KARACHI: A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Humayun Khan on Friday ordered release of the consignment of soap imported by petitioner company DM traders.

The bench ordered the Nazir to satisfy himself that petitioner has paid the differential amount between the declared value and the value as per Valuation Ruling applicable in this case.

Earlier the bench heard Ghulam ullah Sheikh advocate of Franklin Law Associates, counsel for petitioner who submitted that the  petitioner has paid the differential amount. He explained that petitioner filed GD with valuation at a rate of US $ 0.90 and later deposited amount at a rate of US $ 1.00. He maintained that while hearing revision application Director General Valuation violating the Customs Act enhanced the value to US $ 1.90 which is patently illegal. He said as the petitioner has paid the custom duty and other taxes, his consignment may be released as per an order passed earlier by this bench on 9-9-2016 in CP-D 4790 of 2016.

Masooda Siraj advocate, counsel for the Customs Valuation department after initial opposition to the request, again examined the facts of the court on the direction of the court and consented that after satisfaction  of the Nazir and upon securing duty and taxes department has no objection if the consignment is released.

The bench after this statement ordered release of the consignment after securing the duty and taxes and also ordered that petition be tagged with the hundreds of identical cases in which enhancement of value by DG valuation while hearing revision application was challenged.