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Karachi, Mon February 20, 2017

ISLAMABAD

M ARSHAD

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he Web-Based Customs Clearance System (WeBOC) has enhanced the capacity of Pakistan Customs for handling and clearing containers by several times as well as reduced the clearance time of consignments signiKicantly.

Customs clearance system has been fully automated and

around 85% of the cargo is cleared through WeBOC. Resultantly the clearance time and dwell time of cargo has been reduced.

This is why, a well placed ofKicial source at Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) told Customs Today that WeBOC enabled Pakistan Customs to clear around 2.5 million containers which arrived at Pakistani ports during the past three and half years. “Around 42% of the containers were cleared within one day and around 88.4% of the total containers were cleared within 7 days of their arrival at the

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ports/ dry ports. Similarly, the containers which were cleared by more than seven days were around 11.6% of the total containers” the source observed. Major reasons for delays of clearance of containers more than seven days in Kinancial year 2013-14 include failure of fulKillment of conditions/ requirements restrictions imposed in the import policy order and non submission of requisite import documents. In the Kiscal year 2014-15, the source added that major reasons for delayed clearance of containers on ports.

WeBOC enhances Customs’ capacity, reduces clearance time

NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa initiates inquiry against ‘fraudster’

Peshawar Dry Port earns highest customs duty among all Customs Stations

Gold smuggling case: 54 accused fined Rs900 million

IslamabadCustoms’new method to sell tampered vehicles will fetch more income

TheWeb-BasedCustomsClearanceSystem (WeBOC) has enhanced the capacity | See pAge 01 |

NAB, Kpk initiated inquiry against a former area sales manager of a multinational | See pAge 02 |

Customs Dry Port Peshawar collected the highest Customs Duty of Rs232.67million | See pAge 04 |

Customs officials imposed a fine of Rs 90 crore on 54 persons who are accused | See pAge 07 |

The MCC Islamabad has listed various types of 52 half-cut and tampered-chassis | See pAge 08 |

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Govt to support exporters in poultry sector: Dastgir ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastgir has said that Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government would support the exporters in poultry sector. Welcoming the lifting ban by the UAE on poultry sector, he said a big market was available for exporters in the gulf region. Talking to a news channel, he said the government and concerned ministries would extend full assistance to the exporters for capturing market in the UAE. He said efforts had not been made in the past but the present government took initiatives and succeeded in convincing the UAE, for entering into the market of the region.

Monday February 20, 2017

Business

nAB initiates inquiry against ‘fraudster’ PESHAWAR

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AB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on initiated inquiry against a former area sales manager of a multinational company for his alleged involvement in cheating public out of millions of rupees in the name of fake business.

A NAB spokesman said the inquiry was authorised directly on the basis of a complaint lodged by 21 complainants against Jamal Khan Khattak, Nestle Pakistan’s former area sales manager for Peshawar. The accused collected millions of rupees from public in the

weekly inflation up 0.59 percent KARACHI

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name of different investment schemes of the company. He provided fake documentation, agree-

current account deficit almost doubles to $4.716 billion in July-Jan

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nflation for the week ended February 16 for the combined income groups increased 0.59 percent as compared to the previous week.

According to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) the sensitive price indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the abovementioned group was recorded at 219.97 points against 218.69 points last week.

SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 2.07 percent.

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ments and business schemes to the people, depriving them of millions of rupees. The accused paid profit

to the affected people for some time, but stopped it afterwards and disappeared from the scene without paying them the principle amount or profit.

It merits a mention here that the affected people had deposited the money to the company account through bank drafts and cheques as well as paid the money to the accused through different means.

However, when they approached the company, the people discovered that the business of the accused had no affiliation with the company.

The NAB spokesman said that any person who had any claims against the accused person should submit their claims with relevant documents to NAB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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KARACHI

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akistan’s current account deKicit sharply widened 90.23 percent to $4.716 billion in the Kirst seven months of the current Kiscal year of 2016/17 on soaring import bills and depleting foreign inKlows, the central data showed.

