April 19 layout 1

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Karachi, Wed April 19, 2017

LAHORE

M HAYAT

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irectorate of Customs Preventive has seized millions of rupees non-customs paid goods, articles and vehicles during first 15 days of April, 2017.

According to the details, during the month

of April 2017, cases of cigarettes, Gutka, cloth, soft juice, Toyota Surf jeeps, ceramic tiles and smart mobile phone sets were seized which were estimated at Rs25 million. The ASO staff seized mobile phone sets of assorted models of Samsung brand worth Rs8.5 million from railway station arrived from Karachi.

A bus loaded with

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misc goods was intercepted at Sheera Kot Babu Sabu interchange coming from Peshawar.

Cases are registered and further investigations are underway.

The operation were conducted on the directions of the Chief Collector Central Zeba Hai Azhar and Collector Customs Preventive Lahore Ch. Zulfiqar to curb the menace of smuggling in Lahore.

PCA detects Rs 35.44m tax evasion on import of polyester dyed fabric

PR finally agrees to construct weighbridge at Islamabad Dry Port

Pervez Khattak approves special security force for CPEC, projects

Punjab govt to assist Balochistan on CPEC : Dr Ayesha Ghous

Customs Preventive foils bid to smuggle foreign currency from Karachi airport

TheDirectorateofPCAKarachihasdetected evasion of duty/taxes of Rs 35.44 million | See pAge 02 |

ThePRhasshownaninteresttobuildthe infrastructureofIslamabadCustomsDryPort | See pAge 03 |

CM KP has approved the special security force,for the safety of CPEC routes | See pAge 04 |

Dr Ayesha has said that Punjab Govt will provide technical Assistance to Balochistan | See pAge 14 |

TheCustomsPreventiveteamhasrecovered foreign currency worth millions of rupees | See pAge 16 |

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Customs intelligence impounds Prado valued Rs08.5m Wednesday, April 19, 2017

ISLAMABAD: Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Federal Board of Revenue Rawalpindi impounded a non-duty paid Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Model 2002, worth Rs8.5 million.

On a tip-o, the sta of the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation FBR Rawalpindi intercepted the said Prado with a registration plate No. LL-7723 (ICT Islamabad) having chassis No: VZ1121 0001871, Engine No. 5VZ FE (3378 cc), near KFC, Saddar Bazaar Rawalpindi. One Aqib Musa S/o Muammad Musa r/o Panjmiral, Shankiyari, tehsil and district, Mansehra was driving the vehicle.

National

pcA detects rs 35.44m tax evasion on import of polyester dyed fabric

LAHORE

KARACHI

SAJiD nAwAZ

u H kHAn

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ustoms Appellate Tribunal upheld the impugned order passed by the adjudication authority and dismissed the appeal filed by the Season Food Private Limited against collector of Customs (Adjudication), Collectorate of Customs and others. Omer Arshed Hakeem Member Judicial Bench-II declared that there are some violations in Imports and Exports Act 1950 and some sections of Customs Act 1969 mentioned by the adjudication authority, so the appeal against Order-in-Original passed by the additional collector of Customs (Adjudication) shall dispose of and last judicial forum order is sustained. As per the precise fact of case, the Importer Season Food Private Limited, 171-Shadman-II, Lahore was imported consignment of soya TVP granules and saught clearance vide GD No WLCS-5913 under PCT heading 2304-0000. On examination, customs authorities found that Soya TVP imported items not fall under the claimed PCT heading.

The importer violated provisions of section 16 and 32 (1) & 2 of customs Act 1969.

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he Directorate of Post Clearance Audit (Customs) Karachi has detected evasion of duty/taxes of Rs 35.44 million on import of polyester dyed fabric due to inadmissible beneTit of SAFTA. According to the details, Director Gul Rehman wrote a letter to the Chief Collector, AppraisementSouth, Customs House, Karachi, the SPS Director General, Directorate General of Post Clearance Audit (Customs), Islamabad and collector MCC Port Qasim Karachi that during the audit of import data of polyester dyed ladies suiting shirting fabric/polyester dyed fabric classiTiable under PCT heading 5407.5200, it has been observed that certain importers are mis-declaring the classiTication of the imported goods.

He said M/s Al Yousuf Enterprises evaded Rs 1,563,037; M/s GNK Enterprises Rs 720,533; M/s Malik Corporation Rs 4,798,771; M/s Horizone International Rs 17,447,471; M/s H S Unicorn Man Rs 3,086,300; GM Enterprises Rs 7,827,676 are mis-declaring the classiTication of the imported goods by declaring it under PCT heading 5407.4200 in order to avail inadmissible beneTit of reduced rate of customs duty under SAFTA vide SRO 1274 dated 29-12-2006.

The goods are correctly classiTi-

customs Appellate Tribunal upheld adjudication order in Season food case

able under PCT heading 5407.5200 where beneTit of SRO 1274 (SAFTA) dated 29-12-2006 is not applicable and Custom Duty is chargeable 16 percent. The importer wise details

of evasion of duties/taxes are as under, Gul Rehman said.

The director while sending audit observations showing importer GDwise details of evasion of

duties/taxes said father legal action including framing of contravention reports against the importers will be initiated on receipt of replies from the importers.

faisalabad customs impounds goods worth rs34 million

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FAISALABAD

nAeeM SHeikH

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he Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation seized smuggled goods worth Rs34million involving duty and taxes of Rs02.00million besides impounding offending vehicles worth Rs09.00million in different antismuggling activities during the third month of March of Fiscal Year 2017.

OfTicials said the Customs Intelli-

gence conducted operations on the instruction of Director Rabab Sikandir against the smuggled goods and vehicles in different areas of its jurisdiction including Sargodha, Khushab, Sara-e-Mohajir and Faisalabad. The directorate received higher customs duty than the previous months of the Tiscal year due to impressive performance of the Faisalabad Customs. Customs Intelligence Faisalabad is combating the smuggling in its region by showing zero tolerance.

The team conTiscated smuggled goods including F/O tyres ( 20-Nos ) worth Rs725000 made in China, Mixture of low grade lubricating oil and kerosene (15000-Ltrs) worth Rs01.1million, waterprooTing membrane double ply with aluminum coating Rs01.00million, aluminum foil packing of cigarette (6080-kgs), Ground nutshell of different brands (21945-kgs) Rs 02.2million, Mazda mini truck No: TKY-355 worth Rs02.5, cigarettes Pin Light, small cardamom, F/O glasses and F/O so-

lar worth Rs02.4million, F/O Hino Cabin and other goods worth Rs07.5million and mixture of low grade oil and kerosene (10000Ltrs) worth Rs750000 after the accused could not produce documents regarding the legal import of the items. The seizures cases have been referred to the customs adjudication for further legal actions.

Meanwhile, The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) Mianwali has seized a non-duty-paid Toyota Hiace Ambulance with registration

No: JF- 6952 (Karachi) in golden colour. The market value of the seized vehicle is Rs02.00million involving customs duty and taxes of Rs01.4million. The ASO team, comprising Superintendent Chaudhary Muhammad Sardar, Mehmood Ahmed Dogar, Azhar Hussain Jafri, (Inspector), Ashraf Khan (Hawaldar) Sher Ahmad, Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Yousaf (sepoys) and Riasat Hussain (Driver), found a Toyota Hiace Ambulance near Chasma Barrage, district Mianwali.

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FIA to arrest 35 notorious human traffickers through Interpol SIALKOT-The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) decided to contact Interpol for the early arrest of 35 notorious human traffickers fled abroad to avoid legal action.

According to Divisional Deputy Director FIA Khalid Anees, the 35 proclaimed offenders were named in the Red Book of FIA as they had fled abroad. They belong to Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahaud Din, Hafizabad and Gujranwala districts, he added.

He said that FIA had evolved an effective strategy to ensure early arrest of these POs with the help of Interpol. He added that FIA was also arresting facilitators of the human traffickers in Pakistan.

customs court directs Ayyan to appear in court on next hearing

Wednesday April 19, 2017

National

pr finally agrees to construct weighbridge at islamabad Dry port

RAWALPINDI

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special Customs Court has rejected Ayyan Ali’s plea for granting permanent exemption from appearance in the currency smuggling case and ordered her to appear on the next hearing of the case. The court expressed its strong ire at Ayyan’s non-presence and ordered her to appear on June 6, 2017 at all costs. The court had granted exemption only for one day and it has now ordered the supermodel to appear in the court on June 6. Counsel Latif Khosa was also not present in the court. The court asked about the schedule of Ayyan Ali and the time when she would be available in Pakistan.

