KARACHI: A customs appellate bench of High Court of Sindh stayed the assessment of fertilizers imported on retail basis while hearing a petition filed by importers.
Mr Almani advocate appearing for the petitioner/importer maintained that the fertilizers are imported in bulk an in loose form and later once they reach the factory, they were processed/packed into bags of 50 kilogram each. This was the stage where the imported item is ready for selling on retail basis, hence the assessment by the customs on retail basis is illegal. We are paying 100 per cent duty but they are demanding payment of duty at 130 per cent which is likely to increase the cost of the item considered as primary input in agriculture, the counsel maintained.
The bench after brief hearing adjourned further proceedings while restraining the customs from assessment on retail basis till further orders.