The current account deKicit was equal to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product in July-January 2016/17 as against 1.5 percent ($2.479 billion) a year earlier, ac-

cording to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). In January, the current account deKicit amounted to $1.189 billion as compared to $1.025 billion in the previous month. Ballooning current account deKicit was due to higher trade gap and slowdown in workers’ remittance inKlows and foreign investment.

Remittances, which used to lend support to current account position, is now showing downward trend.

Remittances, sent by Pakistanis living aboard, continue to decline since the start of this Kiscal year. Remittances decreased 1.87 percent to

$10.946 billion during the period under review. Economists feared that prospects of the balance of payments would further be bleak in the months to come.

“Rising global oil prices, dried foreign inKlows and lower exports would build pressure on the current account position,” said an analyst.

The balance of trade in goods and services posted a deKicit of $15.208 billion in July-January FY17 compared with $12.449 billion in the same period of the last year. Trade deKicit rose to $17.428 billion in this period from $13.544 billion.

Spi-based inflation increases 0.59 ISLAMABAD

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he weekly inflation for the week ended for the combined income groups increased by 0.59 percent as compared to the previous week. According to the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) here, the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 219.97 points against 218.69 points last week. As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed increase of 2.07 per cent.

The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007 2008=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined. Meanwhile, the SPI for the lowest income group up to Rs 8,000 witnessed increase of by 0.54 percent as it went up from 208.98 points in the previous week to 210.10 points in the week under review. As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 8001 to 12,000,Rs 12,001 to 18,000, Rs18,001 to 35,000 and above Rs35,000, increased by 0.55 percent, 0.58 percent, 0.60 percent and 0.60 percent respectively.

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Brazil keen to strengthen trade ties with pakistan LAHORE

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razil’s Ambassador Claudio Lins has said that Brazil is keen to strengthen government-to-government and privateto-private sector relations with Pakistan in larger interest of the both countries.

While talking to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(LCCI) Acting President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan, he said that Brazilian economy is on the rise therefore Pakistani businessmen should utilise the available opportunities to the maximum. He said that Pakistani businessmen should step into joint ventures in the Kields of sports goods, instruments, food items, fertilisers, fruits & vegetables.

He said that Brazilian embassy in Pakistan is ready to facilitate the Pakistani businessmen in this re-

gard. He also called to remove the communication gap to give a quantum jump to the mutual trade.

Honorary Consul of Brazil Mian Hassan Mansha, Executive Committee Members Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim, Mian Zahid Javed along with Tariq Mahmood and Zafar Mahmood were also present on the occasion.

He said that Brazil is one of biggest economies of the world and best place for doing business and investment. He said that despite having var-

ious commonalities and good diplomatic relations, trade volume between Brazil and Pakistan is meager.

He said that Brazil is looking for new trade partners in Asia while Pakistan products are best and can easily make their way in the Brazilian market. The LCCI acting president said that Pakistan and Brazil have good diplomatic relations and both countries are steady trading partners. He said, “The balance of trade has been in favour of Brazil but it is a matter of concern for

us that the gap between imports and exports is expanding year by year.

There is an upward trend in bilateral trade but you will agree with me that these trade Kigures do not match the actual potential of trade.” From 2013 to 2015, the two way trade has surged from $227 million to $316 million. This increase was taken place due to constant rise in imports from Brazil to Pakistan which had gone up from $140 million to $260 million in last three years.

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ISLAMABAD

tARiQ DeRYA

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he Customs Dry Port Peshawar collected the highest Customs Duty (CD) of Rs232.67million amongst all the Customs Stations of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Peshawar whereas rest of the stations did Rs555.86million Customs Duty (CD) during January FY2016-17.

According to details told by Collector MCC Peshawar Qurban Ali Khan that performance of Customs Stations of the MCC Peshawar was satisfactory during January FY 2016-17 with the collection of revenue under the head of the CD while Customs Station Torkham was on the second number with the collection of Rs145.92million CD. The bonded ware house Peshawar collected Rs94.82million CD and the Peshawar Airport generated Rs4.18million CD. During above said period, Customs Station Gadoon earned Rs0.01million whereas Customs Station Hazara collected Rs22.47million CD. Qurban Ali Khan added that State Ware House Kohat received Rs7.15million and the Treasury Branch Peshawar got Rs21.92million under the same head. The

Monday, February 20, 2017

Auction Cell Peshawar collected Rs14.34million whereas the State Ware House Peshawar did Rs7.94million CD during January FY2016-17.

