KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Khadim Hussain M. Shaikh on Tuesday ordered provisional release of two consignments imported by two different importers.
The bench was hearing two identical petitions filed by A.R.G Enterprises and PIVA International who imported tooth paste from Indonesia. The Customs Valuation in the mean while revised Valuation Ruling VR 813 of 2016 dated 28-1-2016 by VR 848 of 2016 dated 6-5-2016 increasing the Customs Duty and other taxes from US 85 cents to 1.5 US $ per kilogram which is almost double than charged in previous reading.
Ghulamullah advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted that they have availed remedy available and have filed an appeal before the Director General Valuation and same was challenged in the instant petitions also. He said that new VR was issued in violation of section 25 (a) of the Customs Act 1969 as respondents hurried in determining and issuing new VR 848 of 2016.
Khalil Dogar and Khurram advocate appearing for the Director General Valuation opposed the plea and said VR was issued after due process and strictly following procedure under section 25 a of Customs Act 1969.
The bench after hearing the sides ordered provisional release of the consignments with the direction to petitioner to submit the differential amount (assessed amount and declared amount) with the Nazir of the court while Director General Valuation was ordered to decide the appeal filed by the petitioners challenging VR 848/2016 within a month. Both the petitions stands disposed of, the bench ordered.