KARACHI: A single judge of High Court of Sindh hearing a suit filed by M.R.Enterprises and others who imported medical devices at Karachi ordered assessment under section 81 within two weeks so that goods are cleared if permissible.
The court earlier heard Malik Altaf Advocate who appeared for the plaintiffs and explaining urgency said that as per order of Lahore High Court, identical goods are being cleared from Dry Port Lahore while importers who imports at Karachi Port were denied clearance on ground that NOC from Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is required for clearance.
The counsel for plaintiffs also submitted that NOC is not required as items in questions do not fall within definition of Medical Devices as defined under section 3 of the DRAP Act 2012.
Khalid Rajper advocate appearing for the Chief Collector, Pakistan Customs, Karachi and other counsel for defendants contested the stance of the importers and submitted that NOC cannot be dispensed with.
The bench after a detailed hearing while adjourning further proceedings till Aug 10, ordered assessment of the consignments under section 81 of the Customs Act 1969 within two weeks from the date of order (21-07-2020).