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nAB arrests piDc ceo for rs11.25m corruption LAHORE

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ational Accountability Bureau (NAB) has Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) Khalid Mehmood Chadda and his alleged accomplice Zubair on charges of corruption and making a loss of Rs 11.25 million to government exchequer by illegally selling and procuring a piece of land measuring 800 kanals at exorbitant rates in Sargodha. According to a NAB spokesman, the accused Khalid Mahmood Chadda being chairman of both the Committees Monitoring, Audit and Finance, purchased the land in violation of PPRA Rules from co-accused Zubair. Khalid Chadda signed the bids of the above-mentioned favoured person at the rates of Rs 1.325 million/acre by ignoring the lowest bidder of Rs 0.7 million/acre.

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ISLAMABAD

TAriQ DerYA

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he Pakistan Railways (PR) has shown an interest to build the infrastructure of Islamabad Customs Dry Port of international standard. On reminding the Pakistan Railways Ministry by the Islamabad Customs many a times, the PR has Tinally passed a tender to construct a weighbridge at the Islamabad Dry Port after a long period of meetings and correspondences between the PR and Islamabad Customs Dry Port.

This was stated by Assistant Collector Amanat Khan while talking to Customs Today during an exclusive interview.

The work to build the weighbridge on the premises of dry port will start soon. He said the importers’ community working at dry port Islamabad is happy to hear this news as they will save their time and money by using the facility under one roof. He said the PR will also be able to get a handsome amount after the installation of the said facility. Answering a query, he said the dry port collected surplus amount of Rs245.771million during the Tirst three quarters of Tinancial year (July to March) 2016-17 against the assigned collection target under the head of Customs Duty. The dry port did Rs2454.451million during said period against the assigned target of Rs2208.78million under the same

head. During the Tirst nine months (July to March) Fy16-17, the dry port cleared 2246 dutiable containers whereas the dry port entertained 2069 Goods Declarations (GDs) during said period. During the month of March FY16-17, the target under the head of CD revised and the dry port surpassed the revised CD target. The dry port was previously assigned Rs275million CD target whereas its target was revised upward with the amount of

Amanat said the dry port collected surplus amount of rs245.771million during the first three quarters of financial year 2016-17 against the assigned collection target under the head of customs duty

customs waiting for reopening of border

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PESHAWAR

irfAn BAHADur

www.customsbulletin.com he Customs Stations at Parachinar still await the order to reopen the border for trade with Afghanistan after the closure announced by the Government of Pakistan.

The sources at custom station Parachinar informed the scribe on Tuesday about the closure of the trade activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan through the gate of

Kurram agency at Parachinar station. There has been zero trade activity on this route for almost 35 days due to which collections have dropped in the month of March 2017 as compared to the collections of March 2016, sources added. The people of Kurram agency, Bannu and Kohat still await the order to reopen the Parachinar border for trade activities.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered the opening of borders for trade purposes as it incurs a

loss to the total collections of the Model Customs Collectorates.

The imports through Parachinar include fruits, cloths, coal and other goods like salt, sugar, grains and cement are exported through the Parachinar route to Afghanistan.

The customs stations have a role in seizing smuggling of goods and drugs at Parachinar suburbs’ custom stations and the dry port Kohat where a warehouse has been established for storing of goods.

Rs293.78million.

During March, the dry port generated Rs302.931million CD. Replying to another question, he said the dry port received Rs274.561million during February FY 16-17 the Customs Duty whereas it did Rs268.666million CD during January. The dry port got Rs270.00million CD during the month of December FY16-17 and Rs203.94million was collected during November FY2016-17.

Mir Ahmad assumes charge as Dy Director ir Ahmad Khan, a BS-18 officer of Inland Revenue Service, has assumed the charge of the post of Deputy Director at Directorate of Research & Statistics, Islamabad. The offier, in pursuance of Board’s Notification No. 0864-IR-III/2017 dated 17.03.2017, relinquished the charge of the post of Second Secretary at Federal Board of Revenue (HQ), Islamabad with effect from March 24.

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Saudi raises $9b in first global Islamic bond issue RIYADH: Saudi Arabia raised $9 billion in its first global Islamic bond issue, the government announced on Thursday. The sale of Islamic bonds, known as sukuks, comes after the kingdom in October turned to the conventional global debt market for the first time, raising $17.5 billion in a bond issue. Saudi Arabia has also sold domestic bonds and drawn on its accumulated reserves, all in an effort to reform the economy and address budget deficits caused by a collapse in oil revenues since 2014. “The ministry of finance received significant interest for the first international issue of the sukuk programme with an order book from investors in excess of $33 billion,” the official Saudi Press Agency said.

Wednesday April 19, 2017

Business

khattak approves special security force for cpec PESHAWAR

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hief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak has approved the special security force,for the safety of CPEC routes and other projects including security cover to all the foreign investors in the province.

The security cover would be extended to escort all the investors during the mobility, travelling and the destination etc. The special security force would comprise of 4200 personnel including dedicated, temporary and need basis.

He emphasized for close coordination with the security division of

plan made to increase cotton yield LAHORE

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he Punjab Agriculture Department has prepared cotton research based plan to obtain record yield of the crop. A spokesman for the department said on Friday that cotton growers could increase the production of cotton to manifold by following this plan. The plan includes all phases from preparation of land to the sale of the cotton, he added. He said the plan would be issued in phases from April 10 and cotton growers by following modern information would be able to meet their desired results.

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Pakistan Army in this regard. The Chief Minister directed to set up cells in the home, IGP ofTice and DIGs in all regions of the province.

He was presiding over a meeting Tinalizing arrangements for the establishment of a separate force for

dedicated security cover to CPEC and non CPEC projects, the security of industrial zones and all the foreign investors in the province.

Attended by Advisor to Chief Minister on P&D Mian Khaliqur Rahman, Chief Secretary Abid Saeed, Secre-

tary Home Shakeel Qadir, IGP Salahuddin, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Israr, Secretary P&D Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Finance Ali Raza Bhutta and others, the meeting debated the mode of security for permanent security, short term and long term arrangements and made a number of decisions in this regard. The Chief Minister formally approved the establishment of a security force for the CPEC and non CPEC projects and security to all the foreign investors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He tasked the Secretary Home and IGP to sit together and Tinalize all prerequisite required for the establishment of a security force. The Chief Minister also directed to Tirm up all the cost supported by cogent reasons and he assured to clear it within no time.

neelum Jhelum project tunnels excavation to be completed soon T

ISLAMABAD

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he 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project is scheduled to attain a major landmark, when the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) will achieve breakthrough of the Right Headrace Tunnel during the last week of April, marking the completion of excavation of over 68-kilometer long tunnel system of the project.

The breakthrough of Left Head Race Tunnel has already been

achieved in October 2016. To review the ongoing construction work on various sites of the project, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain ® Thursday visited the under construction Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K).

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman said that it is a matter of satisfaction that overall progress on the project as of now is 92 per cent, and the project is heading towards its completion in accordance with the stipulated work plan.

During his visit to the headrace tunnel, the Chairman was briefed that following excavation of the tunnels, the waterway system will enter the Tinal phase which is scheduled to be completed in seven months.

Thereafter, the tunnels will be ready to divert water from Dam site to the Power House. It was further briefed that impounding of the Reservoir will commence during October this year. Interacting with the Tield staff, the Chairman said that once completed, Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project will be an engineering marvel of the century.

Dar’s uS visit to strengthen relations ISLAMABAD

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he US Ambassador to Pakistan, David Hale Thursday expressed the hope that Finance Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar’s visit to the USA would help further developing Pakistan US relations. The US Ambassador called on the minister, said a press statement, adding during the meeting matters relating to the finance minister’s upcoming visit to Washington for the IMF-World Bank spring meetings, and meetings with senior US officials, were discussed. The Ambassador said the minister’s continued engagement with the US leadership, heads of international organizations and meetings with US think tanks during his past visits had greatly contributed to augmenting Pakistan’s perception and image. The finance minister said he also looked forward to the meetings with a view to strengthening the bilateral relationship and further increasing its economic and trade content. He also shared with the Ambassador the progress of the economic reforms being carried out in different areas including energy and cooperation with the development partners. He said the just concluded article-4 consultations with the IMF had confirmed that the reform process was progressing in the post program period as well.

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industrial cartels fleecing consumers avoiding ccp action ISLAMABAD

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he Senate has informed that cartels in cement, automobile and sugar industry are fleecing consumers worth billions of rupees and had taken refuge under the court Stay Orders to avoid action by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).