During above said period, the Assessment Cell Peshawar collected Rs0.22million under the same head and the International Mail OfKice Peshawar

did Rs0.05million.

The Customs Station Khapakh generated Rs0.04million under the same head and the Kohat Auction Cell collected Rs4.13million CD during January FY2016-17. Meanwhile, The Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) generated surplus amount of Rs59.09million Customs Duty against the assigned target during January FY2016-17. The Islamabad Customs Collectorate is assigning high revenue collection targets of CD as compared to yester months (July to December FY16-17). According to details told by Collector MCC Dr. Arslan Sebectgeen that collectorate surpassed the allocated target for January FY16-17 with the collection of 112% adding the r collectorate was given the a w pesha target of Rs479million CD e s u e o th eh r d for above said month a n a w D onded whereas the collectorate llion c i m d 2 th e b e 8 at r 94. earned Rs538.09mile s n R e d te id rt g a o s p lion Customs Duty (CD) r e i collec v o war A ng ab i Collector Arslan said r u pesha n D oo D. d c a n the collectorate reg o i n 8mill Statio s ceived Rs110.75million s a e m Rs4.1 r o e t n wh more CD than the eard, cus millio perio 1 0 . lected l marked Rs427.34million 0 o s c R a d during the same correHazar earne ation t S cD sponding period of s n o m i l o l t mi cus 7 4 FY2015-16. .

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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

challenge of rising trade deficit

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xports are continuously falling since the current government took over the oďŹƒce three and half years ago, but it could not do anything better than lip service to control the situation. The ground reality is that, falling exports and rising trade deficit could be a matter of concern for the nation, but it is not necessarily a matter of concern for the government. Reports suggest that the country is facing the grave challenge of trade deficit which increased to $17.428 billion or 29 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. The trade deficit recorded at $2.957billion in January as compared to $1.688billion a year ago. This shows an increase of 75 percent and the government is unable to change the gear or change the driver to put the economy in the right direction. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the falling exports as well as falling volume of remittances are blamed for the rising current account deficit during the current fiscal year. On another note, the overall import bill increased to over $29 billion in seven months or 13.7 percent year-on-year. The government claims the import bill has increased due to import of machinery for several development projects in the country.

Pakistan could only export goods worth $11.685 billion in seven months of the current fiscal year. The goods exports during the period were mainly from textile and garment sector, which also showed a marginal increase of 0.74 percent. Experts believe a raise in the garment exports is made possible due to the GSP plus status given to Pakistan by the European Union. The government unveiled a strategic trade policy last year, setting the export target at $35 billion by 2018, but ironically nothing has been done so far on the ground. Meanwhile, the prime minister has announced a package of Rs180billion for textile, sports, surgical, leather and carpets sectors. The Ministry of Commerce is still awaiting for the funds to implement the trade policy to arrest the declining exports. The government should encourage the export of value added goods and discourage the export of fruits, vegetables, rice and other edibles. It is not fair to deprive the nation of best quality edibles in a bid to show better export performance.

need to curb illegal transfer of money R

LAHORE

DR AftAB AfZAL

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ampant incidents of money laundering have come as a serious challenge for the economy these days and even thecentral bank of the country has to clarify its position on this pressing issue. To control the rising incidents of money laundering, the State Bank of Pakistan has decided to establish a high-tech data centerto help the Financial Monitoring Unit in tracking down illegal transfers of money and other money-related crimes, including terror Kinancing. The government has every organ and workforce to establish its writ in any sector of the country. However, it is the

question of performance for the government departments some of which under perform at the cost of taxpayers’ money. In current case of data collection, the government is going to establish the department with Kinancial assistance from the United Kingdom Department for International Development and this puts a question mark on the Kinancial secrecy of the country. The center will use a software developed by the United Nations OfKice on Drugs and Crime, which is another international organization, putting the Kinancial secrecy of the country at stake. The software will be used to alert the authorities to automate the collection and analyze the suspicious Kinancial transactions made through banks, foreign

exchange companies and other Kinancial entities in the country.

