KARACHI: Pre-admission notices were issued to respondent Customs officials in a petition filed by M/s Nutri Foods and Pharmaceuticals which imported infant milk powder.

The notice came from custom appellate bench of High Court of Sindh which earlier heard a counsel from law firm Franklin Law Associates. The counsel requested the court for allowing provisional release as the petitioner company has challenged Valuation Ruling No 1725 of 2023 where in custom value of infant milk was assessed to be between 6.50 US Dollar to 9 US S depending on the formula ranging from “Follow-up Formula” to ‘Pre-mature’ formula.

The counsel submitted that department has declined request for provisional release in view of 3rd Proviso to Section 81 of the Customs Act 1969.  The counsel from Franklin Law Associates also referred to order passed by this court in a petition CP-D7833/2022 and prayed for interim relief.

The bench allowing the prayer for interim relief ordered petitioner to pay un-disputed amount of custom duty and taxes with the Collectorate concerned while to secure disputed amount also with the collectorate in the form of a Pay Order or Bank Guarantee.

The bench also issued pre-admission notices to the respondents for Fen 07 with the directions that some responsible officer shall be in attendance on that day.