KARACHI: The cut-off date for import of luxury items will be counted from the date of House Bill of Lading or Master Bill of Lading. This question came before a bench of High Court of Sindh in a suit filed by Meeran Paints and Hardware.
The counsel for plaintiff company submitted that a consignment of kitchen Cabinet pull out baskets/ mounted racks against a goods declaration. The import was on the basis of House Bill of Lading dated 16-5-2022 while Master Bill of Lading was dated 20-5-2022. The GD was filed on 16-5-2022 and soon afterwards federal government made changes to the Import Policy Order 2022 through SRO 598(i) 2022, dated 19-5-2022. The import of about 300 luxury items was banned under the said SRO. The custom authorities are taking date of Master Bill of Lading i.e 20-5-2022 as cut off date and denying the release of consignment while the plaintiff maintains that date of House Bill of Lading and GD which was prior to ban imposed shall be taken into consideration for a decision.
Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan after hearing the counsel for plaintiff importer while order in issuance of notice for June 24 restrained the customs from any adverse action against the plaintiff company.