Replying to questions related to Fi-

nance Ministry, Minister for Law and Justice, Zahid Hamid informed the house during question hour that CCP has imposed a Tine worth Rs 140 million to automobile industry, Rs 6.402 billion to cement industry while the sugar industry owners had got stay order from the court prior to passage of any adverse decision by the CCP. He informed the House that since its inception in 2007, and in particular, for the last four years, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has

been alert against cartels and had taken a proactive role in ensuring that undertakings whose actions prevent, restrict or distort competition are identiTied and penalized to guarantee all competing entities a level playing Tield. The Commission had constantly been enquiring and investigating into possible violation(s) of the Competition Act 2010 by the companies in all sectors of the economy including Cement, Sugar and Automobile, he said, adding, the CCP investigates

“Cartelization” under Section 4 of the Act and ‘Abuse of Dominance’ under Section 3 of the Act. Zahid Hamid said, the CCP has taken action against the Pakistan Automobile Manufacturers Authorized Dealers Association (PAMADA) and its members for contraventions of section 4 of the Act. The CCP found that PAMADA has been operating a price Tixing cartel in the market for auto parts, paint jobs, after sale services and agreements on non-hiring of experienced and technical staff.

Therefore, the minister said, the CCP imposed a Tine of Rs. 140 million in 2015 on PAMADA for its price Tixing cartel. He said the CCP also took action against M/s Indus Motor Company Limited on Tinding that the company was found to have ‘abused its dominant position in the terms and conditions set in its Provisional Booking Order (PBO) that were found to have distorted competition by restricting the choices available to potential customers.

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he Collectorate of Quetta accelerated the anti-smuggling efforts which have increased the revenues and seizures during the current Financial Year 2016-17. Under the jurisdiction of Quetta Collectorate, the smuggling trend through trucks and buses has almost been discouraged. Transportation of smuggled goods has been shifted through buddies, handcart and pickups by bypassing the route check-posts existing at Chaman– Quetta route. Due to effective checks on clearances at Customs Stations, import/export has also increased. Reinvigorated enforcement efforts with the Frontier Corps and Police, smugglers have started conducting legal import/export through customs stations working under the Collectorate of Quetta.

This was stated by Dr. Saeed Jadoon, Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Quetta, while talking to Customs Today during an exclusive interview. The collector said the customs department has undertaken new projects for the facilitation of traders including “Pakistan Gate” at Pak-Iran border Taftan being jointly constructed by the Fron-

tier Corps Balochistan and Pakistan Customs.

He said the Taftan Gate is being termed a landmark achievement. He further said the construction of mosque, rest rooms, GUEST ROOMS, a restaurant, wash rooms for passengers, immigration and baggage hall have also been undertaken. Dr. Saeed Jadoon said that four acres of land has been requisitioned from Commissioner, Quetta Division, which would extend trade and baggage

facilitation at Taftan border.

Answering a query, the collector stated that another avenue for business community is under processing for the storage of fresh fruits produced in Balochistan. The processing of fresh fruits plants for preparation of jams and juices may be established at Quetta for export, which would give us a competitive advantage over competitors of India.

Answering another query regarding the AntiSmuggling Organization’s performance during the month of MarchFY2016-17, Dr. Saeed Jadoon said the MCC Quetta has seized various non-duty paid vehicles and various kinds of smuggled goods worth Rs121.899million during said month. During said period, the ASO Quetta seized 112 non-duty paid vehicles valued Rs48.422million whereas the ASO seized foreign origin cloths aid p worth Rs6.691million, and the y t u -d 2 non as collectorate seized 2,750 kilo1 e r 1 e d h e nw seiz o i a l l t gram smuggled food grains i t e m u h 2 ASo Q s wort s48.42 h worth Rs0.385million r t o d l e c u d rigin e s val o z e i l whereas the ASO Quetta n c e i s g i h re ve ate seized 549 kilogram black lector ized fo l e h o t s c r o o e S the A and green tea worth and th rains w illion, food g m d 1 e l 9 Rs4.644million as well as etta g 6 u g Q u o rs6. m am s 5,766 tyres and tubes the AS ea kilogr ereas h reen t w 2,750 worth Rs14.066million. n o and g illi

5m res lack rs0.38 ams b 766 ty , r 5 g s o l a i l 549 k as wel lion seized illion m 4 66 mil 4 0 6 . .

4 4 s 1 s r orth r worth bes w and tu

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

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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

uS interest in pak economy

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t a time when the country’s economy is recovering from years of regression, two contrasting news reports appeared recently in the media, showing differences of opinion in US diplomacy toward Pakistan. One report is in threatening tone, saying that to break the stalemate in Afghanistan, the United States must break Pakistan’s pathologies. It alleges that out of 20 terrorist organizations, seven of them operate from Pakistan where they have safe havens and are a constant threat to the Afghan peace. On another note, US Ambassador David Hale has expressed his country’s resolve to work for the development of Pakistan as the two countries are closely aligned.The ambassador has also pointed out a very basic ingredient required for the development and that is innovation.

According to him, the two countries should work for economic growth, increase bilateral trade, improve investment climate, protect intellectual property and promote entrepreneurship.

The United States and Pakistan have passed through hot and cold relations on various occasions in the past and reason is only one and that is most of the US officials challenge the sovereign status of Pakistan. They are not accustomed to listen to any no from Pakistan and that is the root cause of the problem. It is also a matter of decision for the Pakistani officials to adopt a permanent policy about the US. If there is friendship, it should go through thick and thin with that country and if it wants to keep a neural status, it should keep it up in every situation. Iran is the best example of diplomatic success as it stayed away from any direct conflict with any country involving the United States. The Iranian diplomacy worked well in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen. Besides, it supported certain groups in Lebanon without inviting direct threat to the country. The Pakistan’s economy is growing and it needs peaceful environment not only within the country, but also in the region. The best way to engage US in Pakistan is to create a conducive environment for TRADE AND INVESTMENT activities. The US companies should be invited to take benefit of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and set up industries in tax free zones. There is lot of business and trade potential in Pakistan and the country could be converted into an attractive investment destination.

need to woo investors T

LAHORE

Dr AfTAB AfZAL

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he development of infrastructure is necessary to attract direct foreign investment. The country is already facing trade deTicit and continuous decline in remittances sent by the expatriate Pakistanis, leaving little room to spare enough funds for developmental projects. The government is signing loan agreements with international Tinancial institutions one after another to keep the foreign exchange reserves at certain level. However, the cosmetic steps will bounce back one day if concrete steps are not taken to put the economy on the right track. Many economists

have expressed misgivings on the unrevealed clauses of agreements with the Chinese government with regard to much publicized economic corridor programme.

They fear that Pakistan will have to return the loan money and it may affect the annual rate of growth in the national income.

However, it is not easy to understand the dynamics of the economy at a time when the country is drenched in corruption, political environment is charged and the future of the nation is placed on the shoulders of bureaucracy.

The economy is rising despite all odds and experts point out the potentials of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to address infrastructural issues to some extent as the country spends only

two to three percent of its gross domestic product on the development projects. The CPEC is likely to take another decade to complete, but the country is still not ready to do homework to reap the beneTits of this mega project.The world Tinancial institutions, including International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, had projected the economic growth over Tive percent for Tiscal year 2018-19.The Chinese investment is not only boosting consumer and investor conTidence on the country’s economic situation, but also paving the way for investment from other countries as the United Kingdom and the central Asian states are also weighing options to be part of the corridor.

The report believes the large-

scale investment in infrastructure projects will boost construction industry and spur industrial activities, creating more jobs and more investment from the private sector. It is time the government should concentrate on industries which could push increase in exports which have been on the downward trajectory for the last four years. The government should not put all the eggs on one basket. The Chinese investment is welcome, but it should also look for other opportunities to convert the proposed export processing zones along the CPEC into thriving industrial hubs. It is also necessary to attract local investors to the processing zones who have invested heavily in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Dubai markets.

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Russia cuts oil shipments to Belarus in Q2 2017 MOSCOW: Russia will lower oil shipments to Belarus from 6 million tons to 5 million tons in the second quarter of 2017, according to a new Reuters report. Sources close to the matter said that oil flows to Belarus would increase in lieu of shipments to the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, which is Russia’s largest oil port. Transneft, the Russian oil pipeline company, also said that oil flows to Belarus would stay at the 24-million-ton level after Moscow and Minsk reached an agreement on oil payments. In the second half of 2017, the recipient country is expected to import 15 million tons of Russian oil. Diplomatic tensions began when Belarus complained of the $132 per 1,000 cubic meters rate set by the Russian company Gazprom. Minsk started underpaying for the gas shipments, but agreed earlier this month to gradually pay the outstanding $726 million Moscow said it owed Gazprom—an agreement that was seen as good enough by the Russian side.

punjab-based chambers should create think-tank: fcci Vp FAISALABAD

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ll Punjab-based Chambers of Commerce and Industry should create a think-tank in order to redress the reservation of local industrial sector in the wake of 4th phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in which Chinese will also establish their Hi-tech units in Pakistan. In a meeting with Majid Raza Bhutta, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce, Vice President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Ahmed Hassan said the think-

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tank should clearly identify the pros and cons of the most crucial phase and carve out a comprehensive strategy for SME sectors to collaborate with their Chinese counterparts for immediate assimilation of hi-tech Chinese technology in their concerned units. He also presented a book containing of study of CPEC project to President Sialkot Chamber and told, “We should make collective efforts to fully exploit the potential of this mega infrastructural project”.