Reports suggest the proposed system will improve the capability of the Financial Monitoring Unitand it will be able to share information with law enforcement agencies. Experts believe that apart from physical transfer of black money from the country through airports andinternational borders, the data center will be able to detect money laundering through formal banking channels. A recent high proKile case, in which a renowned model of the country was involved in the incident, is a tip of the iceberg. Money laundering is going on through prize bonds, benami accounts and many other methods right under the nose of the government departments. But there are lessons for

the government ofKicials who are sometime helpless to do anything to stop suspicious transactions due to political pressure. Apart from collection of data and beeKing up security on international borders and airports, the government should introduce investment opportunities to keep the white or black money within the country. Earlier, the government efforts to block illegal money transfer could not prove fruitful as the foreign investment destinations were more attractive than local opportunities. Money laundering is a serious issue, but makeshift steps are not an answer.

It is, therefore, necessary to break the barriers of colonial past and adopt new methods to use the black or dirty money for economic development.

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Vietnam vows to develop national rice brand Monday February 20, 2017

World

HANOI: Vietnam is a big rice exporter, but the world only knows Its white rice products with different broken grain proportions.

Vietnam’s rice exports do not bear a Vietnam brand, but they are put in bags with import countries’ labels.

In the domestic market, Vietnam’s rice is less favored than imports from Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan and Japan. Vietnam exports rice to 80 countries and territories, but it has to compete fiercely with Thailand, India and Pakistan in the markets, and with Myanmar and Cambodia in the future.

A report of the General Statistics Office (GSO) shows that Vietnam’s key export market is China, but the market is always unstable and unpredictable.

gold smugglingcase: 54 accused fined Rs900 million

KOCHI

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ustoms ofKicials imposed a Kine of Rs 90 crore on 54 persons who are accused in

ciber to sell german, Danish businesses iber has agreed to sell its German and Danish businesses to German IT company Allgeier, advancing Ciber’s efforts to repay Wells Fargo $39.7 million for an outstanding loan. The Greenwood Village, Colo.-based company, No. 43 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, said it plans to use up to half of the sale proceeds to reimburse Wells Fargo, with the remaining money needed to fund existing working capital needs. Ciber will receive proceeds from the deal in three separate installments: at closing, in March 2018, and in March 2019. Part of the purchase price is contingent on the Ciber business unit hitting operation performance targets in 2017 and 2018. “The sales of Ciber Germany and Ciber Denmark is consistent with our announced strategy to divest non-core assets,” Michael Boustridge, Ciber’s president and CEO, said in a statement. –CB Report

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notorious gold smuggling through Cochin International Airport from Dubai. There were 56 accused in the case and later two were dropped from the proceedings since there were no evidence against them.

The order, issued by customs commissioner K N Raghavan on Friday night, asked to attach around

15 vehicles, belonging to the accused and three kg gold seized from a jewellery shop in Muvattupuzha.

Main accused P A Noushad has been Kined for Rs 50 crore. Emigration assistant Jabin K Basheer, who facilitated smuggling of gold from inside CIAL to the vehicles parked outside the airport, has been Kined with Rs 20 crore. The incident related to the case was happened during two years period starting from 2013. Customs could seize only 13kg gold. But, as per the statement given by the accused and evidence collected, the racket smuggled around 2000 kg gold during this period. Meanwhile, A novel way of smuggling gold was discovered, when Customs ofKicers at the Bandaranaike International Airport seized sheets of gold worth at Rs.2.5 million from a local man bound for Thiruchirappalli (Trichy) in India, today, making it the Kirst detection of its kind. The Customs ofKicials stationed at the BIA Departure Terminal, on suspicion, searched a man who was to board.

thailand delays launch of $2.9b infrastructure fund to Q2

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hailand plans to launch a 100billion baht ($2.85 billion) infrastructure fund in May or June this year, the Kinance minister as the military government seeks to fund investment projects to boost a sluggish economy. Last month, a ministry ofKicial said the fund would go public in the Kirst quarter. The “Thailand Future Fund” will initially sell units worth 40 billion baht to 50 billion baht to Thai and foreign investors, Apisak Tantivorawong told reporters.

