MULTAN: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Multan Bench has barred the Multan Customs from collecting anti-dumping duty and taxes on import of polyester staple fibre by two companies.
The government applied anti-dumping duty and taxes on the import of polyester staple fibre from China for next four months from October to January. The government also issued directions to provincial governments for collection of anti-dumping duty taxes on import consignments of polyester staple fibre from importers in this regard. The anti-dumping duty was imposed on the import of polyester staple fibre from China last month.
Few importers challenged newly implemented decision for imposition of anti-dumping duty on import of polyester staple fibre from China. The decision for the execution of said tax from import of oolyester staple fibre was made by National Tariff Commission and this decision for collection of anti-dumping duty was also endorsed by Federal Board of Revenue by giving direction to provincial governments for collection of anti-dumping duty taxes through department of Customs on each import consignment of polyester staple fibre imported from China. The ratio of anti-dumping duty tax applied on these importers on import of polyester staple fibre is 7.18 % excluding other taxes.
Two different importers from Multan challenged the decision of government in the judiciary against execution of anti-dumping duty on import of polyester staple fibre in which they have also claimed that their consignment was came early before the application of this anti-dumping duty from government of Pakistan. They have requested from court to exempt them from anti –dumping duty on their import consignment of polyester staple fibre from China.
Lahore High Court Multan Bench given them interim relief by issuing stay order for stopping MCC Multan not to collect anti-dumping duty from importers till the final decision and release their import consignment with collection of other taxes by adopting regular procedure of Customs.
Multan Spinning Mills released their imported consignment of polyester staple fibre from China on Friday after presenting Court orders in Multan Dry Port. Appraiser and examiners assessed the customs duty before clearance of their batch. Multan Spinning Mills also cleared their 21 containers of polyester staple fibre from Multan Dry Port after paying Rs 3.688 million taxes to MCC Multan for the clearance of their shipment.
Anti-dumping duty case is still pending till conclusion of their writ petitions filed by importers in miscellaneous case. In another identical import of polyester staple fibre importer Karam-e-Kareem Spinning Textile Mills also cleared their same import batch through Multan Dry Port without paying anti-dumping duty on direction of courts.
Lahore High Court Multan Bench given stay orders to Multan Spinning and Karam -e-Kareem against Collection of anti-dumping duty taxes on their import shipments of polyester staple fibre from China.
There are some other renowned textile manufacturers of region including Fazal Cloth Mill, Mehmud Textile Mills and Muno Textile Mills which import polyester staple fibre from China also moved to courts against effecting of anti-dumping duty on importers. These importers also filed writ petitions in court against collection of anti-dumping duty and their hearings are also underway.