Both business leaders agreed the Pakistani entrepreneurs should have direct link with the Chinese investors so that they could pick appropriate persons in order to launch joint ventures. They also decided to make a joint representative to the Chinese Embassy that Pakistani businessman should be granted visas on the same pattern as Pakistani Foreign Office is extending maximum facilities to the Chinese visitors.

Wednesday April 19, 2017

Chambers

public private sectors should join hands to take full advantage of gSp plus status A

LAHORE

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mbassador of the European Union to Pakistan Jean Francois Cautain has said that public and private sectors of Pakistan would have to work together to take full advantage of GSP Plus status granted till 2023.

He was talking to the LCCI President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa, Vice President Muhammad Nasir and Executive Committee Members here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Mian Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Nazir and Ali Hassam Asghar were also present on the occasion.

The Ambassador said that the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus, has given better market access to the products made in Pakistan to the whole of European Union. The EU would like to enhance its trade with Pakistan.

“It is very much now in the hands of the business community, both here in Pakistan and the European Union to utilize this facility available for boosting trade between the two sides. GSP Plus status moni-

tored and reviews after every two years and Pakistan is still eligible for this. He said that Pakistan should avail full advantage of GSP Plus status and increase its traditional and non traditional exports to the EU member states. Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Abdul Basit said that Pakistan and European Union have a strong bond in the areas of TRADE AND INVESTMENT. European Union is very important

trading region for Pakistan.

He said that despite this fact that EU Commission granted GSP plus status to Pakistan but the potential beneTits of that scheme could not be materialized. The LCCI President said that EU accounted for 12.8% of Pakistan’s total trade in 2015 while absorbing 23.7% of Pakistan’s total exports. More than 80% of our exports to EU consist of textiles and clothing. Pakistan’s imports from

iran chamber of commerce proposes nat’l discourse on economic resilience

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ISLAMABAD

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he head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mining and Agriculture on Sunday called on all economic entities to embrace the motto of the current Iranian year named by the Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as the Year of Resistance Economy: Production and Employment–and turn it into a national discourse. Setting the tone at the Tirst gathering of ICCIMA in the new Iranian year, Gholamhossein Shafei, expressed enthusiasm for the Leader’s vision that promises to revitalize the beleaguered domestic production and tackle the alarming youth unemployment. “The Leader’s words in the new year should become the fo-

cal point for a national discourse … I hope that this time we face this issue in its true sense and that differences of views won’t lead to divergent interpretations,” Shafei said. The head of ICCIMA used his speech to drive home the oft-repeated demands of the private sector, some of which businesses frequently complain have fallen on deaf ears. Front and center were gripes about the gargantuan size of the government, which Shafei compared to a family with too many offspring, and the KaTkaesque red tape that, despite recent improvements, continue to stand in the way of entrepreneurship and business growth.

“Big government stems from oil windfalls that have given rise to various organizations set up in various parts of the country, leading to a condition where nobody performs their as-

signed duty,” he said.

Iran initiated a big wave of privatization during the tenure of former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with many government-owned behemoths being divested. The bulk of these divestitures, however, was grabbed by public-sector entities that operate independent of the government while even the truly privatized ones retained some form of government ownership. This has prompted many to question the efTicacy of the privatization plan that they say has made the erstwhile government-run companies even less transparent and productive. Private enterprises also bemoan the process that has created new rivals that are not only not accountable to the public but also enjoy exclusive access to the corridors of power.

the EU are mainly comprised of machinery and transport equipment as well1 as chemicals. “It is a steady feature of Pakistan’s trade with European Union that almost 72% of total exports sent to EU are with Tive countries namely U.K, Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Italy. We look forward to Tinding more and more opportunities of market penetration in other countries like Greece, Slovenia and Ireland etc.

kyrgyz envoy for boosting mutual trade mbassador of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan Erik Beishembiev said on that both countries should identify new sectors of economy for cooperation and introduce new tradable items to boost mutual trade. He was talking to LCCI Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Zeeshan Khalil, Mian Zahid Javed, Moazzam Rasheed, Shahid Nazir, Tariq Mahmood, Rizwan Akhter Shamsi, Waqar Ahmed Mian and Khawaja Khawar Rasheed were also present. The Ambassador said that promotion of foreign direct investment was the top most priority of his government, adding that investing in Kyrgyz Republic is safe, profitable and easy as the main factors are the liberal trade regime, full protection of investments and unlimited repatriation of profits, currency exchange freedom, low business costs. –CB Report

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Principal Appraiser Abdul Hafeez to retire on May 9 Wednesday April 19, 2017

Islamabad Moazzam assumes charge as Dy collector preventive in Lahore ISLAMABAD

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ISLAMABAD: Syed Abdul Hafeez, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-17, is going to retire from the government service on attaining the age of superannuation.

The officer, presently posted as Principal Appraiser at Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement (West), Karachi, will stand retired from the government service on May 9.

fBr fires Senior preventive officer ejaz for inefficiency F

ISLAMABAD

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uhammad Moazzam Raza, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-18, has assumed the charge of the post of Deputy Collector.

The officer, in pursuance of Board’s Notification No. 1003-C-II/2017 dated 27.03.2017, relinquished the charge of the post of Deputy Collector at Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Karachi with effect from March 31 and took the charge of the post of Deputy Collector at Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Lahore on April 4. Meanwhile, Aneeqa Afzal, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-18, has taken the charge of the post of Deputy Director of Directorate of Input Output Coefficient Organization (North), Lahore. Aneeqa, pursuing the Board’s Notification No. 1003-C-II/2017 dated 27.03.2017, relinquished the charge of the post of Deputy Collector at Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad.

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Appraiser Muhammad wasi to retire on May 19 yed Muhammad Wasi, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-16, is going to retire from the government service on attaining the age of superannuation. The officer, presently posted as Appraiser at Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement (West), Karachi, will stand retired from the government service on May 19. Meanwhile, Syed Abdul Hafeez, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-17, is going to retire from the government service on attaining the age of superannuation. The officer, presently posted as Principal Appraiser at Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement (West), Karachi, will stand retired from the government service on May 9. –CB Report

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ederal Board of Revenue has given Ejaz Ahmad, a Pakistan Customs Service ofTicer BS-16, a major penalty of “removal from service” for inefTiciency.

Disciplinary proceedings under Government Servants (EfTiciency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 were initiated against the ofTicer, last posted as Senior Preventive ofTicer at Model Customs Collectorate Preventive, Karachi vide Charge Sheet No.10/5/2013-Cus-III dated 13.12.2013.

Muhammad Tahir, Additional Collector posted at Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-East, Karachi, was appointed as inquiry ofTicer to conduct inquiry on account of various acts of omission

and commission committed by the accused ofTicer constituting “inefTiciency” and “misconduct”.

According to the inquiry report, the charges of “inefTiciency” and

“misconduct” were established against the accused ofTicer. A showcause notice dated 19.11.2014 was issued to the accused ofTicer and in response, he submitted his defence

reply. After considering the inquiry report, reply of the accused to the show-cause notice and his oral submissions during the personal hearing with the authorized ofTicer, the accused ofTicer was found guilty of “inefTiciency” under rule 3(a) of the Government Servants (E&D) Rules, 1973, causing huge loss to the Government exchequer.

The Member (Admn), being the authority in this case, after having considered all aspects of the case and the recommendations of the authorized ofTicer, imposed the major penalty of “removal from service” upon Ejaz Ahmad under rule 4(1)(b)(iii) of the Govt. Servants (EfTiciency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 with immediate effect. However, the sacked ofTicer will have the right of Appeal as admissible in the Civil Servants (Appeal) Rules, 1977.

fBr sends notices to 50,000 non-filers T

LAHORE

SAJiD nAwAZ

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he Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has sent a notice to 50, 000 non-filers who did not submit their returns till the due date of 15th of December 2016.

The Regional Tax Office-II (RTO-II) and Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO) have started action on the order by the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue and initially sent reminder notices to 50,000 non-filers out of 100,000 people who did not return their files. The Chief Commissioner Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO) and Chief Commissioner Regional Tax Office-II (RTO-II) directed all the Zonal Commissioners to take serious action against the non-filers. The zonal commissioner prepared a list of non-filers and put notices on the house addresses if non-filers do not reply of notices by the RTOs office then Regional Tax Offices will take action against the

non-filers under the law and imposed fines on them.

