KARACHI: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh on Thursday allowed time to Pakistan Customs to respond to pleas raised by Shoe Manufacturing Association and industries including ginants like Bata, Servis pertaining to Sales Tax concession on imported artificial leather.
As the bunch of identical petitions was taken up for hearing, a counsel from Franklin Law Associates appearing for a number of petitioners submitted that earlier 9 per cent concession of Sales Tax was available under SRO 1125 of 2011. Later since previous two years rate of concession was six per cent which was maintained in subsequent SRO’s SRO 107 of 2017 and 777 of 2018 but authorities or Pakistan Customs are denying the same to the importers. The custom authorities are now allowing concession of fresh imports denying the facility on consignments that have already landed and are in dispute.
The counsel further maintained that now custom authorities are preparing to get the security deposited in shape of securities be encashed. He prayed the court to restrain the respondent authorities from encashing the same.
On a query by the bench, the counsel for Port Qasim Collectorate sought time to inform the court about latest position. The bench allowing the request fixed March 7 for final hearing.