“The fund will also be an alternative for people because its return will be higher than deposit rates, likely at 7 percent to 8 percent,” he said. Banks’ deposit rates are about 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent. Apisak previously said the ministry would put 10 billion baht into the fund before selling its units to the public. Growth in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy has lagged its peers since the military seized power in May 2014 to end months of political unrest. –CB Report

cambodia charges 3 for human trafficking TOKYO

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Japanese restaurant owner accused of overseeing a smuggling ring that forced women into prostitution in Japan was charged with trafKicking in Cambodia, along with his wife and an employee. The charges follow the dramatic rescue of seven Cambodian women from a restaurant in Gunma, northwest of Tokyo, in December after one of them made a desperate plea for help on Facebook.

Japan has long been a destination for Southeast Asian women who travel seeking higher wages but often Kind themselves forced into sex work or indentured labour. On Tuesday a municipal court in the capital Phnom Penh charged a Japanese restaurant owner in the city, his Cambodian wife and a local employee with human trafKicking of-

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fences. “The prosecutor has forwarded the case to investigating judge for further procedures,” court spokesman Ly Sophana told.

Police allege the Japanese man, 52-year-old Susumu Fukui, lured the women with promises of high wages and personally delivered them to a contact in Gunma in November.

The women thought they were going to work as restaurant staff but soon found themselves forced to have sex with clients. The co-accused are Fukui’s wife, Lim Leakhana, 28, and restaurant worker Seng Chandy, 30.

Last month Japanese police arrested three people two Japanese and a Thai national in a series of raids which also led to the discovery of 10 Thai women who they said may be victims of the same prostitution ring. Last August the Philippines warned its citizens against illegally travelling to Japan in search of work, saying they risked being trafficked for sex or forced labour.

Russia to ban imports of nZ’s beef he Russian agricultural safety watchdog has announced that it will temporarily ban imports of beef from New Zealand from The ban is being introduced following the feed additive ractopamine being found in some samples of beef, the Russian agricultural safety watchdog has said.

Ractopamine promotes muscle growth and is a derivative of angel dust. It is not registered for use in New Zealand, as well as around 160 other countries worldwide, including the EU, Russia and China. The Russian agricultural safety watchdog has also announced that a ban

on Kish imports from New Zealand is being considered, following traces of mercury being found in some samples. New Zealand is not included in the Russian trade embargo introduced in 2014 on western food imports, in retaliation for western countries imposing sanctions on Russia due to its involvement in conKlict in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Over the last 40 years wheat futures have maintained a Kixed recurring pattern of 11 months of rising prices every 4 years. There have been 7 such periods, each of them successful for an average rise of 25%. –CB Report

korean shipbuilders see brighter start in 2017

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SEOUL

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outh Korea’s struggling shipbuilders started the Kirst month of 2017 with more orders than their competitors in China and Japan, according to data from a global shipping information Kirm.

South Korean shipbuilders re-

ceived a total of seven units in contracting volume of 330,000 compensated gross tonnage, a measurement to gauge the amount of work that goes into the construction of a vessel, according to UK-based Clarkson Research Service.

This includes two Kloating storage regasiKication units, two very large crude carriers and three product carriers. Hyundai Heavy Industries

clinched a total of three orders one FSRU and two VLCC while Samsung Heavy Industries got one order to build a FSRU. Dae Sun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. each collected an order to build product carriers. In comparison, China received orders worth 110,000 CGT to build eight ships while Japan snatched one deal worth 20,000 CGT. “It is too early to evalu-

ate because the total new orders volume is at the similar level as last year,” an industry expert said. “We can say Korean shipbuilders have started on a positive note.” New orders for South Korean shipyards accounted for more than half of the total new orders last month.The total amount of new orders around the world stood at 31 units worth 600,000 CGT in January.