Sources told Customs Today that Chairman Federal Board of

Revenue (FBR) ordered all the Regional Tax Offices of Pakistan to send reminder notices to the non-filers and receive their tax

returns. In any hindrance, RTOs can take action for the tax recovery from those who did not return their files on the given dates.

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Senior Preventive officer Abdul Jabbar sacked for inefficiency ISLAMABAD: Abdul Jabbar Khan Niazi, a Pakistan Customs Service officer BS-16, has been sacked for inefficiency.

Disciplinary proceedings under Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 were initiated against the officer, last posted as Senior Preventive officer at Model Customs Collectorate Preventive, Karachi vide Charge Sheet No.10/5/2013Cus-III dated 13.12.2013. Muhammad Tahir, Additional Collector posted at Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-East, Karachi, was appointed as inquiry officer to conduct inquiry on account of various acts of omission and commission committed by the accused officer constituting “inefficiency” and “misconduct”.

customs court awards imprisonment to smuggler KARACHI

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ustoms Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi awarded 10 days imprisonment and Rs 100,000 fine to accused namely Sunil Kumar son of Tillu Ram who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggled/ non-duty paid mobile phones from Dubai to Karachi. During the hearing, the suspect appeared before the court along with his counsel and filed an application for pleading guilty and left himself on the mercy of the court. After the arguments, the court awarded 10 days imprisonment (already undergone period) and Rs1,00,000 fine to him, in default payment of fine, he

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shall suffer further three months simple imprisonment in Central Jail Karachi. According to the prosecution, dated March 27, 2017 officials of the customs department intercepted the accused and during examination of his baggage, recovered I-Phones 7 numbers, smart phones 140 numbers tentative value of Rs17,47,200. As per FIR, when accused was asked the produced lawful documents of the above goods, he failed to produce any lawful documents, therefore, after the formalities, accused was arrested and goods were seized by model Customs Collectorate Customs House Karachi.

Case was registered in violation of section 2(s) 16 and 139 of the customs act, 1969 punishable under clauses (8) (9) & 161 of the baggage rules, 2006 notified vide SRO-666(1)/2006 dated 28/06/2006 and Import & Export (Control) Act 1950.

Karachi

customs court sends suspected woman smuggler to jail on judicial remand

Quetta customs seizes smuggled goods worth rs3.183m GAWADAR

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ustoms authorities have seized huge quantity of smuggled goods worth Rs3.183 million.

The Quetta customs seized the goods, including glass beads, shopping bags, cosmetics, dry batteries, ladies cloth, hot fix tape and other miscellaneous items, in joint operation with FC. Collector Saeed Jadoon lauded the performance of his collectorate. Meanwhile, Customs Collectorate Gwadar foiled various attempts of smuggling during the month of March. Sources told Customs Today that Collector Feroze Alam Junejo directed the anti-smuggling team to adopt zero tolerance policy towards smugglers. He also constituted various teams to curb smuggling in the region. During the month of March Gwadar Customs team recovered 67 kilogram of fine quality charas, 200 grams of opium, a huge quantity of smuggled Iranian diesel, old tyres and tubes, Indian Gutkha, foreign origin wine bottles, smart mobile phone and other different goods.

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KARACHI

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ustoms Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has sent a woman suspect, Samina RaTiq wife of RaTiq Ahmed, to Central Jail Karachi on judicial remand. She was booked for attempting to smuggle mobile phones and auto parts from Dubai to Karachi.

During the hearing, of case, investigation ofTicer produced the suspect before the court and informed that on a credible information, the customs ofTicials intercepted Samina RaTiq and recovered 50 Motorola phones and 5 kilogram auto parts worth Rs 550,000.

According to the investigation ofTicer when she was asked to produce legal documents of the goods, she failed to produce any lawful documents, therefore, after formalities, the woman was arrested and goods were seized by Model Customs Collectorate Customs House Karachi.

After the hearing, the court sent her to jail and directed jail authorities to produce her before the court on the next date of hearing. According to the prosecution, case was registered in violation of section 2(s)

Wednesday April 19, 2017

16 and 139 of the customs act, 1969 punishable under clauses (8) (9) & 161 of the baggage rules, 2006 notiTied vide SRO-666(1)/2006 dated 28/06/2006 and Import & Export (Control) Act, 1950.

Meanwhile, Custom (Taxation & Anti-Smuggling) Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi extended the physical remand of accused namely Sunil Kumar S/o Tillu Ram and sent back him to Customs Department till April 06, 2017 who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle/non-duty paid mobile phones

from Dubai to Karachi. During the hearing, investigation ofTicer produced the abovementioned accused before the court and informed it that dated March 27, 2017 ofTicials of the Customs Department intercepted him and recovered seven I-Phones and 140 smart phones valued Rs01.8million. When accused was asked to produce lawful documents of the above goods, he failed to prove anything legal. So the accused was arrested and goods seized by Model Customs Collectorate, Customs House Karachi.

Anf destroys poppy crop on 45 acres in Sindh

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KARACHI

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he Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has destroyed poppy crop on 45 acres of land in various parts of the Sindh province, sources said. According to the details, the Sindh ANF conducted a series of operations at general areas Ghaibi Dero and Hamal Lake, the district Qambar Shahdad Kot bordering Balochistan and destroyed poppy crops.

Operation to destruct Poppy cultivation was held in two phases. In the first phase, the operation was carried out in the villages Konker,

Masjid, Seetly and Rahoo Ja Aathya where approximately 35 acres of poppy cultivation lands was de-

stroyed. In the second phase, the ANF carried out an operation in village Bajak. The alleged cultiva-

tors exchanged fires with the official team in which one person was wounded. In an ensuring operation, an additional force and Rangers were called in who apprehended two suspects and destroyed 10 acres of remaining poppy crop. The officers of the ANF have registered the cases against the culprits and investigation have been started to apprehend the master minds. The source informed Customs Today that the operation was carried to stop the smuggling of the drugs to the foreign countries through sea and land due to the smuggling of the drugs the name of the country was on stake.

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India’s exports may cross $300 bln in FY17 Wednesday April 19, 2017

World

NEW DELHI: India’s merchandise export is expected to cross $300 billion during the current fiscal, said a top official of Federation of India Export Organisations (FIEO). FIEO expects India’s shipments for fiscal 2016-17 to close at $272 billion against $262 billion in the previous year – a growth of 3-4%.

This fiscal, the exporters’ body expects manufacturing shipments to be in the region of $300-310 billion and services to be between $175 billion and $180 billion “This (export) growth for 2016-17 is encouraging as global trade is down and many economies are still in red,” said Ajay Sahai, Director General & CEO, FIEO. “China’s February figure shows that exports have declined.

SArS seizes cocaine worth r2.6m at or Tambo Airport

JOHANNESBURG

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outh African Revenue Service (SARS) seized cocaine worth R2.6 million during a search

Dutch March manufacturing edges down to 57.8 onditions in the Dutch manufacturing sector improved in March, though at a slower pace than in February as inflationary pressures weighed. The seasonally adjusted headline NEVI Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was 57.8 in March, index provider Markit said on Monday, down from February’s reading of 58.3, which was a 10-year high. Output prices rose at their highest level since June 2011, driven in part by rising commodity prices. Despite that, the index was well above Markit’s survey average, with new order growth faster than at any time since December 2013. “Manufacturers’ confidence in the future was at a record high with the Dutch economy appearing to be on track to see sustained economic growth in 2017,” said Sam Teague, economist at IHS Markit, in a statement. –CB Report

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at OR Tambo International Airport.

“SARS Customs ofTicials and the detector dog unit recovered 9.16 kilogram of cocaine worth R2.6 million during a search at OR Tambo International Airport.” The cocaine belonged to a woman in transit travelling from Sao Paulo to Maputo, Mozambique, who claimed to have

no check-in baggage. “Upon investigation by the Customs ofTicials, it was discovered that the traveler was the owner of a bag that contained eight laptop bags with hidden compartments laden with a white powdery substance. The white substance tested positive for cocaine,” said the revenue service. The woman and the drugs have been handed over to the South African Police Service. Meanwhile, SARS Customs ofTicials intercepted a Ferrari F1, worth an estimated R13.8 million, which was being smuggled back into the country after it had been stored in a bonded warehouse in South Africa since 2014. When it was Tirst brought into the country, the owner failed to follow correct import procedures including paying the necessary customs duties and VAT, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) said in a statement released on Wednesday. The vehicle was subsequently held in a bonded warehouse for three years as the owner could not Tinalise the required customs processes.

chinese banks trim jobs as online payments gather pace

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otal headcount at China’s four largest banks fell in 2016 for the Tirst time in six years, as the lenders cut costs and tried to adapt their massive branch networks in the face of competition from online payment giants Ant Financial and Tencent Holdings. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Construction Bank Corp, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China employed 17,824 fewer people at the end of last year,

the Tirst such drop since 2011, an analysis of their earnings Tilings last week showed. The drop reTlected, in part, the way banks are trying to trim the estimated three million people who work in their branch networks. “The banks no longer need so many employees at branches because customers are no longer using that many banknotes for transactions, and Internet banking is so developed,” said Mr Li Bin, an analyst at Capital Securities. –CB Report

pAgcor set $1.3b revenue target for year 2017 BAGHDAD

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hilippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Andrea Domingo has painted a rosy picture of the country’s gambling industry, saying that the introduction of its new licenses for online gambling will propel the state regulator’s revenue to PHP65 billion (US$1.3 billion) in 2017.

