team conducted raids at Shiekpura road, Jhang road and Sargodha road.

Meanwhile, The Customs Investigation and Intelligence Faisalabad has seized imported alloy rims and socks worth Rs 1.4 million, besides impounding a truck worth Rs 3 million in an action on Millat Road, Faisalabad.

As per details, the intelligence team following credible information received through Additional Director Azmat Tahira intercepted a truck.

The ofRicials recovered foreign origin alloy rims and 5,365 dozens

Published by M S Raza Off# 42, 3rd Flr Gull Plaza M.A Road Karachi, Printed by Dhoom Printing Building No RY/A, 11/6,11/7, Mashoor Mahal,off I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

of socks of different brands on which the driver namely Muhammad Naveed was asked to produce the documents showing the legal import of the item.

But the driver remained fail; therefore, the ofRicials conRiscated the items and also impounded the truck under Section 157(2) of Customs Act, 1969.

The Customs Intelligence team comprising Deputy Director Muhammad Tahir Iqbal, Senior Intelligence OfRicer Mian Muhammad Yousaf, Intelligence OfRicer Muhammad Sikandar and others participated in the raid.