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Faisalabad ASO seizes smuggled LEDs worth Rs 1m FAISALABAD: The Customs Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) has confiscated non duty paid LEDs of Sony, Samsung brand worth Rs 1 million involving duty and taxes amounting to Rs2,55,657 during an action. Sources told Customs Today that ASO Deputy Collector Muhammad Rizwan received information regarding some smuggling attempts on which he formed a team comprising Superintendent Saeed Joiya, Inspector Khalid Ashraf Noor, Mehmood Dogar, Ali Zahid, and Muhammad Khalid, Muhammad Afzaal, Muhammad Ashraf, Zulfiqar Ali Awan, Muhammad Naeem and Muhammad Yasin to foil the smuggling bid.

Monday, February 20, 2017

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islamabad customs’ new method to sell tampered vehicles will fetch more income ISLAMABAD tARiQ DeRYA

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he Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad has listed various types of 52 half-cut and tamperedchassis numbered non-duty paid vehicles for sale. The price for one vehicle has been Kixed Rs100000.

The above said vehicles will be sold to law enforcement agencies on their demands and choices.

According to details told by sources of the MCC Islamabad that the collectorate has prepared a list of tampered vehicles lying in the Customs State Ware House (G-12).

The collectorate has requested the law enforcement agencies to depute a representative for physical inspection of the vehicle from the competent authority.

The sources said this is a good decision of MCC Collector Dr. Arslan to sell these tampered vehicles as they could not be auctioned. The only option left to sell these cars was to dismantle them which had fetched about Rs10000 per car to the treasury. Now the Collector MCC Islamabad has Kixed the price of Rs100000 for one car which will be bought by the law enforcement agencies. The vehicles

available to be sold to law enforcement agencies are 12 Toyota Crown Cars, 02 Mazda loaders, 01 Mazda

mini truck, 01 Mitsubishi Jeep, 01 Mitsubishi Pajero, 25 Toyota Corolla cars, 01 Toyota D/Cabin, 10 Toyota

Hiace Vans, 01 Toyota Hilux S Cabin, 02 Toyota Hilux Surfs, 02 Toyota Land Cruisers and 01 Mitsubishi Pajero 3-

Door. The sale of the above said vehicles will bring around Rs06million revenue to MCC Islamabad.

SHc puts off hearing of 50 cases due to black day KARACHI

M BiLAL

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he Sindh High Court (SHC) adjourned the hearing of over 50 cases related to customs and income tax due to boycott of lawyers on the call of Pakistan Bar Council against suicide blast in Peshawar’s Hayatabad area.

Cases were Kixed for hearing, however before the hearing,

judges were informed that Pakistan Bar Council and other legal bodies have announced black day against suicide blast in Peshawar’s Hayatabad, so courts were requested to postpone the hearing of these cases.

It needs to be pertained here that on Wednesday Civil Judge Asif Jadoon and three female judges of the lower judiciary were travelling in an ofKicial car in Hayatabad’s Phase-5 area when an attacker on a motorcycle struck the front of the vehicle and exploded killing driver and injuring four judges.

Meanwhile, The Sindh High

Court (SHC) has allowed several constitutional petitions filed by Sargodha Jute Mills Limited, Madina Jute Mills Limited, White Pearl Mills Limited and others, seeking 100 percent concession for payment of customs duties on the import of raw jute from Bangladesh in accordance with SRO 558 (1)/2004 read with SRO 585 (1)/ 2012.

According to details, a twomember bench, comprising chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulafqar Ahmed Khan, announced the judgment.

Earlier, in their constitutional

petition, counsels for the petitioners stated that petitioners, members of Pakistan Jute Mills Association (PJMA), have been importing raw jute from Bangladesh over the years by paying the customs duties. The learned counsels further submitted that between the year 2001-2002 these goods were imported at the rate of 10 percent, however, between the year 20022004 custom duty was charged at the rate of 5 percent and in the year 2004-2007, pursuant to SRO 558 (1)/2004, these goods imported from Bangladesh (as a SAARC country) were granted

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

blanket exemption and despite the exemption concerned authorities demanding customs duty illegally.

Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and others as respondents, the petitioners pleaded the court may declare that the petitioners are entitled to 100 percent concessions from payment of customs duties on the import of raw jute from Bangladesh in accordance with SRO 558(1)/2004 dated 01/07/2004 read with SRO 585(1)/2012 dated 01/06/2012 and direct the respondents to refund all customs duties paid by the them so far.