In her keynote speech before the gambling executives attending the inaugural ASEAN Gaming Brief Summit, Domingo boasted that the staterun gaming Tirm achieved its highest income in the agency’s history last year when it posted a P55.06 billion (US$1.1 billion) gross income.

She attributed the 16.62 percent increase of PAGCOR’s revenue to the improving market, as well as newly implemented in-house efTiciency

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has made it possible for the state regulator to achieve its highest income in history last year.

“Adding to this advantages, are the fact we have introduced many innovations. For example, instead of random sampling of our managerial and enforcement activities, we have strengthened this. We now have 24hr, seven days a week presence… this yielded us P8 billion more in 2015,” Domingo pointed out. For 2017, Domingo said they are setting an ambitious revenue target of between PHP62 billion and PHP65 billion (US$1.24 billion to US$1.3 billion). This, according to Domingo, is attainable as PAGCOR started the ball rolling for online gambling to shore up its revenue stream. She said that local and international gambling operators have lined up in order to avail the state regulator’s Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) license. PAGCOR will also bank on the continuing growth of the four major casino resorts in the country.

russia forecasts $40 oil

he Russian economy ministry has predicted $40 per barrel oil in 2017 and beyond, in stark contrast to forecasts made by major international institutions regarding the future of oil markets.

“The basic precondition from the standpoint of oil price is that oil prices will drop to $40 per barrel in this year and remain at the level of $40 [per barrel] after that,” Maxim Oreshkin, the Russian Minister of Economic Development, said. “The average annual oil price under the base case and the target scenarios is $45.6 per barrel in 2017, $40.8 per barrel in 2018,

$41.6 [a barrel] in 2019, and $42.4 [per barrel] in 2020.”

The Russian government also expects the ruble to weaken against the dollar, stabilizing at a 63-64 ruble to dollar rate in the next few months. By the end of 2017, Moscow’s base economic scenario foresees the dollar equaling 68 rubles and by the end of 2018, 70.8 rubles.

“We fundamentally believe that the current moment is highly beneficial for foreign exchange purchases by importers and population preparing for overseas trips,” Oreshkin added.–CB Report

Bank of Thailand expects 3.4% growth in current year

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BANGKOK

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he Thai economy will continue its steady upward climb, growing by 3.4% this year and 3.6% next year as exports improve, the Bank of Thailand said on Friday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 3.2% last year and by

2.9% in 2015. Jaturong Jantarangs, a central bank assistant governor, said a steady recovery was being seen in exports of many products.

The value of merchandise exports is forecast to expand by 2.2% this year led by electrical and electronic goods and the relocation of manufacturing to Thailand of products such as vehicle tyres and solar cells, he said.

The US dollar value of the country’s exports was Tlat last year but that was a modest improvement after three years of contractions. The National Economic and Social development Board recently projected that the value of goods exports would rise by 2.9% this year.

Exports in January this year grew by 8.8% from the same month a year earlier. However, they slipped

2% in February, only because the Tigures for February 2016 were artiTicially inTlated by large one-off shipments of gold and aircraft.

Jaturong said export prices of commodities and petroleum-related products were on an upward trend along with crude oil prices. Exports of services have experienced a quick recovery and are projected to continue to expand, he added.

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Iran expecting $50b in foreign finance TEHRAN: After the implementation of Iran’s nuclear accord with world powers, the country has negotiated its way to attract $50 billion worth of foreign finance expected to flow into the country soon, a report by Economy Ministry’s Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran has revealed. According to the report, countries that have shown interest in Iran’s investment potentials include South Korea, China, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Norway, Russia and Brazil. “To foster foreign investment and develop ties with international banks and export credit agencies, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance has put security of investment and stability in economic.

iran exports $10b gas condensate and non-oil products from Asalouyeh ran has exported more than 10 billion dollars of non-oil products and gas condensate from Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2011), an oil ministry official said here on Tuesady. The Mehr news agency quoted Seyyed Pirouz Mousavi, managing director of PSEEZ as saying that more than USD 4 billion of gas condensate has been exported from Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in the mentioned period. He noted, “More than 7.186 million tons of gas condensate worth over USD 4.53 billion has been exported from the Special Zone during that period, showing a 53 percent increase compared to the same period last year,” he added. Mousavi said that export of non-oil products has increased 64 percent during this period compared to the similar period of last year to exceed 5.55 million tons. Iran sits on the world’s second largest natural gas reserves after Russia. –CB Report

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Shenzhen customs busts uS$11.6m smuggled wines

urkey’s annual inflation hit its highest in more than 8 years in March, surging 11.29 percent, as the prices of food, transportation and alcohol all showed double-digit increases, official data showed on Monday. Consumer prices rose 1.02 percent from the previous month, the data also showed, outstripping the 0.6 percent increase predicted by a Reuters poll. Annual inflation was at its highest since October 2008. Inflation has been stoked by chronic weakness in Turkey’s lira currency, which has been hit by political concerns and worries about the direction of monetary policy. President Tayyip Erdogan has declared himself an “enemy” of interest rates, and repeatedly railed against what he says is the high cost of credit in Turkey. –CB Report

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indian customs nabs drug smuggler, seizes metha worth rs14.7m South African woman bound for Addis Ababa was arrested at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Sunday with 4.9 kilogram methaqualone, a prohibited psychotropic substance, worth Rs14.7 million. Customs officials handed Vanessa De Kock over to the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), which had tipped them off about her.

Vanessa, who is allegedly part of a drugs syndicate, came to India on to smuggle methaqualone out of the country. On learning that she planned to fly out with the drugs, the NCB shared her details with the customs department. Since then, customs officials were on the lookout for Vanessa’s name on the list of passengers leaving for South Africa.

Vanessa, however, cancelled her flight, and booked another ticket for.

She again changed her plan and decided to leave on Sunday, allegedly assuming that since it is a holiday, officials would not pay attention to her luggage. On Sunday, an airline staffer alerted customs officials as soon as Vanessa provided her details for boarding pass. Customs officials, who detained her for questioning, found methaqualone stuffed inside 10 envelopes of cardboard wrapped inside a salwar suit fabric that was kept inside her check-in baggage. –CB Report

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Turkey’s annual inflation surges 11.29 percent

Wednesday April 19, 2017

BEIJING

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henzhen Customs has busted an illegal wine smuggling ring and conTiscated around 10,000 bottles of contraband wines, valued at RMB 80 million (US$11.6 million), the latest and biggest haul yet as cross-border checkpoints tighten up control on smuggled goods. The wines tax value alone amounted to RMB 20 million (US$2.9 million), reported Chinese

news site Wine Business Observer.

The case was brought to light when customs ofTicers spent a year doing surveillance work on a local gang smuggling untaxed spirits into China that led to the discovery of smuggled Penfolds and undeclared Portuguese wines, the report said.

One insider with Shenzhen Wine Association told the news outlet that these conTiscated Portuguese wines were so numerous they, “can Till up 10 wine shelves”. This bust came hard on the heels of an antismuggling campaign launched last year by the customs department in China’s coastal cities. Since then po-

lice have stepped up their efforts to clean up illegal channels for smuggled goods including introducing a special lane for cross-border visitors with large suitcases. Goods such as milk formula, cosmetics and iPhones are often smuggled from Hong Kong to mainland China. One anonymous wine merchant who deals in smuggled wines said that contraband wines and spirits are particularly targeted by customs ofTicers. The smugglers who routinely carry wines from Hong Kong to mainland China either for wine merchants or private clients are known as ‘Coyotes’.

Saudi Aramco’s worth may be just $1.1 trillion

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RIYADH

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audi Arabia faces a signiTicant budget deTicit with billions of dollars in debts to private Tirms, largely in the construction business, after a drop in global oil prices by about half since 2014. This has brought the British government under Tire for its controversial arms deals with Riyadh, particularly in light of the Saudi-led coalition’s ongoing war in Yemen. “We will be

supporting that through the aid and support that we give”, she said. In a veiled attack on those critical of UKSaudi relations, May said that “rather than just standing on the sidelines and sniping” it is “important to engage, to talk to people, to talk about our interests, ” including “difTicult issues”.

Theresa May has defended her trip to Saudi Arabia, saying the UK’s relationship with the kingdom is important “for our security, for trade and the future”. During a 1985 visit to Saudi, Britain’s Tirst female prime

minister wore a hat, gloves and a dress that covered her feet. “We have no difTiculty in raising hard issues with those that we meet with, be it in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere around the world”, May told reporters in Jordan before heading for Saudi Arabia where she is expected to meet senior ofTicials including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. ‘I’ve talked to the Saudis on a number of occasions now and I raise issues of this sort. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for an end to arms sales from

Britain and the United States to Saudi Arabia over the coalition s actions in the Arabian Peninsula state. At least 10,000 people have been killed during the war, according to the United Nations. Britain is also set to become a leading partner in the kingdom’s efforts to reform and modernise under its Vision 2030 programme. Contrary to Foreign OfTice guidelines, which state: “Women should wear conservative, loose-Titting clothes as well as a full length cloak (abaya) and a headscarf”, May stepped off a plane in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

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FIA arrests human-trafficker Wednesday April 19, 2017

Lahore

FAISALABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a human-trafficker for receiving money from a man fraudently on the pretext of sending him abroad.

An official source said here Tuesday that the accused, Asif, received Rs 54,000 from victim Adnan for sending him to Australia. But, later on, neither he sent him abroad nor returned his money.

Meanwhile, The Federal Investigation Agency has arrested a wanted human smuggler.

According to a FIA spokesman, the accused, owner of HRA consultant Rawalpindi, extorted million of rupees from innocent people for providing employment in Qatar.

punjab govt to assist Balochistan on cpec: Dr Ayesha

fTo adjourns hearing of case filed by khyber petroleum

LAHORE

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he Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed the hearing of a case Tiled by Khyber Peroleum and CNG services against the chief commissioner Regional Tax OfTice-II (RTO-II), Lahore until the next date.

According to the details, FTO Advisor Tariq Yousaf heard the case of Niaz Shah, owner of Khyber Pertoleum and CNG services Mouza Kanjran in which the counsel for the appellant argued that RTO has not released the refunds to the appellant of the last three years.

He said that the RTO collected excessive tax from the company during the last three years. The company approached the ofTicer concerned many times for issuance of refunds but the

department did not pay the refunds after the passage of a reasonable time.

Finally, the appellant decided to approach the FTO seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO to clear the refund claims. The counsel further said that the delay in issuance of refunds put burden on the taxpayers, adding that the RTO should make audit of the cases and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer. On the other hand, counsel for RTO-II argued that the appellant has not submitted all record in the ofTice on which basis it is claiming for refunds. If appellant provides accurate record, the RTO will issue the refunds if any after proper assessment, he added. After hearing the arguments from both sides, Advisor Tariq Yousaf adjourned the case until next date for further hearing and directed the parties to appear on said date to present arguments in the case.

M HAYAT

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rovincial Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha has said that Punjab Government will provide technical Assistance to Balochistan government in preparation of labour force for beneTit from Pak China Economic Corridor including preparation of syllabus according to market demand for the technical institutions of Gwadar ,setting up of incubation centers and launching of youth entrepreneurship program .She said that the enforcement of special quota for Balochistan will be ensured in all public universities of province and the trend of joint research will be promoted. She said that the number of special seats for baloch students will be increased in Danish schools.

Play grounds will be established for

customs court hears 16 cases

pakistan starts import of tomatoes from india through wagha

he Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling heard 16 cases, including pre-arrest bail pleas filed by different suspects.

Most of the cases were adjourned without any proceedings as the parties and lawyers concerned did not appear in the court. Hearing of pre-arrest bail pleas filed by different accused persons were also adjourned for new dates in next week. A case against Ali was also scheduled for hearing in which court recorded statements of the parties. Ali is on bail nowadays.

Framing of charges against Humayun Rasheed was also adjourned for next week. Final arguments and statements of the concerned parties in a case of smuggling against was also scheduled for hearing which was rescheduled for next week. Meanwhile, The Special Court of Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling on Tuesday heard 17 cases, including pre-arrest bail pleas filed by suspects. –M Imran Mehar

akistan has started the import of Indian tomatoes through Land Freight Unit Wagha in view of the rising demand of tomatoes in the local market of Pakistan, especially Punjab.

According to ofTicial sources of Customs Today at Wagha customs, Pakistan has decided to import tomatoes from India as its rate is increasing in the local markets. Rate of tomatoes had reached Rs 200 per kg. Due to increase in demand and low production of crop, Pakistan de-

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cided to import tomatoes from India to meet the demand. About of 20 to 25 trucks are crossing the border on daily basis. Some more truckloads of tomatoes will also come to Pakistan as the month of Ramadan is nearing. After the start of import of tomatoes, Pakistan customs will also earn more duty and taxes. Pakistani importers are still disallowed to import Indian garlic and ginger as they were found harmful to human health and they were also washed with poisonous chemicals. –CB Report

football players in Gwadar. She expressed these views while presiding over a meeting regarding to the initiatives of Punjab government for Balochistan. Minister for Higher Education Raza Ali Gillani and Minister for Disaster Management Department Mehar Ijaz Achlana were also

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present on the occasion. Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha Said that Punjab being the big province has always played the role of big brother for the development of other provinces and giving a large portion of its share to Balochistan from NFC is a great example of it.

court extends judicial remand of smuggler

he Special Federal Court of Customs Taxation and AntiSmuggling has extended judicial remand of an accused who was arrested from Lahore with a truck loaded of costly tyres.

Sources told Customs Today that the accused was booked when customs intelligence team intercepted a truck which was coming from Quetta near Thokar Niaz Baig. During search of the truck, the customs intelligence officials found a huge quantity of smuggled tyres which were tactfully hidden and packed. Sources said that tyres were packed almost five in

one tyre. The tyres which were recovered by customs team included costly tyres of Pajero, Mazada trucks and other vehicles. Different brands of tyres were also recovered from the truck.

Sources told that market value of seized tyres is almost of Rs 5 million and that were being carried to Lahore for a businessman Matiur Rehman. Customs team produced the accused before the court from where the judge handed him over to customs team for interrogation for four days physical remand and then he was sent to jail for judicial trial. –CB Report

customs ASo impounds rs144m nDp vehicles, items

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LAHORE

cuSToMS BuLLeTin reporT www.customsbulletin.com

ollectorate of Customs Preventive Anti-Smuggling Organization registered cases of Rs144.18 million during JulyMarch financial year 2017.

Sources told Customs Today that on the directions of the Chief

Collector Central Region Zeba Hai Azhar and Collector of Customs Preventive Ch Zulfiqar Ali in order to curb the menace of smuggling in Lahore, have ordered to accelerated anti smuggling operations by instructing all the field forces to adopt zero tolerance against the smugglers.

As per details the ASO during the month of March,2017 regis-

tered 22 cases of fire cracker, cigarettes, LED TVs, curtain cloth, soft juice, CTP printing plates, tyres, Toyota Crown car, Mitsubishi Pajero and electric motors were seized, value of these seized items is Rs.38.65 million.

Similarly the ASO made cases of Rs144.18 million during JulyMarch financial year 2016- 2017.

It was reported that keeping

view the strict instructions of the Chief Collector and Collectorate ASO have registeredmore 12 cases valuing Rs.11.02 million which were detained during first week of April 2017. Sources said that the Collector Preventive Zulfiqar Ch has passed strict instruction to all the ASO staff to do their best to create deterrence to curtail the menace of smuggling.

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COSCO Ports sees profits sink in 2016 WASHINGTON: COSCO SHIPPING Ports Ltd. reported profits attributable to equity shareholders of the company of $247 million in 2016, a 42.5 percent drop compared with the previous year, according to the company’s most recent financial statements.

Formerly known as COSCO Pacific, COSCO SHIPPING Ports is the port terminal operator arm of China COSCO Shipping Corp. Ltd., the newly merged shipping conglomerate formed from state-run firms COSCO and China Shipping.

COSCO Ports on March 18, 2016, closed its acquisition of all issued shares of China Shipping Ports Development Co., Ltd. (CSPD), making the former China Shipping terminal operating division a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.

Sc ports Authority suspends ties to Quinn firm, citing probe he SC Ports Authority voted to cut its ties, at least for now, with a Columbia political consulting firm ensnared in a state public corruption investigation. The Ports Authority board voted 5-3 to suspend doing business with Richard Quinn & Associates until further board action, citing concerns the Columbia-based political consulting firm is being looked at by state investigators. The vote will stop monthly payments to the firm for consulting, $8,100 a month since July. Ports Authority chairman Pat McKinney made the motion, citing “enough legal uncertainty” to justify suspending the agreement with the firm, headed by veteran GOP consultant Richard Quinn. McKinney noted Quinn has not been charged with any wrongdo-

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ing, “acknowledging that no formal charges have been filed and may not ever be filed.” But, he added, “Our own records have been subpoenaed as have other entities. Perception is almost as important as reality” for a business enterprise like the port, he said. Quinn could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Opposing the motion was former Ports Authority chairman Bill Stern, who said board members who supported suspending ties with the Quinn firm could not identify anything it had done wrong. After the meeting, Stern – a long-time friend of Quinn, who likely would have been Stern’s political consultant if he had decided to run for governor – said the move was too “premature an action to be considering. –CB Report

Ports & Shipping

Abu Dhabi’s khalifa port all set to become world’s largest ABU DHABI

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bu Dhabi Ports has announced a major expansion plan for its Khalifa Port FREE TRADEZone to accommodate more industries. Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of the emirate’s ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone, has announced a major expansion plan for its Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone (KPFTZ) to accommodate more industries. Currently, 40 companies operate in the free trade zone in a range of sectors including industrial, trading and services. The new free trade zone will be connected to the future rail network for the transport of goods. The 100 sq km Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone, located next to Khalifa Port, is the second fastest growing port in the world, and poised to become the future of trade in Abu Dhabi.

While addressing media at the Global Manufacturing and Indus-

trialisation Summit on Tuesday, Captain Mohammad Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “KPFTZ provides numerous advantages to investors, including competitive lease prices and some of the lowest utility costs in the world, all under tax free umbrella.”

The expansion will offer significant value to investors, while strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a

thriving maritime hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region. Mana Mohammad Saeed Al Mulla, CEO at Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) said: “With this new addition of free zone land, we intend to attract global interest from manufacturing investors that will ring technology, product diversification and increased trade through our ports.”

Wednesday April 19, 2017

congressmen inspect panay roro ports ouse Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez recently led a group of congressional representatives in inspecting the Strong Republic Nautical Highway or more commonly known as ports for roll on-roll off (RoRo) vessels in Panay Island.

Accompanied by Reps. Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte, Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City and Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, Alvarez first inspected the Caticlan Port, which is across the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town.

Alvarez said that the improvement of RoRo ports can boost tourism.

“We anticipate the influx of tourists this Holy Week. We wanted to know the state of the ports. We are planning to put more budget allocation for the improvement of ports and the roads linked to it,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez and the group also inspected the RoRo ports in the Iloilo province. They met with Iloilo congressmen Jerry Treñas, Arcadio Gorriceta, Arthur Defensor Jr., Ferj Biron, and Raul Tupas. –CB Report

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port of Vancouver vessel lineups remain high A

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lthough vessel lineups at the Port of Vancouver have declined in the past week or so, they are still above historic levels, according to Canada’s Grain Monitoring Program (GMP). In its most recent weekly report, the GMP reported that 11 grain vessels had cleared from Port of Vancouver in Week 33 and three others had cleared from the Port of Prince Rupert in northern B.C. Those clearances reduced vessel lineups to 31 ships at the Port of Vancouver and six at Prince Rupert — numbers that are still well above normal. Those numbers are high “but the vessel count has really come down,” said Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., the company contracted to manage the GMP. “As of (March 24) we were down to 24 boats.” The one-

year average at Vancouver is 19 vessels. Before the 2013-14 crop year, vessel counts in Vancouver were typically in the range of eight to 12.

Hemmes said a number of factors have contributed to historically high vessel numbers at Vancouver.

The most inTluential factor is weather. “When you look at what the weather’s been like out there for the last 14-18 days, it’s nuts the amount of rain that they’ve been getting,” Hemmes said. “The average rainfall (in the Tirst half of March) was about eight millimetres a day; as a rule of thumb, if you get more than about Tive millimetres a day, you can count on it affecting ship loading.” Other factors include avalanche and snow-related delays in mountainous areas and low ocean freight rates.

West Coast terminals are generally not equipped to load ships in the rain. Vertical loading systems

at some terminals allow for loading spouts and ship holds to be tented during rainy weather. But most terminals have angled spouts that make tenting difficult or impossible. In addition to high vessels numbers, the average time that each vessel stays in port is also up.

Time in port “has been really high in the last three to four months,” Hemmes said. “In January-February, we were at about 18 days, which is horrendous. In the 2015 crops year, I think the average was about eight to 10 days.” More ships at port combined with longer waiting times typically point to higher demurrage costs. Terms for demurrage differ from contract to contract, but they are typically paid by shippers whenever a vessel is forced to wait for an extended period of time to receive its load.

Those payments are usually passed on to individual grain pro-

ducers, and are reflected through basis levels or built into commodity prices or elevation fees at country delivery points. It is difficult to estimate how much demurrage charges cost the western Canadian grain industry, but long vessels lineups at the West Coast and longer-than-average wait times are a certain indication that demurrage costs are quickly accumulating. The current price of a Panamax-sized vessel off the West Coast is estimated at around $8,700 per day. In general, demand for ocean freight has been soft for the past year or more, so shippers may be able to negotiate more favourable demurrage terms. In some cases, ships may forfeit demurrage and stay at anchor for longer periods as they wait for a loading berth. Disruptions in west coast loading have also affected available working capacity at terminals.

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Customs I&I detains non duty paid Toyota Crown from Rawalpindi ISLAMABAD: Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Federal Board of Revenue Rawalpindi has detained a non-duty paid Toyota Crown Royal Extra car worth Rs 11.127 million. According to details, on a tip-off, the anti smuggling staff of the Directorate of I&I FBR Rawalpindi, intercepted a non-duty paid Toyota Crown Royal Extra car (Model 2006) bearing fake registration plate no. QK 780 (ICT Islamabad) having chassis no. GRS180 008175 (2499 CC) near Army Check Post, Chour Chowk, Rawalpindi from the possession of one Masood Mohsin.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

CUSTOMS BULLETIN

customs preventive foils bid to smuggle foreign currency from karachi airport KARACHI MuBeen HuSSAin

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he Customs Preventive team has recovered foreign currency worth millions of rupees from the possession of a passenger during a raid at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) Karachi.

According to the details, the staff of the Pakistan Customs Preventive deputed at the departure, after getting a tip-off, intercepted a female passenger named Fahmeeda and asked her for getting checked her luggage and travel documents. During the search, the ofTicers recovered one lac Saudi Riyal from her. The value of the Saudi currency is equal to Rs 2.9 million. According to the source, Hameeda was travelling to Sharjah through Air Arabia Tlight no 548. The Customs ofTicers have also taken the remand of the suspect through court whereas further investigation is underway. The source further stated that the culprit is expected to be a member of a money laundering group but the matter will be resolved after the complete investigation. The culprit kept the foreign currency in her hand bag which was checked in the last after complete search of the language, the source added.

commissioner ir moves SHc against M/s State Life insurance KARACHI

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he Commissioner Inland Revenue-III Large Taxpayers Unit has approached the Sindh High Court (SHC), challenging impugned judgment of the appellate tribunal in favour of M/s State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan in a tax matter.

During the hearing of the case,

counsel for the petitioner stated that tax authorities issued a show case notice to the company for recovery of due amount. However, being aggrieved, the company approached the appellate tribunal which decided the appeal in its favour without showing any lawful ground and without mentioning any lawful reason.

Citing M/S State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan as respondent, counsel for the applicant pleaded the court may declare that order of the appellate tribunal as illegal, mala Tide and arbitrary.

The Commissioner Inland Rev-

enue-III Large Taxpayers Unit also pleaded the Sindh High Court (SHC) may set aside impugned judgment of the appellate tribunal and restore its order.

Meanwhile, The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notice to the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) on an income tax reference application Tiled by commissioner Inland Revenue ZoneI, Large Taxpayers Unit, challenging impugned judgment of the appellate tribunal over recovery of federal excise duty on excess baggage ticket (EBT). While the hearing of the application, a two-member bench,

headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi directed the national carrier to Tile para wise comments on the next date of hearing. The court adjourned the matter for third week of April 2017. Earlier, counsel for the applicant stated in its income tax reference application that a show cause notice was issued to the taxpayer in respect of federal excise duty on excess baggage ticket (EBT). However, being aggrieved, taxpayer approached the commissioner Inland Revenue Appeals-III Karachi and Tiled an appeal which was decided in favour of Customs Department and rejected the appeal of the registered

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

person. According to the applicant, being aggrieved, taxpayer approached the appellate tribunal and challenging the judgment of the commissioner Inland Revenue AppealsIII Karachi, however, appellate tribunal allowed the appeals decided the case in the favour of taxpayer without mentioning any lawful reason. Citing Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIA) as respondent, applicant pleaded the court to declare that order of the appellate tribunal as illegal, mala Tide and arbitrary, counsel further pleaded the court to set aside impugned judgment of the appellate tribunal and restore its order.